Need some help from our computer gurus -

[SwampDawg]

I have an older desktop I obtained right after Katrina (the one it replaced had a moisture problem.) It came with Windows Vista. I have read recently that Vista will no longer be supported by Microsoft but my outfit is still plugging right along so that's not a problem. Not long ago when I turned on Chrome I got a message bar across the top "This computer will no longer receive Google Chrome updates because Windows XP and Windows Vista are no longer supported." OK, no problem yet.

Lately though, another message bar has popped up "We've detected you are using an older version of Chrome. (Then in a darker box) -Update to stay secure."

So, my Spidey Sense tells me if I click to "stay secure" I will be in trouble. It's easy enough to ignore, but just on principle I would like to get rid of it. I am kinda smart enough to look around a little bit, and my extensions all look the same and legit. I looked at my listing of programs and it looks like nothing has been revised recently. I have run a Norton detailed check and it didn't find anything.

So, I am curious. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[tenureplan]

Stop watching pron. Delete the Norton and get something else. If you're willing to pay for it, get Kapersky, if not, even the free edition of AVG is better than Norton.

 

[eckie1]

Try malwarebytes

I have an older desktop I obtained right after Katrina (the one it replaced had a moisture problem.) It came with Windows Vista. I have read recently that Vista will no longer be supported by Microsoft but my outfit is still plugging right along so that's not a problem. Not long ago when I turned on Chrome I got a message bar across the top "This computer will no longer receive Google Chrome updates because Windows XP and Windows Vista are no longer supported." OK, no problem yet.

Lately though, another message bar has popped up "We've detected you are using an older version of Chrome. (Then in a darker box) -Update to stay secure."

So, my Spidey Sense tells me if I click to "stay secure" I will be in trouble. It's easy enough to ignore, but just on principle I would like to get rid of it. I am kinda smart enough to look around a little bit, and my extensions all look the same and legit. I looked at my listing of programs and it looks like nothing has been revised recently. I have run a Norton detailed check and it didn't find anything.

So, I am curious. Anybody have any ideas?

The free version has saved me before. My wife accidentally clicked an ad one time and that was all it took. I have even run it just to check several times since, and found crap to delete. It's a great product.

https://www.malwarebytes.com

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

No, no, not all the "pron"...I mean certainly Girl on Girl "pron" should be OK right?

 

[SwampDawg]

No, I don't watch pron, not because I'm pure and good, but just because of the probable consequences such as this. I'll look at the stuff you guys have recommended.

 

[aTotal360]

sounds like ransomeware. like eckie said, try malwarebytes. also run windows MRT.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

It's not a virus, you just have an ancient computer.

It's a legit message. The link will take you to a chrome download page that you may or may not even be able to update in Vista.

 

[aTotal360]

Chrome is updated by clicking the hamburger, then going to the "about" page. It might be under the settings tab depending on your version.

 

[Grisismyhero]

Go get a new laptop at SAMs for 400.00 and malware bytes. It's a lot less stressful and you can do all that in 3 hours, I spent a week and 8 calls to Microsoft.

 

[AssEndDawg]

The message is legit, as you said Chrome isn't updating (usually it auto-updates) because you are on an unsupported version of Windows. After a certain number of skipped updates this message starts appearing. No need to click on it as you won't be able to update on that computer. You are going to face a few problems in the future, the web is constantly changing a growing and you will find more and more websites don't work properly for you. Also, you are now at a drastically increased risk of having your computer taken over by malware. Virus protection isn't going to help much because it counts on the OS vendor, Windows in your case, to protect it's software. That's not happening anymore and hackers are specifically targeting the old XP/Vista computers.

All this to say, don't put anything you want to keep on that computer without having a good backup. If you go on the web at all I imagine you will start seeing some screwey behavior before too long. One of my computers is setup to find malware and I've had attacks from places you would never imagine, including SPS. Not a problem for a modern computer with OS patches and virus protection, but you won't have that. I would also make sure none of your private information is on the computer. Any credit cards or passwords saved should be removed. Don't go to banks online or anything like that as that information could be keylogged.

Bottom line, you need to assume your computer is wide open to the world, because it essentially is. I know it sucks dropping the cash, but if you use the PC for anything more than SPS I would upgrade.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Download Ubuntu Linux and breathe some life back into that laptop

 

[PBRME]

Superantispyware is another good one.

 

[MSUDawg25]

No, no, not all the "pron"...I mean certainly Girl on Girl "pron" should be OK right?

Yeah. It's ok if it's just straight stuff or girl-on-girl. You are far less likely to get infected with a virus that way.

