I've just installed AOL 9.0 VR on this computer. Ever since,I've been getting a pop-up headed " Active Update" telling me that the following update is ready to install: Security Update: Critical. AOL has identified a security vulnerability...

A look on the net confirms this is a fake, not from AOL, and a means to install a virus, or worse.

How do I get rid of it? People on the net say that it is in a file anotify.exe and that that should be deleted. Fine,but I don't know how to delete the file nor whether doing so brings other problems.

Fred, Read this first
www.jimmydaniels.com/2006/11/a...n-active-update-fix/
Then further down the page Try this to get rid of this Nasty

quote:

I realize your original post was done way back in November. The annoying piece of garbage known as “AOL Core Services - Active Update” is still around and some people, like me, are seeing it for the first time.

Your instructions were VERY helpful and most appreciated.

If you want to keep it up to date, you might consider adding the following:

1. It’s entirely possible a user might find BOTH anotify.exe and aolsoftware.exe and that both of them will be running when they look under Processes in Task Manager. I found one instance of anotify.exe and two of aolsoftware.exe, all running and consuming system resources.

2. Killing them in Task Manager, brought up by Ctrl-Alt-Delete or via the Task Bar, will only stop the running instances of them — it doesn’t get rid of the programs, so they’ll restart. You have to delete the programs themselves.

3. In order to find them via Windows Explorer, you have to include system folders in the search, and possibly also hidden files and folders — I included both so I’m not sure if the latter was necessary. In any event, I found both anotify.exe and aolsoftware.exe and deleted them both. The two names also surfaced as Prefetch files, so I deleted them as well.

I just did all this and then rebooted and restarted AOL and neither the files nor the processes, nor the pop-up, came back, so thank you again for your guidance.

PS The Prefetch folder is in the Windows Folder and delete all AOL references here

And the second question, Bedstor: How do I delete the file, once found? I can find it easily enough.

quote:

And the second question, Bedstor: How do I delete the file, once found? I can find it easily enough

This is Best done offline as the Software can regenerate another copy(As its in use)
Not had a "use" of the search on Vista
Perhaps is the same layout as XP?

Click Start then Search on the Start menu

In the Box marked File Name(Vista will call it something similar) Enter anotify.exe
and in the lower "Look in" menu box turn the setting to Local hard drives (C://) Setting is the same as My Computer (if you are not sure)

Click search and In a few minutes it will display all Incidences ofanotify.exe Delete all of these then repeat the search for aolsoftware.exe (50/50) chance of seeing this
Again delete if its seen
The Prefetch Folder can be accessed By entering in the RUN Box PREFETCH
This is a Buffer file/folder that generate Web pages a bit faster and... on my computer they are both Present! Viz
ANOTIFY.EXE-03FC7928.pf (102k)
and
AOLSOFTWARE.EXE-0F492342.pf (110K)
They will regenerate when AOL is restarted
I think the AOL software is getting a Bit tempramental now and I wondered how you connect up? If you Have a Voyager Broadband modem (Grey with 3 lights) or a Router? If its the Latter there is No Connection software nor Password or AOL Browser (straight onto the Your homepage)...( Does Not Show the "Double Arrows")
with the Voyager there is still a click on "Password" routine but by passes the AOL Software(Its semi redundant) The older method was with the AOL Software...(Shows the Double Arrows)
If this is you, Then Give AOL Customer Service a calling and Ask them about DialBB
Have to be online and listen to the instructions involves about 2 settings changes in the "Network Connections" and maybe your Firewall? About a minutes work.

PS Is your AOL Popup stopper Turned ON?