# Spyware removal help needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyware-removal-help-needed/242203 "2004-04-27T02:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyware-removal-help-needed/242203/1 "2004-04-27T02:01:04Z")
I’ve already got Spyware Blaster running, and I’ve run Ad-aware, Spybot, and SpySweeper. Ad-aware is the only one that picks this up, but it can’t remove it for some reason. I’ve got this spyware called VX2 BetterInternet. I’ve got a registry key, a registry value, and a .dll file. I can’t find the registry path to delete, and my system tells me I don’t have the proper rights to delete the .dll file. FWIW, I’m running Windows XP Home Edition. I mention that because all the removal instructions I’ve found through Google have been for Windows 2000 or older. Any help would be appreciated. Please help me. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyware-removal-help-needed/242203/2 "2004-04-27T02:16:39Z")
I assume you found the instructions at a site like [Pest Patrol](http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/v/vx2.asp), but I’ve provided a link just in case. The best solution would be to download [hijackthis](http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/). Unzip the file into its own folder, and post the log, either here, or at [http://www.spywareinfo.com](http://www.spywareinfo.com) for analysis. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyware-removal-help-needed/242203/3 "2004-04-27T02:56:10Z")
A standalone tool for removing this pest has been developed, instructions and a link to download is posted [here](http://forums.broadbandmedic.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=1;t=8;st=10). I haven’t run into this one myself, so I have not personally tested this tool, but it gets rave reviews on that board. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyware-removal-help-needed/242203/4 "2004-04-27T22:41:29Z")
Here’s the log it created: Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7 Scan saved at 6:42:23 PM, on 4/27/2004 Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106) Running processes: C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\cisvc.exe C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus avapsvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32 vsvc32.exe C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32 cpsvcs.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE C:\WINDOWS\MMKeybd.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Mouse\point32.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32 askswitch.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper Professional\PopUpStopperProfessional.exe C:\Program Files\PrintKey2000\Printkey2000.exe C:\Program Files\Netropa\Traymon.exe C:\Program Files\Netropa\OSD.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\cidaemon.exe C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe C:\Documents and Settings\Lord Ashtar\Desktop\Hijack This\HijackThis.exe R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default\_Page\_URL = [http://www.dellnet.com](http://www.dellnet.com) R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = [http://www.dellnet.com](http://www.dellnet.com) R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default\_Page\_URL = [http://www.dellnet.com](http://www.dellnet.com) R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyviewer.dll O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll O4 - HKLM…\Run: [DellTouch] C:\WINDOWS\MMKeybd.exe O4 - HKLM…\Run: [POINTER] point32.exe O4 - HKLM…\Run: [CoolSwitch] C:\WINDOWS\System32 askswitch.exe O4 - HKLM…\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup O4 - HKLM…\Run: [ccApp] “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe” O4 - HKCU…\Run: [Weather] C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe 1 O4 - HKCU…\Run: [PopUpStopperProfessional] “C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper Professional\PopUpStopperProfessional.exe” O4 - Global Startup: Printkey2000.lnk = C:\Program Files\PrintKey2000\Printkey2000.exe O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000 O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html O9 - Extra button: AIM (HKLM) O9 - Extra button: [Real.com](http://Real.com) (HKLM) O9 - Extra button: MoneySide (HKLM) O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM) O9 - Extra ‘Tools’ menuitem: Messenger (HKLM) O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - [http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/swdir.cab](http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/swdir.cab) O16 - DPF: {3E68E405-C6DE-49FF-83AE-41EE9F4C36CE} (Office Update Installation Engine) - [http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/content/opuc.cab](http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/content/opuc.cab) O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - [http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20030530/qtinstall.info.apple.com/bonnie/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe](http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20030530/qtinstall.info.apple.com/bonnie/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe) O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - [http://207.188.7.150/019dde7b5490f30af916/netzip/RdxIE601.cab](http://207.188.7.150/019dde7b5490f30af916/netzip/RdxIE601.cab) O16 - DPF: {597C45C2-2D39-11D5-8D53-0050048383FE} (OPUCatalog Class) - [http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates/content/opuc.cab](http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates/content/opuc.cab) O16 - DPF: {68BCE50A-DC9B-4519-A118-6FDA19DB450D} (Info Class) - [http://www.blizzard.com/support/includes/cabs/si.cab](http://www.blizzard.com/support/includes/cabs/si.cab) O16 - DPF: {8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93} (Java Runtime Environment 1.4.0\_01) - O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - [http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37595.6528356482](http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37595.6528356482) O16 - DPF: {CAFEEFAC-0014-0000-0001-ABCDEFFEDCBA} (Java Runtime Environment 1.4.0\_01) - O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - [http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab](http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyware-removal-help-needed/242203/5 "2004-04-28T00:27:49Z")
VX2 BetterInternet is a part of the Look2Me pest. [Here are some explicit instructions for removal](http://www.pchell.com/support/look2me.shtml), as well as two automated tools ([Killbox](http://download.broadbandmedic.com/VbStuff/KillBox.zip) and [Kill2Me](http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/kill2me.zip)) for removing Look2Me and VX2 BetterInternet; please read the instructions first. Eventually, AdAware and Spybot will include it, but since it has only been in the wild for a week, they haven’t added it yet. It is a real stinker, so removal is still a little dicey. Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyware-removal-help-needed/242203/6 "2004-04-28T03:17:50Z")
The log isn’t showing too much, but you should run hijackthis again, click on “Scan” and put a check mark by the following: R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present **(Unless you used Spybot S&D to lock your home page. I’d delete them, see if it helps, and then run Spybot again to lock things.)** O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - [http://207.188.7.150/019dde7b5490f3...ip/RdxIE601.cab](http://207.188.7.150/019dde7b5490f3...ip/RdxIE601.cab) Click on “Fix checked” and delete the files. See if that helps.