Adware?! POP-UPS!!?!

[Leonah]

My computer's acting up!!! I don't think it's anything too, too terrible. But I think it's Adware ><. I see my Norton blocking things like "trogan" and "info stealer" and a lot of other things thats made my eyebrow raise...

And I'm getting POP-UPS!!!!!!!!! DAMN POP-UPS!! I've NEVER had them on my computer!!! And my computer's just be all around slower, and freezing for a few seconds.

I've scanned a lot(with norton), and at first it picked up adware, but then I fixed it and got it off my computer(i thought). Also tracking cookies, but those arent anything im worried about. But nothings turned up extremely serious on scans...(though a lot of the things blocked, i looked at the details - *shudder*)

If you think it's anything else then Adware, then please tell me ><;;

Everyone's told me Norton isn't very good, and well, that's the only thing i've ever used, and i've never had computer troubles...But now I am!! I'm not sure what happened...
Actually, this 'friend' sent me a website, and when i got to it, it was really slow, and froze - and THEN all this shit started!!! So I'm sure that has something to do with it!!!

Anyone have suggestions? Help? Comments? COOKIES?!

'cause I'd like to bite some heads off of animal crackers at the moment. T_T ....

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Leonah on 2007-07-04 17:46 ]</font>

[Kano-Okami]

Get Search&Destroy.
It's a good program that gets rid of problems like that. Even makes an immunity to prevent the re-occuring problem. You can download it from download.com, just search search&destroy.

And for god sakes, start using firefox, and stop using Internet Explorer! (if you haven't already)
and stop visiting porn sites, they're like the STDs of the internet

[Uncle_bob]

lolfirefox

Get a firewall, and decent anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. Firefox is a memory whore, get Opera if you want an alternative internet browser

[Mayu]

Fire Fox

Opera

Are the best options for browsers

AVG Anti virus is what I recommend to you

Spybot Search and Destroy <3 <3 Owned my spyware -_- and I didn't even know I had like 400 problems

Ad-aware never fixed <.< soo go go Spybot

[Khaleb]

If you're getting that many popups, then there is a decent probability that you might be the victim of a browser hijacker... or (even worse) you may have contracted Gator. If that's the case... then get off my internets, you filthy infected thing!

Just kidding...

I would first try using both "AdAware" & "Spybot: Search & Destroy". In my experience, both of these programs (while being some of the best) still tend to miss a few things here and there. Using both will negate this problem... just don't run them both at the same time (run one, then the other... order is unimportant).

Also... make sure you update the definitions as soon as you install them.

If you do have some of the trickier things, like a hijacker, then you may need some more specialized tools (example: CWSShredder for the CoolWebSearch browser hijacker). Just make sure that you are getting these tools from a reliable source. Preferably from an un-infected PC.

One final note: you might want to disconnect from your network when running these programs. Some particularly nasty things try to download new spy/adware during the removal process.

I hope this helps,
-K

[Sinue_v2]

I haven't used "Search & Destroy" since an episode a few years back where I had some spyware that it wouldn't detect or remove. I generally keep two or three spyware programs installed at any time. Right now it's AVG Anti-Spyware, Ad-Aware, and Spyware Doctor. Spyware Doctor has proven to be great at detecting spyware - but won't clean it unless you register. However it will give you the path to the registry changes or program so that you can manually remove it. So I keep that on-guard, and then run an ocassional AVG and AA scan, usually once a week.

And yes, you should switch to FireFox or Opera. I would recommend FireFox, if only for the plethora of user-made extensions like Text-To-URL, Video Downloader, Popup/Flash blocker, Image zoom, ect. I don't know if Opera allows this sort of opensource expansion, but I haven't been given reason enough to switch and find out yet.

Personally, I'd also recommend you ditch Norton. It's a hugely popular program due to it being distributed with many new PC's and is one of the most likely to be targeted by viruses or malware seeking to disable anti-spyware/virus programs. It's also a huge resource hog, and unless you register (I believe) it will retain limited functionality. For Anti-Virus, I would suggest AVG, but others might have better suggestions.

Also, if you're running behind a router - you don't necessarily have to run a personal firewall. You can, if you want, but you should be alright so long as you close all unnecessary ports on the router. You can even set MAC permissions and WEP protection to keep your home network from being compromised by outside connections. My aunt & uncle live in a condo with several other tenants who run wireless networks - and I was almost appalled by the number of tenants who weren't protecting their networks (including my Aunt & Uncle). I had access to nearly every single network in the building.

But if you still want to run a personal firewall for an extra layer of protection - I'd probably recommend ZoneAlarm, which seems pretty standard fare. Other users could probably give you recommendations on better firewalls.

I would also recommend: ScottyDog, Spyware Blaster, and CCleaner. Scotty prevents registry changes without user permission. Spyware blaster attempts to fix vulnerabilities in FireFox and IE6/7 before they become a problem, and CCleaner is great for fixing registry problems and cleaning up unnecessary folders & files. These three programs can save you a lot of headaches later on - and only ScottyDog is a memory resident program (always running), but consumes neglegable resources.

[Leonah]

Thanks everyone!!!!!

Stupid me though, I forgot I was going on vacation the next day I posted this! So I'll have to figure all this out when I get back...

So these are free? I'm sorry to sound cheap but I reaaally don't have the cash for a 50$ - 80$ a month virus protection(though...i'd love to T_T)

I hear firefox is better, but isn't it slower? And makes useing PSO and what-not harder to use(for PC)? I used Opera and really I HATED it, the same with the Apple internet(whatever it's called)

A gator? I don't think it is...I just believe it's adware. [i looked it up and it's pretty much whats happening]

Also there's this weird virus scan(that ive never seen) that keeps trying to 'scan' my computer...I'm too scared to let it XD I'm so worried for my compy. Nooow I gotta wait for 10days. As long as i'm not on the internet, nothing happens..So, i hope it'll be alright ><;

Thanks for all the help everyone!!! <3 Definately going to download um

[Sinue_v2]

Apple's browser is Safari right? Yeah, I had to use that when I was at my Aunt & Uncles in Chicago. Hated it.

