This thread's last reply is from November 21, 2012, 12:25 PM UTC. Software, malware, and removal-tool
advice below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.
bonnie
After I posted the last message, I tried something. I went into control panel > Flash and disallowed everything. Under developer tools, I also sent everything to c:\newfolder as was suggested on adobe flash web site when I Googled "adobe flash security warning."
I have to wait and see if it stops the warning boxes, but I can tell you my Firefox is flying. It hasn't been this fast for a while now.
askey127
Nice work.
If you had "Allow sites to store stuff on this computer" checked, it would be doing that.
That is a non-standard setting, however, so it must have been changed at some point in time.
By getting rid of the junkware, at least we removed many of the likely "phone home" candidates.
Sorry I didn't make the connection for you.
Glad it's working better.
bonnie
Askey127,
Check this out:
http://www.keiths-place.com/blogs/keith/2008/stop-youtube-sytimgcom-video-camera-spying
bonnie
I tried the guy's fix, it doesn't seem to work at all.
This has to be some sort of virus. If you Google s.ytimg.com there's been lots written about it.
askey127
It's certainly spying, which many companies try to do, although not by using the camera and microphone.
(On my laptop, the camera peephole in the lid has tape over it) .
Until it gets identified by the Antivirus makers as a threat, you have to make your own settings.
I can see where this could become a problem for Flash Player.
bonnie
But if you Google the address, some of the posts go back to 2009. If they haven't fixed it in 3 years, do you think they will ever fix it?
bonnie
Is there an alternative to Flash?
askey127
A discussion about it on Bleeping Computer here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic462396.html
I really have no experience with the subject.
bonnie
It's really kind of amazing this hasn't gotten more publicity than this. Everyone is always worried about Google spying on them, and here could be the proof of the pudding.
Why though, does everyone not experience this problem?
Would it do me any good to reinstall Windows? Or perhaps Firefox? It doesn't seem to happen in Internet Explorer, for me anyway.
askey127
bonnie,
It would not do you any good to re-install anything.
It's obvious that "ytimg" stands for "You Tube image".
How about backing off some of the YouTube videos?
If you wanted to try some of the more technical methods from the ESET blogs (they actually go to part 5) , you could do that.
Or just accepting that 'big brother" wants to track you as a penalty for the looking at free videos?
It's a frustration for a lot of people.
I certainly learned a lot during this thread.
I think we are done with the "malware" aspect of this thread, to the extent that this site can help.
Good luck going forward.
askey127
bonnie
Okay. If you're confident there is nothing else we can do, then I trust your expert opinion.
Thank you again Askey127.
