# pop-ups and spyware and trouble, oh my

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by Meka (carpe Diem!) on Saturday, 04-Aug-2007 12:59:18

Hello there:
I'm having a few things going wrong at once, so I hope that someone will be able to assist me. My computer has pop-ups everywhere. What do you recommend as a pop-up blocker? the google toolbar has worked extremely wellup until now, but even when on the zone I am having these troubles. Earlier this morning, my computer just seemed to go absolutely nuts, randomly downloading stuff all over the place. Of course it downloads something called win-anti-spy which is supposed to clean spyware but we all know that it *is* spyware. I'd just run addaware earlier this week and I'm not sure of why all of this craziness is going on. I ran it again, of course, and although it got rid of the ever annoying win anti-spyware and several other troublesome items, the problem doesn't seem to be resolved.
The computer takes longer to restart and it's all sort of unraveling in to one great big huge mess. I am unable to hardly get on the zone, I'm lucky that I am here at all. If possible, could any responses be emailed to jaliyana@gmail.com since I can't seen to use internet explorer too well at the moment.
Due to being unable to download the latest and greatest, it would be extremely helpful if someone could assist me via email or we can chat via IRC.
Thank you so much.
Meka

## Post 2 by buk buk buk (move over school!) on Sunday, 05-Aug-2007 18:19:20

Meka? After i sent the software i got this message:
Delivery to the following recipients failed.
jaliyana@gmail.com. Lmao! Why?
About your problem follow these tips. Shall we?
First copy undesirable link.
Second open internet explorer and go to tools, internet options... and hit enter.
Third now press ctrl+tab until you hear privacy page and press tab until you hear "settings sites button..." then hit spacebar, paste the link? press tab and hit "manage sites block button" then ok, meka? congratulations, poof, it's gone!
HTH!

## Post 3 by jeffreyshockley (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Sunday, 05-Aug-2007 23:16:39

Hi,
Have you installed the latest deffinitions for Add-aware recently? If not, it might be a good idea to do so since new things are comming out all of the time.
Another piece of anti spyware that works good and that is accessible is Spybot Search and Destroy. I don't know the URL where it can be found, but I'm sure if you do a Google search for it, you will most likely find it. It is freeware.
Hope this helps,
Jeffrey

## Post 4 by fuzzy101 (The master of fuzz!!) on Monday, 06-Aug-2007 0:02:42

A program called hit man pro should do the trick.
It incorperates several spiwhere programs into one and puts them all at there most sensitive levels.
Also doing things like disc clean up will help some too.
Oh and this program is free by the way though a couple of these programs are just trail ones.

## Post 5 by Meka (carpe Diem!) on Monday, 06-Aug-2007 8:27:34

Hi there.
Just to give an update of the current situation. I ran AVG which said that there was no virus. I ran ad aware and a program called super anti-spy which found tons of stuff and quarantined as well as got rid of things, but when I restarted the computer I still had some of the same issues. Someone from here sent me sygate over aim because at the time, I was having difficulties with going to websites without the computer either A. lagging or B. still downloading random stuff and playing some of the most godawful caterwauling music and vocals that I have ever heard in my life.
I am also using a pop-up blocker called Ad SmasheR, which seems to be catching the ads.
This craziness was happening even if I did not have IE open and I may have lost a nice head full of hair after pulling most of it out.
I am also using a program called Trojan remover which found several things but can't seem to remove them all - I suspect that I'll need to run this stuff in safe mode and promise to sell my firstborn children in order to get some sighted assistance.
I have sort of an arsenal going but yet the problem is still persisting, although I have noticed a great deal of improvement due to what I have already downloaded and run. I will try your suggestions, as well.
Everything was up to date and had the latest definitions before I ran them.
ahh, and bukbukbuk, gmail will not allow me to receive anything with a .exe extension, not even if it is zipped. I didn't realize that at the time. I've learned a lot this weekend, let me tell you.
Thank you all for the suggestions and assistance, and thanks to everyone who has listened to me whine and gnash my teeth with the anger and hatred of a thousand nuns. *smiles*
Meka

## Post 6 by buk buk buk (move over school!) on Monday, 06-Aug-2007 18:05:25

Meka? i like your accent! mmm! i deadly wanna learn it!

## Post 7 by The Lil Dark Piggy (This site is so "educational") on Monday, 06-Aug-2007 23:24:47

What about Windows Defender from Microsoft. It is good too. Its freeware, too you can find it on Microsoft's website. I don't know the website for it, but just try it. It should find alot of stuff too. You can also set what time you want it to scan, like what day and if you want it to scan that same day weekly, that sort of thing.

## Post 8 by Arigorn (Account disabled) on Friday, 10-Aug-2007 0:19:24

Spyware blaster is a good program. there are many programs. I recommend running more than one, because as you've noticed, Ad-Aware doesn't get rid of everything. It gets rid of ads.

## Post 9 by The Shuck Fitter (My name is Liam) on Wednesday, 22-Aug-2007 8:39:26

I had some really icky spyware on this machine, endedup running avast antivirus, and it cleaned it all up.

## Post 10 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Sunday, 26-Aug-2007 19:37:41

yup..sames to be the same thing all the time with windows users. never actually using the machine just cleaning it. go to www.releases.ubuntu.com/feisty, download ubuntu burn the iso with burncdcc and stick it in and reboot poof no more popups and for that matter no more windows! have fun, and refer to my other posts about linux..

## Post 11 by Ukulele<3 (Try me... You know you want to.) on Tuesday, 28-Aug-2007 21:32:14

I am having the same problems too. My man clicked on a link on the all in play page and now, I'm having popups like crazy! I can't change my home page to google which was my orriginal homepage and even when I am not online, my browser opens up and brings me to these weird websites. In my internet options, it says that my homepage is "about blank." I've tried and tried to change it back to google but it refuses to change. I've tried scanning with AVG but it also says no threats found. I've tried using Mcafee but can only scann my comp but not remove the 37 infected files. I really don't know what's going on. Can someone help me with this? I will try "hit man pro" and hope for better results. Thanks in advance.
Michelle

## Post 12 by Ukulele<3 (Try me... You know you want to.) on Thursday, 30-Aug-2007 21:00:51

After using hitman pro, I was able to change my homepage back to google but am still getting those crazy popup adds whenever I try going online. I don't know if I am using hitman pro incorrectly or if there are any settings I had to fix. I tried looking for a help file for the program but was unsuccessful. What i've been doing so far is hitting start which is the button that pops up as soon as I open the program. Is that the right thing to do? If anyone could help, that would be great. I don't believe the buttons are labeled so don't really know if I'm doing the right thing. But at least my homepage is back to normal. lol
Michelle