SPYWARE!!!

[Linsey]

I'm more than sure I have spyware on my new personal laptop. Ads are popping up at me from all directions, they won't close when I want them to, my computer is super slow and I have to end programs and nothing seems to respond (sometimes I can't even scroll on the page), and even when I'm not on any webpage but just sitting there I get ads, plus I get pop-ups saying I have spyware on my comp and all I really want is to curl up in a fetal position on the corner of my e-mail. MY PAGE FREEZES! And at one point I had about 50 sites of porn in my favorites. All I did was try to get to the Ethan Embry screen caps page...ALL I WANTED WAS TO GET PAST THE FIRST PAGE! Suddenly, I checked my favorites and an adult sites folder is there...plus another one, each packed with many many porn sites. I just wanna e-mail those bastards (or drop a bomb on their little hiding place) saying "LISTEN YOU FUCKHEADS! IF I WANTED TO LOOK AT PORN I'D VISIT ONE OF YOUR MANY EASY TO ACCESS SITES! BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT, SO LEAVE ME ALONE AND GO BACK TO YOUR OWN PERSONAL FUCKING OFF! Porn is a stupid profession anyway, anyone can have sex, so why the hell are you all making multimillions??? AND STOP SHOVING IT IN MY FACE YOU ASSHOLES!" How's that? Oh, they piss me off. Just like those damn pop-ups. How can they let it get so bad? It's not even like they're advertizing anymore, just trying to annoy us. How can I visit one of their stupid sites if it won't let me???

Anyway, does anyone have a recommendation for a program I can download that removes pop-ups and spyware? I don't think I can trust these sites I go to for help...I tried downloading one spyware remover, but I think they were in on it too...so, I trust you guys a lot more.


Hurdy Gur,
"In agony" Linsey


P.S. My dad might be able to help me too, but I'd like a variety of people to list some recommendations, in case it happens again in the future.

[PsychoAngel]

Go to Download.com

Get Lavasoft's Ad-Aware 6.0 or whatever version they have there. (1.61 mb)
http://www.download.com/Ad-aware/3000-8022-10214379.html?tag=lst-0-1


Also, DL a popup blocker.  I forgot what kind I used to have but here is the list.
http://www.download.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=pop-up+blocker&tg=dl-2001


-PA

[Linsey]

Luckily today I downloaded spybot. It seeks and destroys spyware for me. I also downloaded a pretty decent pop-up blocker. I'm a much happier camper now.

Thanks anyway. I appreciate it. I feel like a weight has been lifted after the trauma I went through. Ooh, it made me so angry! Those people have no shame!

[Nightmaretony]

Also, change your browser to Mozilla. Not only is it freeware, it doesnt invite in ad garbagfe like internet explorer does, and ytou can control better, PLUS it bolocks popups, plain and ismple. You CAN set which sites you do want opopups from, if needed. Plus it has super good control of cookies so you know what you are getting...

mozilla.org

[Linsey]

Hmm, is it faster than internet explorer? Do I need to uninstall Internet explorer to install the mozilla one? Also, my computer is running off of a signal from the computer downstairs and that's how I'm receiving the internet, do you think it will affect the one downstairs or anything? And if I already have a cable internet connection, will I still have one if I change my browser or would that be affected also?

My comp is running pretty slow today...don't know why. My pages sometimes freeze because it's waiting for the popups to show up so it can delete them, so they're slowing it down. Also, this popup blocker isn't stopping all popups...maybe I should change my browser. Just give me the details, nightmaretony. Please.

[PsychoAngel]

Honestly, Linsey.. Why the fuck do you ask for peoples help?  You always solve your own problem before anyone else gets a chance to offer advice.    

-PA

[Muse of Freaks]

Yeah, Ad-Aware is good, as is the Spybot. I have both on my laptop. I also have a pretty good popupstopper, called... *drumroll* Pop-Up Stopper. It's from Panicware. http://www.popupstopper.com will get you there. It's a very good one, you hardly even notice that popups should be there at all. And if you need one to appear, all you need to do is press and hold CTRL, which wil temporarily deactivate it. Alright, that's the end of this commercial break.

I have to say I'm slightly puzzled as to why you're suddenly bothered by so much spyware, I've had my laptop for years withouth ever doing any checking and nothing's ever bothered me.

Hey, what do you have for antivirus stuff, by the way?

[Nightmaretony]

Windows will absolutely bnot allow you to uninstall internet exploder. But thats ok. You can have both browswers on the desktop. I find Mozilla to be faster, even with mine being the full version. There is a leaner sleeker version which is browswer only called Firefox, also on the same website.

