Hi,

I think my computer was attacked by spyware of some sort last week . Words on some web pages are now hyperlinks, and I get pop ups all the time now. The top of my Internet Explorer window page has changed too !

Any ideas on how to get rid of this?

Thanks

Here is a link to similar problems with Adware. This links also containcs several links to AdAware, SpyBot and also instructions on how to set up the various programs.
CLICK HERE

Thank you for the quick reply!
I downloaded AdAware, but it said I needed to purchase the full version to fix the problem .

I then downloaded Spybot 1.3 and it found many problems and fixed them. All seems well now except that the top of Internet Explorer (toolbar) is still different. The hyperlinks are gone and the pop ups seem to at bay!

Thank you very much.

Hey Koz.... here's another download for you. It does NOT get rid of Adware, but, prevents it from depositing.
SPYBLASTER

Thanks again cswchan. I downloaded and installed it this morning. I ran a check before I did and sure enough a few of those spyware thingies came back . There were only a couple and nothing as bad as before. I cleaned them out and installed Spyblaster.

Thank you!

Hope I'm not too late?
Run this scan (Does a tiny download 1st) it will tell you if there are any Trojans operating on your computer. Takes about 10 minutes depending on what is stored.
I have 0 as I too am running SpywareBlaster , and my Macafee Firewall are combining to give Double protection against these Pests
www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/trojanscan.asp
What's your score?

Just a short note to go with bedstor's post. The trojan checker will NOT work with anything but IE 5 or above. I tried it with both Netscape and FireFox.... doesn't work.

bedstor,
Excellent site! Thanks for the link, it'll come in handy due to all the pc's that come to me to be fixed with Trojans on them, and I have had a few lately.

chris

Never too late, thank you bedstor . I have Internet Explorer 6.0

I ran the scan (took about one minute) then my Internet Explorer window closed automatically. Does that mean it found nothing?

Koz
I'm confused too IE shouldn't close down like that.Could be the remains of the old tool bar program?
Download this program EasyCleaner (file size is 1.4 MBs) which I find is a great housekeeping utility for the PC
Everything is accessible from 1 main control panel and there is lots of help in the FAQ (in Plain English)
www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,16180,00.asp

2 jobs to do....
1) Hit the Registry button top left corner
click the following buttons in this order: Find>Select All>Delete All
press "Close" to return to the Control Panel page
Note If any have a red Mark against them then repost.(don't delete yet )
2nd Job Look in the top right hand corner for the Unnecessary Button (Recycle bin icon)
Bit of prep work here Koz notice the tick boxes? tick all bar the Browser cookies and Browser History , Means you'll have to manually log on everywhere next time you are online,if you delete these
There is also a custom directories box which might be "greyed out"? This too should be unticked because you might delete something important
Now to work... this section works much the same as the Registry section except there are no
status lights against the findings
Every thing that is found is Ok to delete
Click the following buttons in this order: Find >Select All>Delete All
This scan will take a while to complete
and All the "deleted files" are sent to the Recycle Bin by default And there is an Undo button(Red cross icon) on the Control Panel to restore if you wish?
TIP:If the program jams when you try to delete your findings ? (only bug I found in Program) restart the scan give it a few minutes then press the Stop button ,then delete whats shown. Then repeat the scan, takes a few minutes longer

Doing this job alone acts like a mini Defrag Your machine will speed up. In fact doing it before Defragging your computer will really give your machine a hefty speed boost Best Resource Cleaner program on the web and it's free
Run this every month and it will keep your computer running at nearly "Factory Fresh" speeds

Thanks again bedstor.

I downloaded and ran EasyCleaner. I had to download it twice due to when I went to install it the installation program said some files were missing . The second attempt it loaded but took a long time to install. Once installed I followed your instructions, although I was “click happy ” and did not inspect the hundred and something files before deleting them from the registry. (I did make a back up before I started though ) I did not tick any box (I did not mind having my cookies and history cleaned as there are only a few sites I log onto) and everything seems fine. I did not have to log back on here even though I thought I would .

My browser is flying around at speeds I have not seen in a while . The toolbar is still modified from the original one though . I ran Spybot Search & Destroy again and it found 10 problems that it corrected. (The same ones keep coming back ) I then went to run the TrojanScan and it did the same thing . (Closed both browser windows)

Thanks again,

Glad you found that useful
But that tool bar is still sitting there
What name does it have Koz?
Will find the removal procedure for you
Not going to defeat us!
In the meantime.. Another scanner download. This will really be have to be viewed by a savvy web head (not a Beginners program ) but I might be able to spot the file(s) for deletion(I'll have a go)
Install this (less than 200k!) run the scan , copy and post the log and await my instructions Ok?
This is an experts monitor program.It can delete these Hijackers bypassing the normal route, and you run EasyCleaner again to mop up the remnants which are now harmless

Thanks so much bedstor. I think I might have figured out my toolbar problem. I went to “view>toolbars” and un-checked “search toolbar” (I never checked it in the first place ). The search part went away (obviously) and so did the different look. There used to be what looked like trees there, and it was a light blue (sky) background color to the whole toolbar. It is now back to the plain old gray .

I did download the program you suggested and saved a copy in case this silly machine acts up again. Thank you (all) so much for the help, I think this thing is licked for now .

Koz, I have gotten fairly proficient in killing those things of late. Here is one of the formulas I've been using to get rid of most of these sorts of problems.

1. Download a program called "Hijack this". You can find a download site with a google search.

2. Turn off your System Restore feature. Restart your machine in "Safe Mode" Can be done by hitting F8 on boot. This minimizes the number of programs running.

3. Run Spybot followed by Adaware (if you use it) and then followed by Hijack this. You will be surprised at what each picks up that the others don't. Be careful of what you delete from Hijack this. IT shows a lot of registry files but you will likely recognize what shouldn't be there.

4. Check your internet home page setting to ensure it goes where you want.

5. Restart and you should be ok.

There are some spyware programs that require even more specific techniques such as removing files from root and other directries but this should get you throuh many of them. The Hijack this program is excellent and highly recommended, also free with donations only.

Good luck.

4.)