Spyware/Adware

[Fella]

I have a spyware or/and adware on my computer. Each time I scan my computer with Norton 2004 Security Internet and Adaware 6, it comes up with the same items that I cannot remove. I have Windows XP Home edition. The only slow down I see is when I log on with my user name it takes 2 to 3 minutes to log on. I tried signing on safe mode and running the scan and deleting those particular files, but it still shows up when I reboot.

Please advise me on what to do next.

Thanks,
Derek

 

[BigBadBiologist]

many times if you do a google search for the particular program that you have, you can find specific deletion procedures. You can also try mcafee antispyware or for free SpyBot.

 

[Fella]

It's seems like it's something different each time. The only noticeable thing is the fact that it takes a long time to log on.

 

[BigBadBiologist]

gotta be careful of the warez and pr0n!

 

[Mem]

Read Schadenfroh`s thread here .

I would make sure you have Spywareblaster installed and you could try spykiller (free scan from here) .

 

[drag]

sounds like you have a program that is scedualed to run every time you reboot the computer that reinstalls the various naughty files over and over again.

I think the command is "msconfig", click on the tab dealing with programs that are run at startup. Uncheck all of them except maybe your virus scanner.

Once that is done reboot into safe mode and replace all the bad files, and then reboot and see if that makes a difference. If it does find out what program you had to disable to have it stop installing spyware and then figure out how to delete it.

 

[Fella]

"replace all the bad files, and then reboot and see if that makes a difference"???

What do you mean? Please be more specific.

Thanks!

 

[Fella]

Do you mean delete all the bad files and reboot?

 

[drag]

I just mean go into msconfig, disable all start up files (except maybe your virus scanner), reboot into safe mode, use your anti-spyware/virus stuff like you normally would to remove the offending spyware, and then reboot.

See if with the startup programs disabled that will stop the spyware crap from being installed over and over again.

 

[Mem]

I just mean go into msconfig

He means click on start button then select "Run" (which is below "Search")and type "msconfig" in the run box.

 

[Fella]

Thanks! I'll try it.

 

[BlueFalcon]

Shouldn't he be booting into safe mode first and then run the AntiVirus / Spyware removers?

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: drag
I just mean go into msconfig, disable all start up files (except maybe your virus scanner), reboot into safe mode, use your anti-spyware/virus stuff like you normally would to remove the offending spyware, and then reboot.

See if with the startup programs disabled that will stop the spyware crap from being installed over and over again.

Isn't that the whole point of safe mode though? When you go into safe mode it skips loading all the stuff in the msconfig menus...

 

[Fella]

I rebooted in safe mode and adaware 6 is not there. I scanned with Norton Security and it does not take everything away. When I activate my Norton Security firewall the spyware keeps trying to go to some website and Norton's firewall recommends me to block it. It keeps doing this and I cannot do anything on the computer. I'm so frustrated that I'm thinking about just reformatting my whole harddrive and start over.

Please advise.

Thanks.

 

[Booty]

For starters, Norton's new adware detection component SUCKS. If you try to use it to remove/delete adware, it'll fail to delete about 90% of what it detected. Useless.

Like mentioned above, go check out Schadenfroh's post for thorough adware removal instructions. They should at least get your system back to a usable state. At that point, if you still have some lingering problems, you might have to do some googling... there's some 'CoolWebSearch' and 'about:blank' components that can be real pests to get rid of - those are typically going to show up in the form of homepage hijackers. If all else fails and you can't get around the hijacking, you could ditch IE and go with FireFox.

Reformatting isn't really the answer... odds are that you're probably going to get hit by adware again, so you might as well learn how to deal with and clean it.

 

[Fella]

Thanks, I'll try Schadenfroh.

 

[pitupepito2000]

I would tell you to try "Spybot search and destroy" it is a whole lot better than ad-aware. Also one thing to try is to figure out what programs or files you have that you want to remove and "mess them up." For example, let's say that you have the file "files.exe" try to open it with a notepad and type some gibirish, and then overwrite the file. That should mess up the executable and not work anymore.

Also what web-browser are you using. DO NOT USE IE, that's one of the easiests way for junk programs to get into your computer.

Good luck,
pitupepito