"Carbonite Online" appeared on desktop

[crestwood]

I have a question please. I rec'd. message yesterday that there was a Java update available for my computer so I updated. Now I have "Carbonite Online" on my desktop and I have never heard of this nor do I know what it is for -- should I remove? I have had terrible issues with my system this past year (with scareware and being booted off of my system) and I am very leery about mysterious new messages/icons items showing up. Thanks in advance for help.

[mjc]

Carbonite is an online, subscription, off site backup service. As far as I know you just can't 'get it' with signing up for it. Now that isn't saying there can't be some malware masquerading as it...so, post a HiJack This log...

[classicsoftware]

I wouldn't worry. It probably came with some install, like Java or something like that.... Just delete the icon. Unless your system is running slow, I would not worry about it...

[crestwood]

Thanks guys. I did a google search and I see that "Carbonite" comes along with the Java update -- I don't think that is right or that it should be allowed that something unknown is placed on a user's desktop without one's awareness or permission. One quick question please, my 90 day free subscription to Norton Anti Virus runs out in 10/23/2010. I have read that Norton is bad, so will it be safe to just let the Norton expire and run Malwarebytes maybe once a week or so? Thanks again.

[FTT]

will it be safe to just let the Norton expire and run Malwarebytes maybe once a week or so?

That answer would be a big NO-NO! :eek:

Norton's has a resident antivirus software and Malwarebytes is a manually run scanner. You need at the very least, a resident A/V program as well as a good firewall to have a somewhat safe system.

I use AVG (http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage) antivirus, Sygate (http://www.tucows.com/preview/213160) firewall, SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) and SpywareGuard (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html) all as full time resident protection(s) and I do not remember the last time my PC has been infected with anything other than an occasional tracking cookie. Spybot S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html), HijackThis (http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/), Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/) etc can be installed but offer you little protection as you browse, they are only meant to manually remove things AFTER you 'catch' it (or it catches you unprotected :o ..).

If you choose not to renew Norton's, you should use the Norton's Removal Tool (http://majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html) to fully get it out of your registry.

[yawningdog]

Oh man, that is one thing about java that tweaks my final nerve. Odds are that there was a check box that said something like "Install carbonite online backup" that was checked by default for you. Be vigilant when installing java updates for pre-checked options and this probably wont happen again. "Install google toolbar" is another one that annoys me.

I tell everyone that Symantec AV IS a virus. Endpoint protection especially since it slows your system down to a crawl and throws a lot of pop-ups at you. I don't like AVG either, but I agree that you need to be using some sort of AV software. I use Clamwin and nothing else since Windows ships with a perfectly good firewall already installed.