COMPUTER VIRUS?

[LEECH21]

DO ANY OF YOU OUT THERE KNOW MUCH ABOUT COMPUTERS AND VIRUSES? IF SO PLEASE HELP, MAYBE YOU'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NO MATTER WHAT I SET THE HOMEPAGE AS IT ALWAYS SWITCHES BACK TO THIS ABOUT:BLANK SEARCH PAGE. AND EVERYTIME I OPEN INTERNET EXPLORER A WARNING POP-UP COMES UP SAYING MY COMPUTER HAS SPYWARE ON IT? OTHER WIERD THINGS ERRORS ALSO HAVE BEEN POPPING UP. WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND IS IT FIXABLE. PLLLEEEAAASSSEEEE HELP!

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[Fisher Dave]

For the spyware .. I use Ad Aware 6.0 that can be downloaded for free .. do a search on a search engine.. there is a free version, and it does help alot.

The problem your running into may be due to other programs you have downloaded .. either with intent, or accidently. You will likely have to go into add/remove programs and get rid of the junk... be careful not to remove anything you need. Alot of times lots of things *sneak* in if someone in your household is downloading Kazaa, Yahoo, or similar programs.

You should have a god virus scan on your compter .. I use Norton Antivirus and have not had a virus since I got it. Be sure to update it regularly. If you do already have an existing virus an antivirus cant get rid of, do a search on the virus on a search engine and get step by step instructions to remove it.. frustrating, but it usually works.

There are many people who know more than I do with computers.. but this is how we keep our system clean and operating properly.

Good luck.

[CrappieMagnet]

Try this.

go too control panel on your pc.

open up internet options.a window will pop up.erase the one that's there.insert your homepage.hit delete files,and clear history.Set it on one day history.

Download Norton anti-virus,or adaware 6.0

you should be able to find these in any search engine.

Good Luck!

CM

Stay away from porn! This is what usually occurs when you search porn.you get viruses!
Or spam ads in your email...

[This message has been edited by CrappieMagnet (edited 05-22-2004).]

[18 inch Crappie]

Ad-Aware 6.0 is at WWW.lavasoftusa.com
You will have to use the find new update once every couple weeks. Try Spyware Blaster at WWW.Javacoolsoftware.com that keeps spyware from being put on your computer and its free also. Good luck

[Esoxmn]

Go to internet options and delete all temperary internet files, and delete history.

[Capt'nJosh]

Start by scanning your system with a antivirus program. A good one that is free is at www.antivirus.com. Click on the "Housecall" button and do a scan. Then run one of the previously mentioned spyware scanners. I just got done rebuilding my mothers computer that started with these same symptoms. Once you get rid of whatever it is that is causing your problems (or give up and reload) make sure to install a good antivirus program and set it to automatically download the latest pattern files. Another good idea is to make sure you have all the recommended security patches for your operating system installed. Do that by opening Internet Explorer, click on Tools, and select windows update. There will be a link to scan your system and then it will tell you what needs to be updated. Last but not least get a personal firewall installed to prevent people from getting access to your system.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

-Capt'nJosh

[Uncle Grump]

Leech

That is a virus - a relatively harmless one, but a virus. Had it myself. With what you keyed in, you should be to search Symantecs web site and find it and removal instructions.

Removal involves editing the Registry - and that D*** thing puts entries everywhere.

What its trying to do is point you off to some search engine which take you to porn sites and other places.

Good luck

UG

[LEECH21]

THANKS FOR ALL THE REPLIES FELLES! A COMPUTER TECH GUY IS ACTUALLY COMING OVER IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON WHAT HAPPENS.

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[LEECH21]

HEY, ALL CLEARED UP!!! I TOTALLY WIPED OUT EVERYTHING ON MY COMPUTER AND STARTED OUT NEW. TOOK AWHILE BUT IT WAS WORTH GETTING RID OF ALL THE PROBLEMS.

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[Granny]

I have the exact same thing on my computer. Thanks for the posted info, I will give it a try.

