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Question

Why wasn't the virus caught five years ago?

We had Norton 360 and Windows Xp. We got hit by a virus and nothing found the virus. Five years later, I scanned it with McAfee and the following came up:

Exploit Byte Verify
Generic Downloader
Downloader CJB
Downloader BLV.genia
Generic Fake alert link

I did have the hard drive in a box for a couple of years. Why didn't Norton 360 catch the viruses eight years ago and why am I only finding it now?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
New definitions?
Oct 29, 2014 10:59PM PDT

Also no antivirus will catch everything.
Dafydd.

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Answer
Along the same lines.
Oct 30, 2014 1:08AM PDT

Why wasn't Heartbleed and Shellshock caught earlier?

Shellshock was languishing around for what, 25 years? My answer is that times have changed, definitions and expectations changed too.
Bob

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Answer
And I would ask...
Oct 30, 2014 2:54AM PDT

'Why didn't Norton 360 catch the viruses eight years ago and why am I only finding it now?'

Is there any indication it existed on your system eight years ago? for Norton 360 to have found

An unasked for piece of advice. If McAfee recently found Exploit ByteVerify, I would assume you have Java installed. Unless you have an absolute need for it, I would suggest removing it. Java is high on the list of security risks. I would invite you to read, "Java Update: Patch It or Pitch It"

I would also add ... "the landscape has changed" in the past 8 years.

Carol

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Answer
Weird
Nov 4, 2014 7:38PM PST

Well dude, are you sure that the virus was even there 8 years ago?? How come it 'resided' so long w/o causing damage to your data? Chances are it wasn't there probably. Use MBAM occasionally with a good antivirus software (Norton sucks anyway) I use Quick heal and have been doing good with it for the last 2 years odd. ANd keep in mind Carol's advice about Java