Computer users Please Help

[Peter R]

I am in trouble. Don't ask how it happened but I have this darn Blogspot dating thing that has taken over my internet explorer. I have run spybot but it doesn't see it as a problem.

My friend thought that it would be a good joke to do a mate match for me, she didn't know the trouble that it would cause, and now I am up **** street trying to remove it.

Peter R.

[Peter R]

I went to internet options and changed the default web page. It now opens on the original home page. Does this mean that the other bugger is still lurking somewhere?
My friend has gone home - not happy with my not happy but she has learnt one valuable lesson, I hope.

Peter R.

[vsquizz]

The BHO will still be there for sure. If you know what its called (the file name) do a search with google and read up. I have found Spybot to be lagging in the last six months and have changed to Ad-aware and Spysweeper both of which are free to download.

If the stuff is lodged in the registry you may have to do a manual removal as well as a good sweep. Read up on the web

GoodLuck, Cheers

[kiwigeo]

I am in trouble. Don't ask how it happened but I have this darn Blogspot dating thing that has taken over my internet explorer. I have run spybot but it doesn't see it as a problem.

My friend thought that it would be a good joke to do a mate match for me, she didn't know the trouble that it would cause, and now I am up **** street trying to remove it.

Peter R.
You've had a rogue program of some sort make changes to settings in your registry database.

If your spybot program doesnt help you then try Adaware. If that doesnt work then youll have to ticker with your reg database. If youre not computer savvie then be careful, you could end up with more problems than youve got now. First Id do a google search using the name of the offending page that keeps coming up on your browzer. If its a common nasty then there should be a reference somewhere that tells you how to fix the problem.

If you give me the name of the website that comes up on your browzer Ill try and sus out some info from here....there are some IT boffins here at present who would probably know what to do.

[kiwigeo]

Sorry...forgot to ad in the obligatory Mac plug/rave....

If you want to permanently do away with the problem of spy/adware doctoring your registry database then get yourself a Mac.....the OS doesnt use a Reg Database.

Good luck

[Coldamus]

You may be over-reacting. The site may just have set itself as your default homepage - annoying but not serious. If that's the case, you have already fixed it. If it still continues to pop up uninvited, then do as others have suggested and try AdAware.

[Don Nethercott]

I think Coldamus is correct.
Many sites try to make themselves your home page. Most have the curtesy to ask first.
If you have reset your homepage in Tools/Internet Options and it has not changed back then you should be OK and there is nothing lurking on your computer.

However if you visit that site again you might have the same trouble.
Don

[reeves]

well u r in trouble ey....;-)

these things area giant pain in the butt, but as i hae some recent experience cleaning them out i will let u know a process i use that may help...

step1 - make sure u have the latest MS updates installed, go to windows/update in yr IE tools menu and let it tell u what u need. The critical updates will be what u want.

step2 - make sure the firewall is tunred on for yr connection in yr network settings, this may slow u down a little but may help stop things being written to yr drive or registry

step3 - grab Spybot ( as u have), ad-aware personal and a free virus killer such as AVG. U will need to run at least 2 of these to cross compare the results. I have seen Spybot destroy stuff and have it back as soon as u reboot. Used togther u will be bale to clean yr mahcine but u will need to use the coreect techniques, Ad-aware i find the most effectibive, especially when u reboot and it re-attackes things that have resurrected.

step4- grab regclean and clean yr registry settings regularly.

step 5 - after surfing always dump yr cache and clean yr history, this will prevent yr machine being re-infected from stored stuff.

step 6 - if u nmest visit dodgy sites, , mp3, warez etc, use MOzilla not IE as a lot of exploit programs dont wrok that will outside of IE.

if u r still sane after all this, yr machine will be clean and functional like mine now is/...tho u will ahve more grey hair..

enjoy

chers

[Don Nethercott]

