spyware (not gambling related)

[knowledge]

does anyone else get this? i got it the other night and i'm afraid it could f-ck my PC up. i'm getting all these porn pop ups and sh-t it's really bad.

what can i do??

[Rikki]

Go and try a program called Ad-Aware from a company called Lavasoft.

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

[knowledge]

thank, it seems to have helped a little bit. but I still think there is some spyware.

like when i open my explorer it has a fixed homepage which i cant change and there are always sleazy links in my bookmarks. I also get pop ups of "strip poker" and all this other garbage. I don't want to, nor do my family, want to see this filth.

i dont think i should even log into my gambling accounts as they might be able to trace the passwords?

I've heard some people have logged into their bank accounts and money was taken out by hackers. I don't want to risk that.

[moeee]

Try pumping "hijack this" into your favourite search engine.
Download the program,run it.
Worked for me.

If you have dramas I could possibly send you an attachment of the program if I can work out how!

[knowledge]

are you serious?? i cant tell if ur being sarcastic.

and whats "whos been a naught boy" mean?

[knowledge]

ok after typing it into the search engine I believe you are serious and will download it.

you are also a respected poster here so i dont think u'd try to screw my computer.

thank you. I understand now this is a good program.

can you please advise me on how to use it? thanks..

[Shaun]

Knowledge....sounds like you have more than just spyware....I work IT and and deal with this crap all day.....Ad-Aware is a good program so is hi-jack this but you are going to have to find what program you have installed that gave you all this crap....if you have yahoo you need to uninstall the tool bar and the browser add on......those other programs need to be run in safe mode to really do there best....if you have a specific tool bar under the Browser at the top...and i would say you have you may need a particular program to get rid of it.....if after running these programs you still have problems you may have to bite the bullet and take your PC to a pro to have it cleaned....question...have you visited any of those gambling sites that provide a download to play there games...i did that once and i couldn't believe the rubish that came with it...what a joke.if you want to contact me on MSN
shaun2166@hotmail.com

[Squirter]

G' day knowledge,

Go into "GOOGLE" and punch in "anti pop-up software" and the choice is yours....the Ad-Aware software is top hole mate....had it for years with absolutely NO gunge at all....problem with forums is you never know what crap you are going to pick up, so protection is vital.

Cheers mate.

Squirter.

[Rikki]

G' day knowledge,

Go into "GOOGLE" and punch in "anti pop-up software" and the choice is yours....the Ad-Aware software is top hole mate....had it for years with absolutely NO gunge at all....problem with forums is you never know what crap you are going to pick up, so protection is vital.

Cheers mate.

Squirter. The problem is not necessarily forums. Everyone needs to be careful on what they install on their machine, be it full blown software packages or little utils like browser toolbars that are installed. I'd run Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoft.com/) and another program called SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) and consider using a browser like Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/) or Opera (http://www.opera.com/). Now they don't necessarily work for everything as web designers are lazy and do not necessarily cater for the browsers that have better standards than Internet Explorer, some Aussie banks do not cater for it, but they are vastly superior browsers to Internet Explorer.

Basically just be careful what you install. Little tools/utils/applications are notorious for having spyware/adware, but with that being said not all have them as part of their installation.

[knowledge]

ok well i've started using Opera browser now and no problems yet.

i seem to be able to browse with no problems but it will remain in the back of my head that spyware is in my computer.

i guess i will just have to live with it and get a PC technician to give me an analysis.

thank you all for your help and support. i am grateful for all the advice you have given me. :)

[Squirter]

KNOWLEDGE,

Here are a couple of address's that most people that use Windows should have, these "Windows" forums that are worth their weight in gold....

www.annoyances.org or this address could take you to your current problem www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article03-300

If your not running Windows XP Home punch in this address www.gracecomputers.co.nz and click on "Norton GoBack" and have a swat-up....saved my bacon on a few occasions before I became clued-up.

Cheers mate,

Squirter.

[Squirter]

Rikki,

Are you aware that spyware came with Windows XP when it was introduced.

Cheers mate,

Squirter.

[knowledge]

KNOWLEDGE,

Here are a couple of address's that most people that use Windows should have, these "Windows" forums that are worth their weight in gold....

www.annoyances.org or this address could take you to your current problem www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article03-300

I am using XP. Unfortunately that address didn't work for me.

[brave chief]

13, 14 months ago i had exactly the same problem. I found it takes a month or 2 to fully win back your browser and bookmarks using adaware. After that you just have to be vigilant. Remember to update your reference file every 2 wks or so.

Other programs to use regularly:

Spybot Search & Destroy;
A-Squared (malware scan) from Emsisoft.com;
AVG Antivirus from grisoft.com;
Zone Alarm firewall.

I also now delete my cookies and temp files after every session.

If you are using Hijack This, I'll also suggest you can go to this forum,
http://www.security-forums.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=48
and ask for help if you need it.

cheers

[Squirter]

Knowledge,

She's working for me, have you punched it in correctly....anyway, if your using XP Windows has it's own GoBack called "System Restore" what it does is....takes your PC back in time to a date that preceeds your current problem and bridges it, BUT, you must be aware that you will loose ALL info that is in your PC from THAT DATE till now. To get to it go into Start, then Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then System Restore....click on "Restore my PC to an earlier time" there you will find a calendar for you to choose the date for the restore.

Cheers mate,

Squirter.

[knowledge]

thanls bravechief, that site looks very useful.

Squirter, that function sounds too good to be true!

I'll be back, let's hope all goes well. :)

[Shaun]

For those interested i don't recomend you use Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) it detects items that are not listed as spyware and i will bet it does not detect microsoft products....use spybot or ad-adaware

[knowledge]

It is all fixed!!

Squirter, thank you very much. I can't express how grateful I am to you.

THANK ALL OF YOU, for your very kind support and advice. It was all useful and I took all of it into account.

Thankfully though there was a 'quick fix' and Squirter was responsible for notifying me of it!

There is no longer spyware on my computer and I owe it all to this beautiful invention called the 'System Restore'. MAdonna mia I love this thing.

I think you should all use it if you get spyware, this accessorry just completely reverses it!!!

Squirter.. to you my friend, I will give you a winning tip this weekend on the soccer. I am very thankful for your support.

but I am also thankful to everyone else.. moeee, Shaun, Rikki, brave chief, all of you have been very helpful!

if only there was a 'Bet Restore' right? haha I could use one of those. ;)

What a great way to start my day. Thanks again!

[Squirter]

Knowledge,

Like you mate I've also received great help from people on the net and this forum in particular so I'll pass up on your kind offer....I'm a rugby man....how about you restoring many winners to the forum, that'll be payment enough....

Keep smiling mate,

Squirter.