Stupid Spyware...

Discussion in 'The Living Room' started by Astat, Aug 10, 2005.

  1. #1
    Astat

    Astat LPA Super Member LPA Super Member

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    Alright, normally I'm pretty good at removing this type of stuff, but it keeps nagging me. I got a ton of spyware/viruses on my computer last night, and I've basically removed all of them...but I'm still getting assloads of popups even when I'm not on the internet. I've gone down this checklist:

    1. Killed any processes with Task Manager that aren't supposed to be running
    2. Scanned with Spybot and removed everything
    3. Scanned with Ad-Aware and removed everything
    4. Scanned with Yahoo Anti-Spy and removed everything
    5. Scanned with Hijack This and removed everything
    6. Used Trend Micro's virus scan and deleted everything it found
    7. Went into all my C:\ folders and deleted anything created after the time all the viruses appeared

    None of my scanning programs pick up anything, but I'm still getting popups and more spyware keeps trying to install itself, so I know there's gotta be something somewhere I haven't caught. Anyone know any other programs that might help?
     
  2. #2
    palingenesis

    palingenesis Well-Known Member

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    hmmm...one time the spyware was actually listed on my installed program list. i just went to add/remove programs and got rid of it and i didn't have any problems withi it since.

    once you get a popup, you may be able to find out where it is doing it's nasty business from and delete from there. try right click and the 'properties' and find out where it is on your hard disk.

    spyware is a pain in the butt and sometimes deleting it doesn't always do the trick. so of course everytime you get on the web you're going to get the same kinds of spyware you've seen over and over again. i would hate for anyone to have to format there pc just because of spyware.
     
  3. #3
    Anthony.

    Anthony. .Orestes LPA Super VIP

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    Boot in safe mode before doing what you stated.
     
  4. #4
    Tomi

    Tomi   LPA Addict

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    :thumbsup:

    You could always try Microsoft's Anti-Spyware prog, but I doubt it'll make a difference.
     
  5. #5
    Tekkiji

    Tekkiji Well-Known Member

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    It will. That's what I use and I love it. But a few questions:

    What browser are you using?

    If you download music what program are you using?
     
  6. #6
    Astat

    Astat LPA Super Member LPA Super Member

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    I'm on XP Home Edition. I use Download Accelerator and Bearshare but I've had them for months and they never gave me trouble, so I doubt it's one of them...the only program I've installed lately was Bittorrent, but I deleted it and I'm still getting this stuff.

    Basically what I did today was this: I figured that all the spyware and stuff started about 2 in the morning on the 8th, because that's when all this stuff happened. I deleted everything in my system folders that was created in the past couple days, then did a system restore to the day before. Nothing's tried to install itself since, but the popups are still occurring.

    I removed a bunch of programs I didn't recognize in Control Panel too, and my computer is basically running normally now, no weird processes in Task Manager or anything. Only thing I can think of is that there's some kind of DLL file attached to one of my system processes that's making these popups. Whatever it is, it's doing a damn good job hiding itself.

    I'll screw around in safe mode and scan my system one more time with all my stuff and see what it does. Worst case scenario is I'll just burn all my music and program .exe files onto data CDs, and format my computer. Pain in the ass, yeah, but I can get all my stuff back within a couple days.
     
  7. #7
    Tekkiji

    Tekkiji Well-Known Member

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    hmm...i've never heard of anyone having a problem with bittorent. I just got it recently and i haven't had a problem with it.

    Bearshare would probably be one cause of the problem. I used it once and it didn't work out to good for me. Download Accelerator...that would also cause some problems.

    Are you getting popups in every browser you use?

    You can try defragging your computer.

    I'd do that first and see if that helps. If you still get the problems, boot into safe mode and run Microsoft Anti-Spyware and an Anti-Virus program. I'd try either Norton or AVG.
     
  8. #8
    palingenesis

    palingenesis Well-Known Member

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    i don't microsoft antispy that helpful, it doesn't find half the things spybot does. look at startup files too, some spyware activates at start up.
     
  9. #9
    Tomi

    Tomi   LPA Addict

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    I'm not saying anything against MSAS, I personally use and recommend it, but seeing he's tried all the other progs out there, it might not make a difference.


    Start > Run > msconfig > Startup tab > uncheck anything suspicious > OK
    [note: do not touch any of the other tabs.]
     
  10. #10
    Astat

    Astat LPA Super Member LPA Super Member

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    Actually I just tried that a minute ago, and I noticed on the Services tab there were a few things that said "manufacturer unknown" under them. As far as I'm aware, shouldn't most of that stuff be Microsoft? Maybe I'm onto something.
     

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