PeterR
What version of Windows do you have. If it is XP send to Microsoft for their Service Pack 2 (it's free - see their Australian website). This has vastly improved anti spam, anti virus, inbuilt firewall, etc
However you still need a good antivirus. You usually have to pay for a good one although there are some free ones that are ok (Do a Google search or maybe check Choice (they have a good series on free and pay firewalls - the free one turned out to be the best).
The main thing with anti-virus - you MUST update it at least once a week.
Don

[Peter R]

If you give me the name of the website that comes up on your browzer Ill try and sus out some info from here....there are some IT boffins here at present who would probably know what to do.Thank you for your help. I will explain where I am at: As I said I went to internet options and replaced the unwanted 'Blogger' web page with my original one.
On the net if you put in Blogger you will get the information that it is a Google based web page, I guess that is why Spybot ignored it.
I have never been into DOS.
Do you think that your spy program is a better option that Spybot and should I change over? I also have Zone Alarm and I have recieved a warning from my mail server that there is a virus disquised as a virus update. I had mail that said it was a Zone Alarm update but it had spam alert on it so I did not open it at all. Zone alarm does automatic updates.
I am runnig windows 98
It's a worry!!
Peter R.

[Gumby]

I use Mailwasher as well as Norton Firewall, Spybot and the XP firewall. It's a pain when stuff still gets through.

Mailwasher lets you check your emails on the server before they are downloaded to your machine. You can blacklist sites and bounce their spam back to them. By doing that, I've found that it doesn't take long before the amount of crap I'm getting diminishes a lot.

[Woodgrub]

Hi Peter R,

You can not go wrong by running as many Spyware programs as you can get.
I run 3 spyware programs being: Spybot, Adaware and Spamhilator. All are Free
I also running Nortons System Works and Zone Alarm pro.
What one misses he other gets.
I have them scheduled to run a full scan on my system every weekend.
You need to go to the Microsoft web site and do the Automactic update from the download page. This will automactically tell you which cricticsl updates youneed to get and will also give you recommended updates as well.
Then run all of the spyware programs

I also use Outlook 2003 and have it set to not download messages or pic's and to the new version has Spam Filters that get regular updates from Micrsoft.

You can also get a lot of the free programs from the Cover Disc's of Computer Magazines such as APC, PC User and PC Authority. Theese disc's will also give you updates for drivers, game patches and updates for some anti-virus sofware for free. (except for the cost of the magazine)

Send PM for more info

Goo luck

[Peter R]

Hi Peter R,

You can not go wrong by running as many Spyware programs as you can get.
I run 3 spyware programs being: Spybot, Adaware and Spamhilator. All are Free

Goo luck
I will tell you this, I am not one that goes looking for trouble but when trouble comes looking for me I step yards out of my way to meet it.
I downloaded spysweeper, which I thought was for free, yeah! free trial pay later.I did a sweep and it found 27 problems and 67 traces - next remove ticked items. Yes.
I had to redo my password with this webpage, was no longer recognised. What else, I wonder?
It also found trojan Horse and many, many cookies; something else that I will have to go to the web to find out about (cookies). There is lots that I don't know.
I may have over reacted, as was said, on the original problem. Will know next time before I go screaming to mummy, or yous blokes.
One thing, with me putting my silly little problems to the forum of 'spurts' it may help other mugs like me but who are too shy to ask.
Thanks folks
Peter R.

[vsquizz]

By all means ask Peter, these little threads turn up all sorts of info for the users so we all gain about whats going on and how people are managing.

One more little trick, when you are installing these "free" programs always select "Custom" instal and un-tick the "we are going to get rid of everybody else's spam but send you our own crap instead" option.

Spysweeper is pretty good but as suggested a couple of programs is well worthwhile having. The important ones to watch out for are key loggers. I did an experiment once and shut down zone alarm and surfed the net for 30 minutes, just clicking on every link to other sites I could find. Got four nasty keyloggers in that time. Bit of a worry for internet banking.

The google bar which you can instal into IE has quite a good crap blocker in it. Again if you instal this plugin use the custom instal.

