Help! I've Been Invaded By Porno Worms!

Factual Questions
1

I just took another look at this thread’s title and I see it could easily be misinterpreted. Anyway…

Someone (probably my brother-in-law) managed to get some kinda porno deal onto my computer that accomplishes two things:

1: When I open my Explorer, my homepage, no matter what I set it to, comes up to “search-click.com” or “find4U.com,” and

2: I have five or six new “favorites” like “Hidden Voyeur Cams” and the like (even if I delete them and re-open Explorer - there they are…AGAIN!)

Now, I don’t cast judgement on those who enjoy that sort of thing. More power to ya. I just don’t want it on my computer (kids, you know).

BTW, I’m running Norton Antivirus Professional Edition with daily, automatic updates. I downloaded the latest version of Explorer and never miss a Windows update download. Nothing has worked.

HELP ME!

2

This question appears from time to time. Basically, you’ve been hit by adware/spyware programs, and since you use IE as browser and Windows, they will cause harm. Go to site like http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/ that can most likely detect what is the exact malicious program infecting your computer. When you know what the malware is called it’s probably easy to find instructions how to remove it. Easiest way to do that is installing a program that can remove them by itself. Two good ones are

Ad-Aware 6

Spybot Search&Destroy

and I’d recommend using both. After removing all the spyware check again to be sure they are out. Sometimes that stuff can be really irritating.

3

AdAware 6 – get the free version, it’s fine. Run it periodically, always let it check for updates, delete everything it finds. Good software.

Spybot Search & Destroy. Similar free program, also good.

Personally, I like AdAware best, but if you’re paranoid, run both.

4

Also, dump IE for Mozilla or Opera.

5

Getting rid of all my cookies and temps got rid of one just like that once.

6

It sucked even worse b/c I got it from a page that i didn’t know was porn that some jackasz linked from the straightdope last month. Out of all the porn I have ever looked up, and I get it when I wasn’t actually looking for porn.

7

Thanks loads, gang.

I tried all of the above and I’m now back to TSD as my home. (Whew!)

Still getting a pop-up for some hidden camera thing during every session but that I can live with.

Great advise. It all worked.

B

8

one more idea, hire some tech geek from the local Univeristy/computer store, set up a 50/50 split, then have the B in Law pay it. If nothing else, it’ll teach the cheap bastard to fork over the couple hundred to get his own com and internet access to get his porn