Its still pretty speedy, and I am on dialup.

I cant think of any reason it would affect your other  computers downstairs.

[Linsey]

You're right, I don't think it will affect my comp downstairs. It's a bit confusing though, the thought of having two browsers.

I still get popups for some reason, like this morning. I turned on my laptop and went online, and it was SLOW and popups were appearing, and when I tried getting rid of them they didn't disappear and everything was so delayed. It stopped after a while. I tried my antivirus thing and then my spybot. Maybe the spybot made it stop.
Anyway, this popup blocker ain't so great. I wish there was one where it would not let ANY popups through (one just got through right now, with a delay of the popup stopper reacting and yet no disappearing popup). ANOTHER GOT THROUGH! They must know I'm talking about them....Okay, that's the third one...4th...Muse, which one is yours? Mine has too much evidence that a popup is happening AND doesn't stop them all...one popup really seems to want to get through now. I got mine from panicware.com too. I actually have 2 downloaded and don't know how to uninstall them. Just delete them?

PA, my dad always thinks it's something *I* did when something goes wrong with my personal stuff. I didn't know when he'd be home so I thought I'd ask you guys if there were any good suggestions.

THESE POPUPS ARE GETTING WORSE!!! DAMN THEM ALL!!!!

Anyway, sorry, PA. Hehe. I just thought it would be good to check from two sources.

I think I might just download that mozilla thing. Why not? Maybe tomorrow...or the next day...

Muse, I have norton antivirus...suspicious question. Why do you ask? Muhuhahahaha!

I think the spybot people are listening...no more popups...they must be reading this. I swear they're gonna make me paranoid.

[Muse of Freaks]

My popupstopper is from Panicware too, as I said, I think it's the free edition, although I don't remember there being so many different ones. Maybe it's an idea to keep the popupstop notifications to a minimum, just a flashing tray icon or something, that might help things run a bit faster.

Norton is very good. The reason I asked is that all that junk is stuff that might also come from viral activity. Do a full system scan and see if you find anything. Don't forget to run LiveUpdate first though to make sure you've got all the latest info!

And do you get email on your laptop? Make sure that is scanned too!

Don't you just hate the people that come up with all that junk?  :-/

[Linsey]

Muse, I hate them with a passion. When all these popups start hitting me the moment I turn on my comp, it makes me feel as angry as if I just saw that bitch Britney Spears on the screen.

And now for a little ad of my own: GO SEE SPIDERMAN 2!

[J]

Porn is a stupid profession anyway, anyone can have sex, so why the hell are you all making multimillions

Porn isn't a stupid profession. If only I were able to be in the porn biz... Getting the ladys... getting payed thousands a day... What better job could a dude want?  

[Linsey]

It just goes to show how simple-minded a human can be.

I don't wanna get into any talk of porn, I am against it, but I really hate getting into arguements over it because I become kind of depressed....

Anyway, don't know if you were serious or not, J...although a lot of guys would like the idea of that...meh, I think you were serious, hehe.

I downloaded Mozilla. Not bad...a little different. I wish I could get rid of the "Find as you Type" thing easily. I haven't figured out how yet though. I just don't like the idea of it recording what I've previously typed and then everytime I write a letter (a,b,c type of letter)  in a search box everything that I've typed before that started with that same letter shows up underneath. It gets annoying. I don't understand the instructions on getting rid of it. I do enjoy the non popups though. Very nice.

Thank you Mozilla!

[PsychoAngel]

you become depressed because of a porn discussion? lol

[Nightmaretony]

Linsey, go into preferences,  under navigaotr, smart browsing,. and merely uncheck the 3 choices, of autocomplete, domain guessing and  internet keywords. That should put a stop to that.

One thing I find VERY useful is th trabbed browing. under file, new, then open new tab, it gives oyu a new brwoswer windo w as a tab, much faster to switch between tabs trathern than compelete windows....

[Muse of Freaks]

*blinks at all the typos there* Must be a typo demon on the loose there, Tony!

[Linsey]

I realized something...all those popups are coming from internet explorer...that means that if internet explorer is still installed, then I'll still get all those popups when I turn on my comp. That's exactly what happened this morning. None are coming from my new browser, I can tell. They're all from that damn crappy IE!!! So, I did a little searching online and looked for ways to uninstall it from windows. Luckily I think I just may have done that. But the directions were confusing. When I did a search to see if there were any internet explorer things left, it was different than before and I don't think it has a connection to the net anymore...hopefully. I may be wrong.

