SPYWARE/ ADWARE
 

Gents, I gotta tell ya..creators of these two entites ought to be fined, jailed, and made to lose while playing video games against 14 year olds for the duration of their natural life...

I have Spyware Doctor, Personal Adware 6, AND Symantec antivirus and STILL managed to have to spend 3 flipping hours cleaning detected spyware from a SINGLE (funny video) link from my son.

All three products detected the intrusions immediately-and all three failed to delete or quarentine them.
I ended up going to safe mode and haveing to delete all the language out of my registry for each of the 10-YES 10 intrusions. AARRRRGGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!

I boot my computer up this morning-and the system scan picks these bastards up again. By the time the system scan completes-I have no less than 63 windows open on my desktop with advertisements.:eek: Everything from Norton Antivirus (cute huh?) to "XXX Horny Housewife" encounter of my choice gaurenteed within 2 miles of my home.
What is worse, is that closing MANY of the ads just generated MORE FRICKIN ADS!!! It was INSANE!

OK-rant off

Just wanted to vent a bit on the random acts of stupidity that we as consumers put up with.

Bottom line...glad I had the products to detect and identify...I wish the same products were smarter and able to RECTIFY as well.:rolleyes:

Eagle

Eagle,
I have Spyware Doctor and Norton Internet security. Haven't had any problems with anything. Maybe you should try switching over to Norton instead of Symantec. I can't remember if you pay for Symantec but I do know that with Norton you get a year of upgrades for free. As an added bonus I found out that Norton has a funny quirk. A few days before your subscription ends just uninstall Norton and then reinstall it. The program resets itself for ANOTHER free year. Spyware and Addware are more annoying than getting a virus. You can pick up Norton for $70 at BestBuy. Keep your receipt though. Norton gives you a $20 refund for buying their product.

Edited to add: A good solution for pop-ups is to install the Google tool bar. It has a built in pop-up blocker.

Norton products are made by The Symantec Corp. You have the right software, just make sure to keep it updated. Even software developers, like myself, have these problems occasionally. I hope that you got all of it cleaned off, because some of the sneakier apps can run almost unseen and hog bandwidth by connecting back to a parent app across the net. On more than one occasion I have had to reload someones computer because of these "undetectable" and very malicious programs.

Good Luck.

That I did not know.

ALL
 

Go to here:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ead.php?t=5760

Download the BHODemon software and it will most likely cure your problems.

If you have a more insidious problem, follow ALL of Dan's steps and you'll get clear of it. After you get through, leave the BHODemon active and it will catch anything that tries to latch onto'ya !!

Good Luck, and Take Care.
Martin

If you run your spyware cleaners while you're in Safe Mode they'll do a better job.

LOL...
So I run SpyDoctor-says it's clean
Just for fun I run SpyBot S&D-It finds 241 gizmo's...says it's clean
What the heck...Run ADAware- 218 things...says it's clean
Then Symantec pops up with 11 more notifications:eek:

Geez Louize...It's a wonder ANYTHING works on my 'puter:rolleyes:

I deleted everything...cookies, temp files, any and everything that the programs came up with...so far so good.

Guess the lesson learned is that only 1 program won't do the trick!
Thanks for all the help everyone.

Kyo-don't you have a class to teach? WTH you doing on the computer?!? LOL

Eagle

What's an hour of your time worth? A very good second computer is only a few hundred bucks. :p

If the 14 year old can infect it a 14 year old can learn to un-infect it. (or learn real fast NOT to visit crappy websites.) I know most households have more than one TV.;)
I've also been to crappy websites, but unlike most kids I actually read the fine print before I download some silly stuff. I also read (and heed) what my virus protection asks me like "Are you sure you want to download this." a quick "yes" will see you in a world of hurt.....

You are on a steep learning curve..... as was I a few years ago..... I also run Symantec, have not had a problem in years.... Like Kyo said, keep it updated!


TS

Sounds like your allowing active scripting VIA your browser...most likely ActiveX script is what nailed you. This should be off or set it to allow only if you authorize the scripting. btw...I never authorize that type code for videos & now you + everyone reading this knows why now.

If you want to see something funny go watch a comedy on TV... hint hint :)

Use paper and pen, it's safer.

Seriously though, just cleaning the temps out, running spyware apps, etc. is only a start.

1. Don't forget looking in Add/Remove programs for any apps you don't know about.
2. If you're using Internet Explorer set the popup blocker on high. This will solve the ActiveX problem and you can always allow popups from specific sites, like this one; which, BTW, is the only site I allow popups from on my home systems.
3. Also in IE; (this is the one most people miss), on the drop down menu click Tools, Internet Options, Settings, View Objects. Then right click on each object you don't recognize and remove it. If you remove the wrong thing, don't worry, you will be prompted to reinstall it when it's needed.
5. When you're done with all this, install the Microsoft Anti-Spyware tool. Since we started using this at work we've had no problems at all.
4. Turn on every firewall installed on the PC.

Well...

I only put up with Explorer because Outlook links to it for viewing any messages off of the boards. Other than that I use Firefox.

I think I have this thing licked...the only complaint is that it takes like 3 minutes for anything to load now :boohoo

I suck...but...this computer glitch shall pass in time :D

Eagle

Okay other than being a general pain in the ass what benefit is it to the writer of adware and spyware.

I understand people who build viruses. I just don't "get" why someone would build a spyware program...

Not all this type stuff out there is teenagers having fun...big businesses pays big bucks for data(some officially, some not). The problem is you don't know if the data collected is harmless or not...only the coders and buyers know. Things like file readers, key stroke loggers, and other data collectors are an easy thing to install from Internet users.

Well that makes sense

Thanks Dan.

Safe Surfing
 

Since I use my machine for work the kids are banned from using it on line (the wife also). There is a newer machine in each of the girls rooms. Since I am no expert on the critters I have taken both of their machines in to be swept out twice.

I told them both that the next time is on their dime. Funny how their "safe surfing" techniques have improved sharply since then.

Pete