Granny

[fuzzyray]

I have dealt with this type of problem on a number of computers (including my own) I believe what you had on your computer was a 'Hijacker', these malicious programs infect your browser (usually Internet Explorer) and use holes in the program to insert themselves. The problem can be taken care of without deleting everything on your hard drive. The best program to deal with this is called 'Hijack This' It is a free progam and available at the download.com. Here is the link:

http://download.com.com/3000-8022-10227352.html?tag=lst-0-4

Or just go to www.download.com and do a search for Hijack This.

The progam scans your registry and gives you a list of all the browser add-ons. Many of the results are prefectly harmless and may very well be necessary or belong to progams you intentionally insalled. When I run this program I usually do a websearch on any result that I do not recognize (for example some might be for something for yahoo.com, probably ok! while some might be for www.annoying-pop-up-page-that-drives-you-insane.net, probably bad!) Once you know which are good and which are bad the program will allow you to delete all references to the bad links. I would be able to help a few people analyze their results if there are just a few out there who need help. I wouldn't be able to help 100 people but would help a few of my fellow FM'er if there was a need. Well good luck keeping your PC's up and running.

my e-mail is [email protected] [i'll delete my e-mail here if I get too many requests, so if it's here feel free to e-mail me for help]

[Jackpine Rob]

I'm supposedly the "computer guy" at our office, and at least twice a week I get folks complaining about this happening on their PC's. After reaming them about using office equipment for personal browsing (the pot calling the kettle black!) I run AdAware and the problem disappears.
The following are good guidelines for everyone using Windows:

1. Run your Microsoft updates regularly. Its easy enough to do - just takes some time to download, and it can be done right off of msn.com. Free and easy.

2. Make sure your anti-virus is up-to-date. We run Symantec, but most of the programs out there will do a decent job. I've got our offices set up to do automatic updates.

3. Run AdAware from lavasoftusa.com weekly. If troubles start, its really a good first step before calling in the cavalry. Like I said, it fixes these problems darn near every time.

4. Those instant messenger programs are dangerous - its like leaving the door to your computer wide open.

5. Programs like Weatherbug can cause you some heartache including pop-ups and spyware. Get rid of them.

Finally, there are some good pop-up blocking programs out there, including the free Google toolbar. If you frequent sites that you need to get to popups on, disable the blocker site by site.

[LEECH21]

HEY GUYS! WHEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABOUT:BLANK HOMEPAGE AND CONSTANT ERRORS COMING UP I CALLED MY INTERNET GUY RIGHT AWAY. HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIJACK THIS AND AD-AWARE. WE TRIED BOTH OPTIONS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. JACKPINE ROB YOU WROTE...
"1. Run your Microsoft updates regularly. Its easy enough to do - just takes some time to download, and it can be done right off of msn.com. Free and easy."
EXPLAIN PLEASE...HOW DO I UPDATE MICROSOFT?
EVER SINCE I CLEARED EVERYTHING THIS MORNING AND REINSTALLED EVERYTHING MY COMPUTER IS LIKE "NIGHT AND DAY" DIFFERENT...IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN ORDER.

MY INTERNET GUY ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT A FREE VIRUS BLOCKER THAT IT SUPPOSED TO WORK REAL WELL. YOU CAN GET IT AT grisoft.com. IT IS CALLED AVG ANTI-VIRUS.

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[Paul Waldowski]

Leech,

Here's the address for Microsoft update.

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

It will scan your system for available updates. They continually try to stay ahead of all the talk out there. I would visit it once a week

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Paul
Drake Motel

[email protected]
Marcum
Otter Outdoors
JR's Tackle
Lakemaster Lake Maps

[SledNeck_X]

Get norton AV 2004, run full system scan, it removes spy ware and ad ware. Also get Norton firewall, it has built up pop up stopper. Tools/internet options/General to set you home page.

[18 inch Crappie]

I saw in Sundays ads maybe Office Max, Best Buy or Office Depot, Norton 2004 for Free after rebates. Check it out.