Nightmaretony, I didn't quite understand your directions. Where would "preferences" be located? I couldn't find anything called "smart browsing" either. I think your internet set-up looks different from mine.  I couldn't find  "navigator" either...or anything else you said, hehe. Sorry.


Hurdy Gur,
"Is it just me, or am I stupid" Linsey

[PsychoAngel]

Couldn't you go to the Add/Remove programs and just uninstall it?

-PA

[Linsey]

That was what I tried before and it didn't work...although the special directions to uninstall it involved that same area, the add/remove programs, but I think I had to go to the thing called "add/remove windows components" and delete it there. I dunno. We'll have to see if it worked. If not, I'll have to have my dad call my uncle, the computer geek.

[Linsey]

SHIT! It didn't uninstall. I am still getting popups!

[Muse of Freaks]

Am I to understand, now, that the popups appear just when you turn on the computer, and you've not done anything else yet, no browsing, no internet connection? Because that's something I haven't heard of before. (Granted, I don't know as much about these things as some people, but still, I've never had something like that happen to me.)

[SpaceMonkey]

I know someone who had a similar problem--- not sure how they ever fixed it...

I think most antivirus programs eliminate spyware & popup software on your pc, too-- at least I know my antivirus warns me of 'potentially unwanted programs'....

Try doing a virus scan... see what happens.

[Linsey]

I do a virus scan about every day, plus I check the spyware with my spybot everyday. The spybot always detects the exact same problems. I decided to download something called "stopzilla" which is a popup stopper and works a lot better than those panicware ones. It's only in demo mode so I'd have to register it...sadly, I think I have to pay for it, and I don't want to...although it works like a charm and those damn popups haven't bothered me. I know once it goes away they'll come back. I'll never rest!!! Maybe I scared the popups away though. Maybe if they can't get through for 15 days they'll think they'll never get through and give up...if only it were that easy!!!


Muse, that's true. I do not pull up yahoo or any website, I'll just turn on my comp and poof, there's a popup, and they'll appear about every ten seconds...it varies, but it's about that amount of time, and sometimes there will be two or so in a row, ALWAYS FROM THE SAME SITES!  One site is called "sandboxer.com" and other popups from sites will be a "webpage not found" kind of popup, or it will be nothing in the popup but a little curved line or something. It's insane, they aren't advertizing anything, just annoying me. Hopefully stopzilla will take care of me until the 15 day trial is over.

[SpaceMonkey]

Hmmm---

Try turning up the security level on IE. Not sure exactly where it is, probably under a selection 'internet preferences' or 'options'; something like that. VBut I know, there's a sliding bar, lets you select how secure your connection is.

But yeah, you can't uninstall the IE browser-- that's why Microsoft got sued a ouple years ago-- other browser companies felt it was unfair trading practice, becuase Microsoft made the IE broswer an integral, unremovable part of Windows.  

[dan [karcher]]

I've dealt with this so many damn times before, you have my utmost compassion.

Sometimes AdAware and the others (SpyBot, etc) simply can't nail the more stubborn of parasites.  And the more efficient LavaSoft and other protection software get, the wiser they (parasites) seemingly become.

Often, if you run both AdAware and Mcafee, between the two they'll nail all the parasites BUT...

They can't always nail the registry keys.  Therein most likely lies your problem.

This has to be done manually, and in MOSDOS mode.

If you've not done so before I can walk you through it.  The advantage in doing so is a guarantee you'll remove spyware from your pc.  The disadvantage is that it's not a click and go situation, rather it's a step by step process, and identifying and finding the offensive registry key isn't always easy at first, but do know - the effort is worth it.

What we need do now is first - run your AdAware software (6.0 and be sure to click "check for updates" BEFORE you run AdAware).

Run a Deep Scan on both your hard drive and any external drives you may have connected.

After quarantining and deleting the pesky files, copy and paste the logfile here.

From there we'll go to Step 2.

(meanwhile, no, IE can't be deleted (technically it can, but not without doing serious harm to your OS), BUT you CAN download an upgrade which will override previous files.  Try that as well.  What version of IE are you running?)

(Also, to modify your IE security level, click on "Tools," scroll and click on "Internet Options," then click the "Security" tab from where you can set your levels.  Though I have to say, security levels do nothing to prevent or delete parasite pop-ups.  Best to leave the level at medium as recommended or what you're most comfortable with).

[Nightmaretony]

Muse: at night, I turn into a pumpkin. Seriously, I grew up on the Apple ][ and GS keyboards and never really got the hang of the pc keyboard. And if you are wondering, I got A's and B's in english. I also have a habit of typing too fast,; posting my thoughts and getting the heck out of  sumitting a post before I realize that I am leaving mistakes left and right.

