Apology to Symantec

Hello all participants

A number of days ago I posted accusations that the software within the
Norton software suite, distributed by Symantec, was preventing me from
having access to data on a computer. I wish to inform everyone here that
this is not the case. I humbly appologise to Symantec for my error.

The situation is that, it is now myself that is denying the owner from
having access to the data. I have been in possession of the data and the
cabinet files for two days now. It is appropriate that I set the machine to
a working condition and return it to the owner.

Last night, I was asked by a participant in another newsgroup to provide a
chronology of what I had done while researching the problem. I had performed
so many actions that I had to go to my notes (okay, so I'm getting older and
sometimes can't remember what I went to the kitchen for, so I scribble down
what I do in a jotter). When typing out the chronology I found something
that I didn't notice as being significant at the time.

The following is fact: ------------------------

There is malicious software on the computer.

The malicious software is not a virus, it is a trojan.

The trojan entered the computer via a voluntary download by the user.

The trojan is specifically targeted at Norton products and tries to the
deceive the user into believing that the problem is being created by Norton
software (it certainly deceived me for a very long time).

The trojan progressively causes the system to behave incorrectly at ever
decreasing intervals.

The trojan then intereferes with the user's attempt to run the Norton
Uninstall procedure. When checking my notes, the first two stages of this
worked fine. Norton itself then found that there was a problem and,
correctly, refused to run the final Uninstall of the Utilities.

The code that produces the "Error, Nprotect.VxD not present .... Please run
SEVINST.EXE ..." is not Norton code. It does not even reside in any of the
Norton folders. This message box is produced by trojan code and is
counterfeiting a valid Norton error message.

The author of this software is an expert programmer who has taken great
care, and spent a considerable amount of time writing it.
-----------------------------------------
The following are reasonable assumptions: -----------

The author of the trojan is mature (over 30 years of age)

The mechanisms used would have greatest effect in Win98SE and WinME
environments.
-----------------------------------------
I was surprised to find that participants in the windowsme newsgroup were
all (not one person was in favour of using Norton) of the opinion that
Norton was "malware". Their references to the frequency of Uninstall
problems were just two many to be a coincidence. I'm of the opinion that
this trojan must have been causing problems throughout the world. The
effects of this are that Norton products are being perceived as being a lot
worse than what they are.

I can only speculate what the motives of the author are. The author has gone
to great lengths to do this.

Finally, I do not apologise for any ranting and raving that I have done
regarding Symantec's lack of support for their own customers. This is truly
appalling. If they want to maintain market share then this will have to be
improved.

Greg Miskelly

Clarence (Lancy) Howard
nutz777 RemoveThis @ntlworld.com (remove one of the 7s)

> The following is fact: ------------------------
>
> There is malicious software on the computer.
>
> The malicious software is not a virus, it is a trojan.

Why didn't you proivde a name?

-Frank