AdWare Driving Me Crazy

Finally CCleaner got it. I think.

I had to move the folder it was in to anonther folder, then put the new folder in the custom list to clean everything in it. I set it on NSA (7 passes).

Any time I used anything else to erase the file it wouldn’t cause an error.

Hopefully it doesn’t pop-up in some other folder.

[quote]David Barr wrote:
I’m in serious need of help from a computer geek, and possibly a psychologist.

The specific AdWare that’s killing me is plugged into Google, such that my clicking on a specific search result takes me to a different ad site (ie. I get hijacked). Only after the third click on the link does the real page actually open.

I have run Ad-Aware numerous times and the Windows Defender without success. I’ve also read this this type of AdWare is reinstalled the next time you boot up, despite the use of removal programs.

I can’t live like this anymore. Please help! I’ll give you candy![/quote]

There is a certain combination of programs that I use on all machines that I work on. In addition, you can have all of the ad removal software on our computer but you will keep getting your computer infected.

Spyware Blaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com) - free tool for the prevention of ads
Spyware Guard
(http://www.javacoolsoftware.com) - free tool for the prevention of ads
AdAware
(http://www.download.com) - free tool for the removal of ads
Kaspersky (http://www.kaspersky.com/) - pay software for virus protection and removal.

But I think that you need to use HiJackThis to remove your problem. I suggest that you install the free stuff above to protect your computer in the future.

-Machine

www.lavasoft.de
ad-aware software…I love this stuff…

It is highly unlikey that you can remove all of the spyware/adware on your computer with removal programs.

I suggest backing up your files and wiping your hard drive. Mainly because by the time you’re getting hijacked you’ve usually got a lot else going on that you may not even be aware of.

Oh this has nothing to do with spyware or adaware. But speaking of free things, like AVG Free Edition and other programs, check out OpenOffice.org

I havent downloaded it myself, but saw it in PC World as a great freebie. Instead of paying for MS Office, you can get this compatiable program and use for free. You can save to MS Word formats even. I don’t know how good it is, but hey its free and worth a look.

[quote]Tank53 wrote:
Oh this has nothing to do with spyware or adaware. But speaking of free things, like AVG Free Edition and other programs, check out OpenOffice.org

I havent downloaded it myself, but saw it in PC World as a great freebie. Instead of paying for MS Office, you can get this compatiable program and use for free. You can save to MS Word formats even. I don’t know how good it is, but hey its free and worth a look.[/quote]

Its not bad, its a 243mb download for anyone interested, I think and I just installed the ‘Writer’ which is like Word, ‘Calc’ is like Excell. I don’t use any of it much so its ok for what I want.

Hardcore users might still want MS Word, although ‘Write’ Open Source is supposedly more backwards compatible with older word files than MS Word.

AD-aware and AVG antivirus, spybot couldn’t hurt either. I also agree with running another browser, like mozilla.

The first problem with all the advice given is that he has no clue what kind of adware has infected his system.

This happened to me a couple of months of ago and even after running all the Spybot, McAfee, Software Doctor programs it still did not get rid of all the adware.

Basically if you want to be 100% sure this is what you have to do.

  1. go buy a backup Hard Drive (you should have one anyway in case your HD crashes).

  2. Move your files into that spare HD

  3. Go on google and download a utility called “KillDisc” - this is going to gut your computer’s harddrive and erase EVERYTHING.

  4. Run that utility overnight

  5. The next day reinstall Windows XP, then Mozilla Firefox and make sure to download the ADBLOCK add-on that comes with Firefox.

  6. Before installing anything else install Software Doctor - once you have this on a clean HD - nothing will get in - that is the best adware blocker I’ve ever used. However, you have to install it on a CLEAN HD for it to be foolproof.

  7. Install all your other software as usual.

Have had no infections or problems. Surf porn sites, you name it.

Hope that helps… You can PM me if you need more info

You gotta find good places to download porn my friend, then at that point, just like everything else in life: You’ll be raising the barr!

Good luck david, and may the force barr with you.

[quote]Stigg. wrote:
Basically Hijackthis is useful (as mentioned) as is spybot and ad-aware. I had endless probs with virus and spyware whilst using Norton, now I use Sunbelt Kerio Firewall, AVG Free and Windows Defender and seems every boy and his dog uses these three at least.