Linsey: pull down the Edit menu on Mozilla. The bottom is Preferences. You can then go from there.

If the pop ups are a gray box always instead of with graphics, there is a security hole in Windows Messenger which spammers exploit. In essence, they make the system OS think that its a message from Microsoft.

http://www.jmu.edu/computing/security/info/winmsg.shtml

This link explains all about it and how to disable it. If your spam popups look like the ones on the page, then they are using the Messenger security hole.

Isn't it absolutely amazing that while Microsoft purports to be setting new security standards for computing, it is their very product line which has more holes than Swiss cheese and has allowed all of this to happen? Do you realize that over 90% of all computer viruses out there arre designed and are  spread mianly by holes in Outlook Express or Windows?

The ultimate solution is to go Linux....

(this message was checked for typos; please inform me if any are found. I do not claim sanity as a reason for typos since I have this habit of purchasing amusement park rides to put in my yard. Thank you.)

[Linsey]

What's Linux?

I'm sorry Tony, but I see nothing with the word "preferences" here. I checked in my options and I checked in edit and there's nothing. WHY MUST I BE CURSED?!!! Maybe there's a different word I'm looking for? But if I do find preferences I'm not sure if I'd find the other stuff you   mentioned.

Bluedaniel, do you want me to download Adaware or just run my spybot one? I need ALL the details to kill these suckers. My interent explorer security level is on medium. I'm not sure what type of internet explorer I have. Not sure if it's 6.0 or not. Sorry. How can I check?


Hurdy Gur,
"Lost and confused" Linsey

[dan [karcher]]

Hiya Linsey,

Go to "Help," scroll down click on "About Internet Explorer."  That will show you which version you have.

Also, I'm a little confused, are you on a pc or mac?

Insofar as AdAware and SpyBot, etc., yes - DO download AdAware, here's the direct link to the download section...  http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download.

It's relatively quick and simple to install and run.

Once you have it installed, run a deepscan and we'll go from there...

[Linsey]

I have internet explorer 6.0. And I got that Adaware thing. Once I did a deep scan I deleted everything it came up with...there were 201 results, I think. I hope that wasn't a bad thing. I recognized some of the stuff on there that Spybot usually comes up with.
I'm also on a PC...or, laptop, but that would count as a PC, I think.
I'm so sorry, I forgot to post the logfile here. I didn't save it or anything...dammit. I guess I just got busy looking over the results. I looked at the logfile but didn't exactly know what to do with it. Part of me said "save it" but I didn't. Sorry.

[dan [karcher]]

All is cool, no worries.  The AdAware has the logfile saved, we can access it later.

Meanwhile, how is the puter running now?  Any popups?

Go into your program files, view by date, and tell me if any folders exist dated within the last 30 days.

Other questions...

Is your computer running at the speed you're used to?  (IE firing up, etc.)

Do a control, alt, delete to view what programs are running, are there any that look unfamiliar?  (post the list here if you can).

[Muse of Freaks]

Tony, I didn't mean that as an entirely serious criticism (hence the smiley), I hope you know that. I was just a little bowled over by the sudden barrage of typos, and wondering where they came from. I never doubted your typing and English skills, nor did I mean to imply that I did. I just have the ability to sometimes say things in such a way that they can be horribly misinterpreted, please don't hold that against me.

[Nightmaretony]

I'm not bothered. It happs when I get in the habit of typing as fast as my thoughts, and they dont seem to work the same speed as my fingers ....

[Linsey]

Sorry I haven't replied in about 2 weeks. I have no excuse, just that I didn't reply.

Anyway, I did do a "control, alt, delete" that day and it looked all good. Just the same programs as I had up, haxan and probably some other stuff I was aware of.

I don't know how to get into "program files." Where would that be located?

I didn't have any popups because I had installed a demo of "stopzilla." It was really good but if I wanted to keep it I'd have to pay for it. Anyway, the demo is now ended and still no popups...I wonder why. I actually haven't run adaware in a while, but maybe that was it. Maybe it helped. I'm gonna run it soon before I go to bed. I feel like cleaning out the system.

Oh, and my internet is working at the same speed as I'm used to.

[LunaSea]

Spyware is the most aggravating thing in the world.  I run Adaware and Spybot about every 2-3 days and it is amazing how many Data Miners, Registry Keys and crap, et al, that it finds each time.

I even installed both here at work because despite our firewall and the powers that be in MIS, I started getting massive amounts of popups here at work.  Unheard of.