 

[SwampDawg]

OK I loaded Malwarebytes. It scanned everything in my computer and found 400 items that were questionable, threats, or some word like that. I looked at the list and the only ones I recognized were several lineitems for Bettersurf, which used to parade ads across everything I looked at. I had managed to stop the parade, but apparently these others that snuck onboard aren't so obvious and operate in the background. Anyway, I deleted all 400 but the "update" bar that started all this is still there. So, I guess it is a legit attempt to help that would end in no action taken due to the age of my Vista. Anyway, thanks Packers for all the input. I will keep Malwarebytes installed just for good measure.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I have an older desktop I obtained right after Katrina (the one it replaced had a moisture problem.) It came with Windows Vista. I have read recently that Vista will no longer be supported by Microsoft but my outfit is still plugging right along so that's not a problem. Not long ago when I turned on Chrome I got a message bar across the top "This computer will no longer receive Google Chrome updates because Windows XP and Windows Vista are no longer supported." OK, no problem yet.

Lately though, another message bar has popped up "We've detected you are using an older version of Chrome. (Then in a darker box) -Update to stay secure."

So, my Spidey Sense tells me if I click to "stay secure" I will be in trouble. It's easy enough to ignore, but just on principle I would like to get rid of it. I am kinda smart enough to look around a little bit, and my extensions all look the same and legit. I looked at my listing of programs and it looks like nothing has been revised recently. I have run a Norton detailed check and it didn't find anything.

So, I am curious. Anybody have any ideas?

Get a new PC. Support = security patches. Security patches come out from Microsoft at least once a month. You are close to the point that your PC will be easy to compromise and your user experience will suck because your browsers and other software will no longer support Vista either. It's past time. You got an incredible amount of value from that machine.

 

[dawgstudent]

Like others have said - I wouldn't run Vista. I don't know if Microsoft offered you Windows 10 for free - but I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 on a 6 year old desktop - and it's been a very nice upgrade. Even performance wise - my PC runs faster.

 

[patdog]

Like others say, just spend $400 and get a new computer. With Microsoft not supporting Vista, you're just asking for trouble. And software is just going to be increasingly balky or just plain incompatible with it. If you do keep the old computer, just don't have anything on it you don't mind losing with no notice. And don't access your bank account, credit card accounts, or investment accounts (including retirement accounts).

 

[wtw2400]

Your first problem is that you use Windows Vista. Its a terrible operating system. Back in the day Microsoft tried to sell this only to quickly release Windows 7 after noting how buggy Vista is. Vista was supposed to be the next great thing for Microsoft. It ended up turning a lot of people to go to Macs. Which Macs are even worse. The only thing Macs have going for them are Apple applications. Buying a mac is like buying a nintendo gamin device. The only advantage is they have the best first party software. But their competitors destroy them in all other areas. Microsoft is trying to market Windows 10 as their next big thing. Its all right but its a huge privacy hole. But Google and Apple both make large amounts of money by doing this so its not exactly uncommon. So get a Windows 8 or 10 computer so you can keep up with the latest and greatest technology. Linux is something I like too but I wouldnt recommend it.

 

[SwampDawg]

OK, I yield to the logic of many which says I need a new computer. As soon as I recover from paying for new tie rods for my car and then repairs for some sideswipe damage (it hasn't been my summer) I'll bite the bullet. Maybe I'll be lucky and just have performance issues but not hacker issues until I can swing it.

 

[dawgstudent]

Upgrade to windows 10 if it's free. You have nothing to lose

 

[aTotal360]

The free Windows 10 upgrade is available only to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users until July 29.

 

[patdog]

The free upgrade to Windows 10 didn't include Vista. Only 7 and 8.1. Of course, it's expired now anyway. So, he'd have to buy Windows 10. And good chance a computer that old doesn't even meet the system requirements for Windows 10 anyway. Much better value to just buy a new computer. OR, just keep using the old one but be sure there's nothing on it he's not OK with losing and never using it to access his financial accounts, or give out his credit card numbers to order anything online.

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

Forget the message and just upgrade

If not for the automatic upgrade to a new OS and speed increase, do it for the reliability. If it's that old you may be looking a a memory stick acting up on you or some Chinese made **** on the motherboard crapping out on you. You can buy a tower from Dell sometimes for 250 to 300 bucks. It's loaded with Microsoft 10 and ready to go.

And delete any antivirus named Norton or Mcafee. They are popular cause they are bundled with computers. AVG and Kaperski are good. But I'm almost certain that AVG will not work well with Vista.

 

[OleMissLogo]

The update prompt is legitimate. I highly recommend that you upgrade your OS, though. Either by purchasing a new computer or installing a new OS on your current one. Vista is terrible. I recommend going up to Windows 7, though.