When I have encountered major probs before the others won’t fix have used a prog called ‘Trojanhunter’, think the link is

http://www.trojanhunter.com

Not to be confused with the milfhunter.

This has a 30 day trial and was the only thing that got rid of some crap I had on my old system.

USe firefox as mentioned and thunderbird (instead of outlook express) if you need a calender like Outlook use Sunbird. Mozilla also do a Mac browser now called Camino or something.

Having said that am building a new system with an Athlon 64 and Ubuntu Linux.

Keep automatic updates switched on and make sure the malicious spyware updates are installed.

[/quote]

Yeah, Hijackthis (I think it’s still supported) is what you need - Spybot and Adaware don’t do a good job with browser hijacks, which is what you have. I’ve had great luck with avast! antivirus, which is free and barely takes up any memory. It has great resident protection, which works for P2P and IM as well.

[quote]HoratioSandoval wrote:
Stigg. wrote:
Basically Hijackthis is useful (as mentioned) as is spybot and ad-aware. I had endless probs with virus and spyware whilst using Norton, now I use Sunbelt Kerio Firewall, AVG Free and Windows Defender and seems every boy and his dog uses these three at least.

When I have encountered major probs before the others won’t fix have used a prog called ‘Trojanhunter’, think the link is

http://www.trojanhunter.com

Not to be confused with the milfhunter.

This has a 30 day trial and was the only thing that got rid of some crap I had on my old system.

USe firefox as mentioned and thunderbird (instead of outlook express) if you need a calender like Outlook use Sunbird. Mozilla also do a Mac browser now called Camino or something.

Having said that am building a new system with an Athlon 64 and Ubuntu Linux.

Keep automatic updates switched on and make sure the malicious spyware updates are installed.

Yeah, Hijackthis (I think it’s still supported) is what you need - Spybot and Adaware don’t do a good job with browser hijacks, which is what you have. I’ve had great luck with avast! antivirus, which is free and barely takes up any memory. It has great resident protection, which works for P2P and IM as well.[/quote]

not even hijackthis did the trick in my case.

Like I said if you want to be 100% sure you have to gut the sucker then put in all the anti-virus stuff before you even begin surfing the web. That, unfortunately, is the only way to be sure.

A good way to be sure is run the anti-virus then check the Windows Task Manager (hit Alt-Ctrl-Del at the same time) and you’ll see all the weird virus /adware crap running on your computer.

Hmm, there was a good point in there. What’s more expensive, paying for a porn site without hijacking and viruses or dealing with a screwed up computer?

http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

Run this program, it’s a gem. No comp should be without it.

If the AdAware SE program fails to finish then try running this one first…

Also, you should be getting your porn from torrents instead of infectious websites!

I found that if I didn’t turn off System Restore before cleaning the PC, the problems came back.

System restore is a good idea to try. Just go into the program, and roll back to before you had problems.

[quote]OARSMAN wrote:

A good way to be sure is run the anti-virus then check the Windows Task Manager (hit Alt-Ctrl-Del at the same time) and you’ll see all the weird virus /adware crap running on your computer.
[/quote]

If you see anything running that souldn’t be (it could be suspiciosly labled) you can go Start>Run and type msconfig (click ok). Then go to the rightmost tab (Startup) and uncheck anything that shouldn’t be there. It won’t start with the computer anymore.

Wow, either you guys want candy really bad, or you’re just really helpful. [I should have specified that Candy Barr was not an option for the former group]

Based on your suggestions, I’ve downloaded about 100 anti-adware tools, smartened up my browsing, and joined the anti-pornography league.

Thanks a lot all!

SO DOES IT WORK!?

:slight_smile:

[quote]David Barr wrote:
… and joined the anti-pornography league.
[/quote]

Woh, woh, woh, nobody suggested to go that far…

And if they did, they should be shot.

get a lot of free help out there, but first download firefox.
uninstall google toolbar.
download steven gould cleanup!
go into the options, choose to delete temp files

download mike lin startup! see what is starting when the PC starts up. google strange looking things there before deleting them.
downlad WinSock XP Fix just in case.

goto spywareguide.com and run their free tool.

download and run regscrubxp

lavasoft adaware
spybot search and destroy
spyware blaster

if you have to, run regscrubxp, spybot, and lavasoft in safe mode.
if you want, reinstall google toolbar and don’t choose the advanced options.

pay for your porn.