# Get... The fuck.. Out of... My Computer! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 22, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559 "2004-01-22T02:00:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/1 "2004-01-22T02:00:48Z")
I’m livid. I’ve never really been livid before- but I am now. There’s a program on my computer, you see. If I delete it, it reinstalls itself within five minutes. It uninstalls the Google toolbar- I assume because Google Toolbar blocks popups, and this damn program wants me to have popups. It also installs another program, which ALSO wants to bug me with popups- that one uninstalls the Yahoo Companion toolbar, because _that_ toolbar also blocks popups. It constantly resets my start page to its own site. It installs it’s own toolbar- one which doesn’t do anything for me, 'cause I DON’T FUCKING WANT SPYWARE ON MY MACHINE! What’s worse, neither Adaware or Spybot can stop the damn thing- like that damn cat, it just keeps coming back. If I try to uninstall it through my control panel, it insists that it can’t uninstall unless I download something ELSE from their website! I’m talking, of course, about “Download Plus”. I’ve no idea how it got onto my machine. I’ve also no idea on how to get rid of the fucker. I’m ready to put my fist through the monitor. Can someone PLEASE explain to me why viruses (virii?) are illegal, and yet this box-jacking, ferret felching piece of shit IS legal? I don’t want it on my computer. It does things to my computer I don’t want it to do. It won’t let me uninstall it. Why the fuck hasn’t someone had these shits arrested yet, and sued the crap out of them? Or, better yet, hung them up by their scrotum in a vat of mouse vomit? ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/2 "2004-01-22T02:07:42Z")
Reminds me of that damn ad for a program that prevents you form gettings excessive pop-ups on your computer, which gets your attention through incessant pop-ups? (I havent’ encountered it often, but its’ a bitch). I also saw a another one that used a whole in windows messenger to promote it’s software to block the whole (that real bitch was i was using MSN messenger, but had the other one on my machine). Wish I could give you some advice. There honestly should be a law. Actually, see if you can find out the company name and sue them or something. This has got to be harrassment or something. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/3 "2004-01-22T02:09:56Z")
I know it’s a cliche now but - download adaware. It used to bug me when people would say that to me, but I went and got it and ran it, afterwards my comp felt so fresh and clean. Of course a day later I re-installed gro…erm something. and all those popups came right back. ---
**Author:** ![Capcha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Capcha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capcha)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/4 "2004-01-22T02:13:08Z")
Have you tried disconnecting to the internet, then try to uninstall it? ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/5 "2004-01-22T04:06:13Z")
[Spy Sweeper](http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php) catches a number of things AdAware and SpyBot miss. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/6 "2004-01-22T04:07:55Z")
Not that the pit is the right fucking forum for answers, but [these](http://www.spywareguide.com/spydet_532_download_plus.html) appear to be instructions on how to delete that. ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/7 "2004-01-22T04:31:17Z")
Yeah those programs are the worst. watch out for Jupiter something or other. Mouse vomit is to good for them. Anyways …if it is still there. Go TO \> Run \> type msconfig \> Select Startup tab and uncheck the bastard from there. Then you should be able to delete the .exe after that. Install Spyware Blaster on your machine as it prevents some of these fuckers from installling in the 1st place and works pretty well at that. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/8 "2004-01-22T04:38:52Z")
I find the description very funny 😃 DownloadPlus is a process run at Windows startup which opens pop-up adverts (many of them porn-related) **and, for some reason, weather reports.** ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/9 "2004-01-22T05:02:30Z")
As usual, I can’t help you with anything useful but I _can_ help you with grammar. “Virii” is not a correct plural for “virus.” In Latin, “virus” has no plural form - it’s a mass noun meaning “poison.” (“Viri,” iirc, is the plural of _vir_, “man.”) Solution? Use the English plural form, “viruses.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/10 "2004-01-22T06:39:51Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I know it’s a cliche now but - download adaware. It used to bug me when people would say that to me, but I went and got it and ran it, afterwards my comp felt so fresh and clean. > > Of course a day later I re-installed gro…erm something. and all those popups came right back. Um, he said adaware won’t catch it. I keep having my homepage changed on me, no matter how many times I change it back and run adaware. Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/11 "2004-01-22T07:34:16Z")
My gosh. I _so_ don’t look forward to turning on my PC after reading about this stuff. (I’ve been working exclusively on my Mac for the last several weeks.) No, no smug Mac comments from me—I have a PC as well, and I need to keep it functioning properly. I have ad-aware, so I’ll have to start it up as soon as I turn on the PC and be extra careful. Yeesh. What a pain in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/12 "2004-01-22T08:09:18Z")