Everything I mentioned is free, except for Spyware Doctor. And yeah, Firefox is a resource hog, so if you have a slower PC you should probably learn to like Opera. Personally, I like the greater expansion and support - and the resources taken up aren't a big issue. I used to run it on a Windows XP Pentium II w/ 312Mb of Ram.. so I'm sure your setup could handle it without problem.

Firefox 2.0 (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/)
AVG Anti-Virus (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-virus/us/frt/0)
AVG Anti-Spyware (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-spyware/us/frt/0)
AVG Anti-Rootware (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-rootkit/us/frt/0)
AdAware Anti-Spyware (http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007-Free/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5)
Spyware Doctor (detect only) (http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/)
Winpatrol Scotty Dog (http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html)
Spyware Blaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)
CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/)
ZoneAlarm (http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10039884.html)

All of the above are free, or are free with limited functionality - but all of which have indefinite time periods. (None of that 30-90 trial bullshit) Although some of these, such as Spyware Blaster, do not automatically update. CCleaner requires you to reinstall the program with each update (it's fast and painless, don't worry) and Spyware Blaster requires you to manually download updates - so you'll definitely want to keep your PC's security in mind. I'd try to set up a regular maintenance schedule for your PC where you update your security, run your scans, defrag, backup, clean your registry, ect. Some of these you can set to automatically run, but others you'll have to do manually. Depends on the program.

[xxShinobi]

Firerox ftw. It's all I use! haha.

Well I have adware and norton too. Oddly enough when you run an adware scan I've come to find out Norton will pick up things that adaware is scanning. I usually have adaware take care of it since it found it. I dunno if Norton things adware is a "bad guy" looking for other "bad guys" or what. But whenever I've seen a trojan dropper on a computer the only kind I've seen are doing what you're doing. They cause pop ups and steal much of your RAM (which explains your system slowdown)

My friends computer got one and Norton could only tell me the location. I had to go in and find the exact file or cab and remove it. Don't try to get rid of it through Norton or adware if you haven't already. Sometime they can become ghost files and be on there forever if you try that. Manually get rid of it. I've used adware longer than I have Norton. It does a good job. Stick with them both. I honestly think their the best virus software out there...next to common sense of course.

And finally...stop at Mozilla.com and get Firefox! You seriously will not regret it.

[Leonah]

Sinue_V2 thank you so much for all the links http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif!!!! That's a big help.

I'm still on vacation but only 5 more days. I'm really glad you all knew what to do >< Adware wont make my computer crash or anything right? And as long as i don't download anything from the sites it gives me I shouldn't get bugs or any of that other stuff right?

Another Question(sorry!): Can I have Firefox & Internet Explorer? I'll prolly try out FF, but I don't want to not be able to go back to internet explorer(but from the sounds of it i wont!) The thing is I've never had a problem with it before..grr..

I'll definately download some of them virus things..It's hard to play or use it because of all the pop-ups and sluggishness..

Thanks Everyone, when I get home I'll fix my compy up, and tell you all if it works out!!! http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_smile.gif Thanks again!

[xxShinobi]

Yheap. I just recommend when you open it for the first time it'll ask to be set to your default browser. Do it. Even if you don't like it and uninstall it all the settings with be restored if you decide to get rid of it. That's the nice thing about firefox. but yeah you can have both. Hell, my computer has four different internet browsers!

Adaware will NOT harm your computer. All it'll do is help. Been using it for a couple years now so take it from me.

[Sinue_v2]

Also, I would suggest that when you get home and go to download and install these programs - do so through SafeMode. You can enter safemode by pressing the F8 key as Windows first starts to boot up. Select The "SafeMode with Networking" option. Most of these programs can be installed through SafeMode - but a few might not work. I THINK AVG Anti-Spyware was one of them. Anyhow, setup, configure, and scan with whatever programs you can get installed through safemode first. Once you finish up scanning there, restart the computer normally - install the programs that didn't want to install in safemode, and then configure/scan with those programs.

It'll be a lengthy process, but worth it. Also, as said - I would recommend running at least two spyware programs. They don't have to be running simultaneously, so you can leave one on-guard and then just do periodic checks with the other one in order to save on resources. The reason for this is because there is a wide array of spyware out there - and no single company offers complete protection. You'll likely find spyware discovered with one program that the other one couldn't pick up - and vice versa. To make matters worse, some spyware is made with avoiding detection in mind, modifying the datatables of your scanner, or worse disabling it completely. Running multiple anti-spyware programs reduces the risk of having some slip through undetected.

Finally, and I'm sure you already do this, but make sure you keep up-to-date on your Windows Security updates. That's one of the most important maintenance steps you can take.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sinue_v2 on 2007-07-11 01:14 ]</font>

[Leonah]

ahh!!

The Ad-Aware showed a virus, both with the word 'trogan' in it!!! And when I tried to remove it, it wouldn't take it off!!! Or even quarantine it!! http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_frown.gif What the??
(i also am useing FireFox...it's alright..)

EDIT:

I got it all off!! *wipes sweat off brow*
My computer still gets popups!!! But it's not as slow, nor as 'buggy'. I didn't know that there was so manyn trogans and viruses and malware and adware on it!! YAY ADAWARE!!!!

THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Leonah on 2007-07-21 17:34 ]</font>