Some program, Ad Serve, has mysteriously been installed on my computer, and I have no idea how to get rid of it. Whenever I us my IE, Ad Serve opens up, causing ad pop-ups and adding new bookmarks to my computer.
I have tried Ad-Aware and Spyblaster, and neither work. I think it may be slowing down my computer as well, but that could be my imagination.
Have you tried Spybot? Even though I run AdAware frequently, I found a lot of suspicious files with Spybot. It’s easy to install and use, and free (though they DO ask for a donation if you’re happy with it). When I say “easy to install” I do not mean “prepare to tear your hair out”, I mean “I wish everything was this easy”.
As a general rule of thumb for this type of problem; (rules actually)
Run task manager to see what is actually running in the background - identify suspect programs.
Check the install/uninstall software utility to see if it is in there.
Search the startup menu for unauthorized startups.
Update online, then run Adaware.
Update online, then run Spybot.
Reboot.
Run Adaware.
Run Spybot.
Check for the rogue program - do a file search and see if it shows up.
If it is still intact and causing problems, do a Google search for AdServe (or whatever the name of the trojan or bug) and read up on the latest tricks to get it off your machine.
AdAware and SpyBot? Both Lynn and whuck are saying that both are needed? Really? I’m only skeptical because I often check out services started, and tasks running - and run AdAware semi-occasionally and it only finds rogue cookies. Hrmm.
Think belt and suspenders; one catches what the other misses. I do it too.