All right, I’m using my old computer because I was having problems with my new one-the mouse broke and the new one I bought won’t work with that computer (I called Compaq, it’s a long, involved story), so in the meantime, here I am on this older one, which doesn’t have Norton or anything like that.
Well, I’m running Spybot and Adaware several times a day and I STILL keep getting this hideous spyware, and I have to go into programs and delete the entire thing just to get rid of it! Spybot and Adaware don’t detect it, I have to go through the uninstall (which makes you fill out questions before it allows you to uninstall, etc).
As this isn’t a computer I use alot, I’d rather not have to download any new browsers, but is there some kind of firewall setup or free virus program I could find? This stuff is fucking evil!
You might try the Security Task Manager, which identifies and rates the threat potential of all running processes on your system. It might at least help you identify the particular beast so you can tell us what it is, and get more specific advice on fixing the problem. In any case, supplying a bit more information is absolutely critical to getting a computer problem solved, like what platform, OS, browser, and the symptons you are experiencing, at the very least. Your entire post boils down to a rather uninformative “I have spyware, help!” sort of thing. Just FYI.
Sorry 'bout that. I’m just so frustrated with all the computer problems I’ve been dealing with lately. GRRRR…
Okay, I’m on Windows XP, IE6, I believe. This program is the kind that puts new toolbars on my browser, new homepage, new sites in my Favorites, and when I try to remove it through “Add/Remove”, it tells me it does not have the files necessary to uninstall it. Some of them, I was able to go to Programs and just delete the folder. (I know that doesn’t always do it, but that was all it was allowing me to do.)
There was something called Side Search, Search Assist, WebRebates, Navy Search, etc. It’s insane.
Hi Guinastasia
I’m not doubting you, I promise… but perhaps you don’t have the latest versions of Spybot and adaware?
Uninstall the old ones, and download this adaware and this spybot . Run the scans, put a check mark beside everything it finds.and let them rid you of what it finds.
Search & Destroy 1.2. I checked for updates-it said there weren’t any.
Adaware-, um, lemme check Adaware 6.0.
Like I said, since I don’t use this computer all that much, it’s not anything I’m interested in spending a ton of money and effort on. I just want to be able to use it to surf the web until I get the issues resolved with my Compaq.
If Ad-Aware or Spybot don’t do it, try getting CWShredder. I don’t recall if the sites you mention are CoolWebSearch variants, but if it is, that will clean it.
If all else fails, download and run hijackthis. Save a log and post it here so someone can analyze it.
But, since I got the mouse working on my new computer (using the USB port), I’m back on, and I’ve downloaded the updates to Adaware and Spybot, even though I’m not having a problem on this one.
(Man, when I ran Adaware on the old computer, it came up with 359 files!!! YIKES!)
Hey Guin, you’ve probably heard this before, and you may have your own reasons for not doing it, but it really will help you to stop using IE and to shift to a browser like Opera or, even better, Firefox.
Also, i like Spywareblaster. In runs in the background whenever you’re using your computer (although it’s not a resource hog, and doesn’t slow your system down), and it helps prevent the bad stuff from getting on your computer in the first place.
Remember also that getting 359 hits with an AdAware search is not necessarily a sign that you have a problem. AdAware counts cookies in its search, and cookies can be a good thing. Case in point, on the SDMB, where they prevent the need for signing in every time you visit.
Norton, I believe, has a firewall connected with it, and I have the XP firewall.
(Norton’s another issue-for some reason, they won’t send me my password-even though I paid for my subscription after the trial period, when I had to do a recovery recently it set it back, and now it’s telling me that it’ll expire in 30 days. And I can’t get into my account at Symantec!)
I’ve heard of Opera and Mozilla, and Foxfire, or whatever, but for the time being, I’m sticking with IE and Netscape, if only because I’m stubborn and don’t like change.
That’s nice. Turn it off–it sucks. It’s only marginally better than having no firewall at all, admittedly, but you’d be far better off with a decent one such as the free ZoneAlarm.
You can have Norton Antivirus, you can have Norton Internet Security(firewall), you can have Norton Anti-Spam, or you can have any combo you like. I just called them today to ask WTF happened to the new software I was promised, and the 2005 stuff isn’t shipping until the first week of October.
When you paid for the original product, you should have been able to print a page showing your order number. Call the toll-free number at Symantec and explain the deal, and they will reset your expiration date. I had a similar situation after a system crash a few years ago and they were good about it.
