Major virus attack to prevent file-sharing

[icarus]

Augh!

I was able to download the SGA episode last night. Now I'm trying to download the Merlin episode from a private server. Nothing's happening.

I went to a Megaupload link to download from there. Got the countdown. Then, when I went to click the button to download, I got the message to save the file... and then nothing happened.

Alarmed, I went to Mediafire to see if I could upload files. I pressed the "big green button" to upload files. Nothing happened. It didn't move me to the next menu.

Then I went to YouSendIt, logged in, and tried to upload a file there. It wouldn't let me even browse to the file to upload.

Remember the virus attack on Thursday that hit people downloading SPN's latest episode from mininova.org? That we weren't able to even access the mininova.org site afterward (and we still can't)?

It's bigger than that. This is a major virus attack aimed to prevent people from sharing files.

1) Stay clear of mininova.org. That's where it started.

2) Spydoctor and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware both say my computer's clean. Obviously that's not true.

3) If anyone has any ideas how to deal with this problem, any at all no matter how far-fetched, please let me know.

4) Any ideas how I can get the Merlin ep? My friends? I was able to download the SGA episode last night, but it was labeled a .doc file. Maybe that gets around this. Is there a way I can watch online? Email it (can one email a 350 meg file)?

This isn't fair. These are free TV shows I'm downloading.


ETA: Thank you all. Amothea's suggestion worked. I am able to download via other torrent sites (still can't contact mininova though they're not popular with me right now). From Nel_ani, after futzing with SUPERantispyware which found 17 tracking cookies that Spydoctor didn't, though those shouldn't effect my ability to download, starting a Megaupload download via IE (using a download manager, Orbit) instead of Firefox, then shutting down Firefox and restarting it, I was finally able to get these downloads to work.

Yousendit is now working. I haven't tested Mediafire yet. Megaupload seems to work. Private servers definitely work.

It looks like this might have been a problem with Firefox. It seems to have been resolved. I think. I hope.

Comments

[amalthia]

so torrents aren't working for you anymore either?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I can try other sites maybe. Mininova is out for a thousand reasons. You mentioned EZTV? If you can link me, I'll try it.

[amalthia]

I'll email you the torrent myself.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :) I got it and am downloading it via the EZTV torrent.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is strange. I was unable to download Super
Anti-Spyware (http://www.superantispyware.com/downloadfile.html?productid=SUPERANTISPYWAREFREE) in Firefox. Same problem.

So I opened it in IE instead... and I've been able to download it.

But I was able to download torrent files in Firefox.

I'm going to see if the problem is somehow linked to Firefox.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I'm able to download from Megaupload when I use IE. Now, with IE, downloads all go through a download manager (Orbit in this case). I used to be able to have all my download in Firefox go through Free Download Manger, but then they upgraded.

Huh. I'm puzzled. I'm wondering if I should try to fix Firefox. I think my next step is to do (from Firefox) a download through a d/l manager. See what happens.

For now, I'm going to have Merlin in about 40 minutes. But this is very, very frustrating.

[amalthia]

p.s. I got Merlin from EZTV...but I don't know anyone that's privately hosting the file.

Also, the last time I got something similar to what you have I had to reformat my laptop computer. I'm not saying you have to do that but...if you have your recovery/operating system disks and if your C: is partitioned off from where you're storing all your stuff it may not be a bad solution.

At this point I have my system set up so that sometimes reformatting and re-insalling everything is actually quicker and easier than trying to figure out what the hell the virus did to my settings that blocks me from sites.

Not saying you have to do that. I'm really hoping someone out there knows more about viruses than I do because my method while it works 100% of the time isn't always the best option. (and yeah it's really annoying and takes hours to re-install and get my settings just so)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I have no recovery discs and my tech guy was unable to make recovery discs. Something is wrong with the software that's supposed to create them.

[j_apollo]

fastpasstv.com has the new Merlin ep up to watch online. Just go to the TV shows link on the side and it should be near the top of the list.

Hope that helps :D

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yes. *sigh* Yes it does. Thank you.

[fragilistikal.livejournal.com]

ninjavideo.net is a good resource to watch shows online, though they're going through some growing pains right now.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Okay, good. I'll keep that one in my back pocket. Man, this has been awful.

It looks like I can download from other torrent sites, so I might be able to get my Merlin fix after all.

[nel-ani.livejournal.com]

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-adware-spyware-scumware-remover.htm

SUPERAntiSpyware finds the stuff that Malwarebyte's doesn't.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Right on. *pounces on it, ASAP*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm scanning. I'm so tired and sick of this virus attack.

[elf]

No, you cannot email a 350 mb file. Well, erm, maybe. If you owned the servers (on both ends) and therefore didn't have an attachment size limit. Gmail is 20mb.

However, there are zip-splitter programs, that zip a file while breaking into pieces of filesize of your choice, so you can email them separately. (Originally, was for storing sections of a big file on multiple floppy discs.) So you could get one of these programs (freeware versions exist, and WinRAR and Winzip may both have the option), split it into 18 pieces of just under 20mb each, and email them through gmail.

Riiiight.

Umm... I like isohunt.com for torrents.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I've never been able to email a 350 meg file. *g*

Torrents seem to be working. I still can't even bring up the mininova page to warn them this happened, but EZTV's working. I'll look at Demonoid and isohunt as well.

[sherryillk.livejournal.com]

This is why I stay clear of Mininova now. And after the C&D letter after using EZTV, I stay away from there as well and just use private trackers exclusively. Gah, downloading TV shows are just getting harder and harder... :(

And nope, you can't email a 350 MB file. If you use Outlook, it gets stuck and it's a bit of a pain to remove it. You can Megaupload it though which is almost of the same in my opinion.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*eyebrows raise* C&D letter? What's the story with that?

[sherryillk.livejournal.com]

Your ISP sends you a Cease & Desist Letter telling you to stop downloading illegal files or there might be legal action taken against you and they might yank your internet service if it happens again. It's all very scary...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh. I didn't realize they could do that. Maybe the fact my ISP keeps changing my IP address is a good thing.

[sherryillk.livejournal.com]

It doesn't really matter actually... They'll take the IP address and track you back to your ISP and the ISP will use their records to get to you. BayTSP makes torrenting a bit of a bitch at times... :\

[littlemousling]

I stay away from downloads; it doesn't seem to be worth the risk (for me). Streaming, OTOH, is faaaabulous. You might like Surf the Channel; it has seriously extensive listings and most shows are available within 12 hours of their air times.

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

How does that work? Is it just registering and watching streaming? Is there a fee?

[littlemousling]

No registering, no fee. People (who read Chinese, mostly, and have free time on their hands) find pirated streaming video (or post it), and compile the links there. Easy-peasy. Some have ads, but only around the videos, not in them, and you can make the videos fullscreen so you don't have to see them.

Seriously, best thing ever. You can safely open up the link, scout's honor.

[littlemousling]

(I mention the Chinese because many/most of the actual host sites are in China, and without an English-language site like Surf the Channel, I for one would have no way of figuring out where this week's 30 Rock is.)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, right on.

[sarka.livejournal.com]

Do you still need the Merlin episode?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Nope, but thank you! I need a beta for a Merlin fanfic though (shhh, don't tell Out Of Bounds that I cheated on it).

[sarka.livejournal.com]

I've been so productive this weekend, I'm taking tonight off... so if you want, I could do it... and I want to see your Merlin fic!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Right on! I have a final two sentences to tinker with (the ending is my primary concern, and these two can talk, can't they?) and then I'll send it off.