So, I ran my Adaware and Spybot here and it found tons of crapola....even browsers hijackers...blah, blah, blah.  I get rid of the suckers and everything runs fine for about 3-4 days...then the pop-ups start again.  I run the programs AGAIN....and all is well.

It seems to be a neverending battle.

[J]

Bunky's computer he sold me seems to have spyware to. My laptop has been slowing down on startup probably due to spyware.

[Linsey]

I think first you need to download a spyware tracker before you do anything online with your laptop so you can eliminate them, then get a popup blocker. I like this new adaware thing. It catches more than spybot and gives a description of what it caught.

[Freebus]

I'm glad you guys are dealing wih HAXAN relavent issues here on our discussion board.

But how the hell could I blame you?  We've abandoned this fucking site lately, haven't we?

Busy as shit, folks.  Trying to bring new entertainment to you.

Don't be mad.

-ed

[Linsey]

Freebus, we're bored and we're TAKING OVER!!!

*Batman fight music starts in the background. Linsey (dressed in her go-go outfit) kicks Freebus in the stomach*

BAM!

*Freebus grabs her foot*

TUG!

*And twists it so she falls*

FWAP!

*The others join Linsey in the fight, and there's punching and kicking going on chaotically!*

WHOOP!
SWAP!


I think most of us forgot that the questions were  supposed to be Haxan related. But I saw a large texted word in bold lettering reading "Questions" and it caught my attention as a place to go for answers. So here I am.

By the way...the fight's still going on.

QUACK!
MOOSE!


Hurdy Gur,
"How come batman doesn't carry any gun/real weapons?" Linsey

[Freebus]

Hey, it's yours already.

But you won't be bored soon.  We've got some slamming stuff coming down in the next few months!  I swear!

-ed

[Shadow]

Freebus, we're bored and we're TAKING OVER!!!

*The others join Linsey in the fight, and there's punching and kicking going on chaotically!*

Too bad it was over with so quickly. There I was starting to enjoy the Bat-music and Freebus gives up.

Linsey (dressed in her go-go outfit)

I see you've traded in the Tu Tu. A very fetching new choice. Give us a roar. Yeah, baby!  

I think most of us forgot that the questions were supposed to be Haxan related.

They were? Riddle me this Freebus, a questions a question, what's the answer? (Oops still in Batman mode.) Plus I've found this whole thread very helpful.

Hurdy Gur,
"How come batman doesn't carry any gun/real weapons?" Linsey

(Tries in vein to avoid long explaination but----) You see Bat's parents were killed by a robber with a gun. Bat's doesn't like guns, so he made his whole body a weapon. Check out the animated Batman: Mask of the Phantasm if you actually want to see a good Batman movie.

But you won't be bored soon.  We've got some slamming stuff coming down in the next few months!  I swear!

But is it good FreakyLinks and Blair Witch "slamming stuff"?

~Shadow

[Linsey]

The fight doesn't have to be over...you can still kick freebus around if you want, haha. I'll turn on the batman music again. We can do this until he gives us the new stuff.

WHOOP!
PUFF!

I see you've traded in the Tu Tu. A very fetching new choice. Give us a roar. Yeah, baby!

Meow!...Oh, wait....RRROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!!!!! How's that? Grr Arg. And yes I did trade in my tu tu...forgot I was wearing it too...well, I can still land some graceful kicks in a go go outfit. If Austin Powers can do it, so can I....even though he never wore a go go outfit or kicked anyone with extreme grace...Anyway, anyone want some punch? *deviously waits for someone to fall for the joke and say yes*

I never really watched the batman series (I've seen a little bit of it) so I don't know if they described in detail what happened to batman's parents as a kid. I always have seen the show as upbeat, and not so big on depressing details. I know in the 90's movies they mention it a lot and have flashbacks...I love the Batman movies made in the 90's. Oh that Riddler, he is one to fall in love with.

Anyway, I'd certainly like to know what new stuff you'll be handing out to us Freebus. And let me be the first to have it! And thanks for thinking of us. You guys love to keep us entertained.


Hurdy Gur,
"Traded the tu tu for the go go" Linsey

[Nightmaretony]

Been wondering where ya been, dude. After the story of heading off tot he strand, didnt hear anything from anyone. Was hoping you would talk to my friend out there who has a great Venice history book which should be required reading for when you wqere out there.

In a couple of months, I have an offer of a movie location. Am selling my farm and going for a 40 acre farm or larger  in Missouri.  Job moving and all of that. Still wanted to know your opinion about the Sisyphus CD, if you licensed it or not, if you heard it or what you think about it.

And on my side, me happy, am looking to score a new hjorror movie soundtrack from one of the majors (yup, I do write music )...