[SledNeck_X]

I saw it for free too. On warez servers and Kazaa. lol wink

[Guest]

FIREWALL! Say it with me now.. F I R E W A L L..
They help keep them goofballs out.

I never had so many problems as when I used Kazaa.. Total spyware! Also stay away from Gator. These programs might have a good use but at a cost

Some programs and sites are even connected to the porn industry and then you are really open to the wierdo's.

If you are running XP You can use the go back feature if you know when you got the infection, this helps a ton on the reloading. But? remember that everything that was loaded after the date you choose will be deleated, so it may be better to save all that you can to cd and then do it.

Another spyware program that works excellent is Spybot seek and destroy.
You can download it at majorgeeks.com under spyware.
If you have cable connection, disable the cookies,it may slow you down to a blink of an eye for the page to open but it helps.

When you set up your hard drive make sure to partiton it so that windows runs on its own side of the drive and if there is a need to reload windows you can do it without losing all your personal data just make sure that you save nothing to that drive other than windows.

If you are using windows ME or 2000? Dump them, These programs are about as stable as a surfboard in a hurricane.
If you don't have XP yet? Get it asap! its worth the switch, it's much more stable than other versions of windows. If you can afford it? Get XP Professional much smoother than Xp home and get the full version and not the cheap upgrade it's worth it.

[This message has been edited by frozenminnow (edited 05-24-2004).]

[walleyehawk]

This may sound paranoid but you need to have multiple products.

I have Norton Antivirus and Norton Firewall. This is only a start.

I also have Ad-aware, Spy Sweeper, Spybot, and Pestcontrol, all which I got for free though the downloads page of pcworld's HSOforum. Each one has weaknesses, and some will catch spyware the other will not. That is why I have all four going.

So far since installing them, my sweeps have come through clean, where with just ad-aware I may have 10 to delete-which means they had been operating since they jumped on my system earlier that day.

[Guest]

Computer security has been, is, and will always be, a problem. Some people just have too much time on their hands, and develop ways of making our "cyber lives" miserable.

I have compiled THE DEFINITIVE list of COMPUTER UTILITIES that EVERYONE should have on their machines - best of all, they are all FREE!

1) "AVG by GRISOFT" - anti-virus

2) "AdWare 6.0" and "SpyBot Search&Destroy" - removes adware, spyware, malware, scumware, keyloggers, etc

3) "ZoneAlarm" - firewall

4) "System Security Suite (3S)" - removes internet tracks, junk files, hidden URL's, cookies, history, temp files, etc

5) "RegCleaner" - a registry cleaner

6) "Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper" - stops pop-up ads

As I said, these are all FREE downloads that are easy to setup and use, and very powerful tools.

I can GUARANTEE you, if you update your Windows (98, ME, 2000, or XP)system with all the current patches, install and run the utilities I listed above, and DO NOT OPEN EMAIL ATTACHMENTS, your computer will be as secure as it can be.

tight lines!

[SledNeck_X]

Ive never had any spyware problems from using kazaa. Maybe thats cause I use the version called KAZAALITE, its the same just spyware free, thought everyone knew about that 3 years ago. As far as what you need, Norton av 2004 and norton personal Firewall. No need for all those other free things they just clog up your PC and slow it down and some even have their own adware. I do tons of downloading like 30 gigs a month and I have never had my computer infected by a virus.

[Juan Grande]

I've had similar problems with my in-laws' computer. I've seen that "Spyware" warning message and my they've had problems getting on the internet. I installed Norton Firewall and Antivirus, but the problems continued.

In the end, a factory restore of the computer fixed the problems. Other than having to burn off some Word files to a cd, reinstalling the printer and restoring the connection to DSL, it was a quick and sure fire solution to the problem. It's also a good way to clean off all the old games and programs you don't use anymore.

[LEECH21]

HEY JUAN GRANDE! SOUNDS LIKE YOU DID THE SAME THING WITH YOUR PC AS ME WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEMS. WORKS GREAT NOW AND SEEMS TO BE FASTER THAN EVER!

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