Sounds like a bad one, **Lightnin’** … I’m reminded of the time some little Spyware beastie kept altering my browser startup settings; I had the devil’s own time getting rid of it. In the spirit of solidarity against true evil, I offer what I hope is [some help](http://www.spywareguide.com/spydet_532_download_plus.html). > [@](#): > > **Manual removal** : Click Start and open the Programs menu. Open the Startup submenu, right-click ‘Download Plus’ and choose ‘Delete’. > > Restart the computer and you should be able to delete DownloadPlus.exe which can be found in the Application Data folder. (On Windows 95/98/Me, the Application Data folder can be found inside the Windows folder; on Windows NT it is inside your user ‘Profiles’ folder in the Windows folder; on Windows 2000 and XP it is inside your user Documents and Settings folder.) > > If you have the MCInst loader, open Downloaded Program Files (which is in the Windows folder), right-click ‘Loader class’ and choose ‘Remove’. Sounds like there’s a couple steps to getting rid of it for good… have you tried all of this? On [this site](http://www.spy-bot.net/DownloadPlus.asp) they repeat most of the same instructions, but add this: > [@](#): > > You can also delete the key ‘HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\0x7A69’ in the registry (Start-\>Run-\>regedit) to clean up, if you like. If you’re comfortable editing the Windows registry (and I think you are), give that a shot. And if _that_ doesn’t work, here’s some tips that are even more in-depth, from [Pest Patrol](http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/d/downloadplus.asp). The “Manual Removal” section is quite detailed. **Guin** , what you’ve got sounds something like what I had such a hard time getting rid of last year on my work laptop. Ad-Aware never did anything about it, but [Spy-Bot](http://www.spy-bot.net/) finally cleared it out. Try that… I use both pretty religiously nowadays. All this shit should be illegal. This is the Pit, right? _raises fist_ _Fuck 'em all!_ Right, off to scan my machines… again. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/13 "2004-01-22T13:30:36Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Um, he said adaware won’t catch it. > > I keep having my homepage changed on me, no matter how many times I change it back and run adaware. Fuckers. Get a firewall to keep the bastards out, too. I like Zonealarm (it’s free), but there are others. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/14 "2004-01-22T17:08:05Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I keep having my homepage changed on me, no matter how many times I change it back and run adaware. Fuckers. **Guin** , sounds like you have a browser hijacker. Download [HijackThis](http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/) and check your system out. There’s also more info about hijackers on [spywareinfo.com](http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/) – specifically, scroll down to the “Hijack Removal” section. The rest of the page is also interesting, one highlight pointing out how AOL can insiduously sneak around on your PC. While you’re at it, I’d recommend for you to download either [Mozilla](http://www.mozilla.org/) or [Mozilla Firebird](http://www.mozilla.org/products/firebird/). IMO these are superior browsers to IE in every way, and have built-in popup blocking. Your IE bookmarks are automatically transferred when you install these programs, so nothing is lost. Firebird is a web browser only, whereas Mozilla also contains an HTML editor and e-mail client, making it twice as big of a download. ---
**Author:** ![Rhelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e480ec/32.png) [@Rhelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhelle)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/15 "2004-01-22T17:15:25Z")
I was having a froth inducing hard time with some spyware (esp somefuckingthing called perfectnav). I had ashampoo recommended to me and it worked!! Great program for dll problems. 🙂 [http://download.com.com/3000-2086-10249180.html?tag=lst-0-2](http://download.com.com/3000-2086-10249180.html?tag=lst-0-2) (free to try, fully functional trial version). ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/16 "2004-01-22T19:21:11Z")
Farking hamsters. **Yosemitebabe** - Some of us, nay, _ **MOST** _ of us PC users don’t have these problems. A little common sense in downloading and clicking ‘yes’ and ‘next’ while online will take you far. I know it’s confusing and difficult and purposely that way these days. Everyone out there is trying to get as many “sets of eyes” to their website and it gets more “dog eat dog” out there all the time. Use your head when agreeing to anything, any popup, any ad, any download and you’ll go far. Arm yourself with an updated virus tool and AdAware and you shouldn’t have any trouble. When I run AdAware on my machines, I get very few hits and those are all cookies anyways. This is on a yearly basis-I never run AdAware more often than that. Relax, you’ll be fine. Just use your head. Sam ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/17 "2004-01-22T22:30:20Z")
Ok, I have AdAware on my computer, but I just downloaded the SpyBot that **Avalonian** recommended. SpyBot says I have a keystroke logger residing on my harddrive. The file identified is part of an old DOS program that hasn’t been modified since 1996. I don’t want to simply delete files willy-nilly, especially since I need that DOS program to work. Any suggestions? I can’t re-load the DOS program if I screw it up, but I really don’t want a potential key logger hanging on to my every word. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-the-fuck-out-of-my-computer/225559/18 "2004-01-22T22:32:52Z")
[QUOTE=Avalonian] Sounds like a bad one, **Lightnin’** … I’m reminded of the time some little Spyware beastie kept altering my browser startup settings; I had the devil’s own time getting rid of it. > [@](#): > > You can also delete the key ‘HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\0x7A69’ in the registry (Start-\>Run-\>regedit) to clean up, if you like. If you’re comfortable editing the Windows registry (and I think you are), give that a shot.\*\*Or if you’re on XP, **Lightnin’** , you can try to have Windows itself restore the registry to something prior to the problems. Instructions to do so can be found in a thread I started on a similar subject, the title is something like “what the hell happened to my computer?” I’d post a link but the hamsters are refusing to search.