One of the best tools I know for easy checking of what is going on is called "Hijack this". It can remove stuff from your registry if you want but its big value is to be able to make a snap shot of your system (to see what loads up and runs). You clean up your machine. Run "Hijack this" and save the record of what programs and registry keys are being edited. If you see a program you don't recognise then you can look it up on the web and ensure its legitimate. Down the track if you think you have a problem you just run Hijack this again and compare the log file to see if there is any additional processes running that are not programs you (or the kids) have installed.

Anyway, (last one). Win 98 is no longer supported by Bill and his buddies so It might be worth thinking about upgrading in the near future.

Cheers

[Peter R]

Squizzy, I went to Download.com and (free) downloaded Hijack this and when I did it told me that I had a 40 day trial and then I would have to pay up.

Also a window appeared with different icons but nothing about running the thing.

I reckon all that I need now is Arnie and Bruce Willis and I WILL RULE THE WORLD.

Come on you hijackers - MAKE MY DAY.

Peter R.

PS Thank you for your encouragement. I bet you made some of them groan!!

[vsquizz]

Dunno whats going on there Pete. Check your PM

Cheers

[kiwigeo]

Thank you for your help. I will explain where I am at: As I said I went to internet options and replaced the unwanted 'Blogger' web page with my original one.
On the net if you put in Blogger you will get the information that it is a Google based web page, I guess that is why Spybot ignored it.
I have never been into DOS.
Do you think that your spy program is a better option that Spybot and should I change over? I also have Zone Alarm and I have recieved a warning from my mail server that there is a virus disquised as a virus update. I had mail that said it was a Zone Alarm update but it had spam alert on it so I did not open it at all. Zone alarm does automatic updates.
I am runnig windows 98
It's a worry!!
Peter R.
Hi Peter,

Youll need to give me the URL address that comes up when this blogger page appears on your browzer and Ill take it from there.

Windows 98 is an oooooooold version of Windows. Id seriously consider an upgrade to XP.

Dont know much about spybot. I used to use Adaware in my PC days. I dont actually run any anti spy/ad software now as Im on a Mac..different OS from Windows and without the security holes inherent in the latter.

Re the zone alarm update..receiving update software by email is NOT normal. Zone Alarm should either connect directly to the zone alarm website and download the update (like Windows does) or you might receive an email from them informing you about the availability of an update for manual download from their website. If in doubt then email Zone Alarm and get them to verify validity of the email.

Cheers Martin

[Peter R]

I resisted the urge to go on the internet for a few years. I tried it once for free and didn't find much use for it. I did have the free email by telstra until it finished, that was good but I soon got used to either writing mail or sending a fax through my computer, which I still have.
This time, with a reasonable cheap net connection $23.95 unlimited/unlimited monthly, I find that I am using it a lot.
I would not have had access to this web page, it has been the best thing since sliced bread. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
I will be glad when I get all this security thing sorted out because the next thing is about Iphotoexpress - Picture it! and DPI etc - Like, if I want to downsize a photo do I copy it at a lesser DPI than I would if I was enlarging it? Purpose: getting a photo, cropping the head , or feature, and resizing it to fit a particular frame. I cut 100x100 mm square bits of weather worn paling, cut a circle dish-cut in th middle with the lathe and fit a photo and fill it with liquid glass. I spray the wood first and touch up afterwards - looks good and can be used for coasters - that sort of thing.
Peter R.
PS for Martin: It looks like that blogger thing is fixed, I don't want to go there again but if it comes back I will remember your offer.

[simon c]

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

The bread knife?

[Peter R]

When I loaded photo express it had a help button, I never used this for some time because most of the actions were relativly simple. When I tried to find out about the questions that I asked I noticed that there were tours in help. I duly pressed tours and was confronted with the window, can not run tour. Hmmm! I thought.
Later a flash of light in the back of the brain and a notion that, maybe, I had to have the disc in to run tours. Put in disc and before I could press the help button the install process began. Hmmmm! I thought, that is not the way.
Later, like, just this morning, after I sent that last post, I got another flash of light in the back of the brain box - Like a disco in there you know? - maybe if I cancel the install and then press tours.....
Hmmmmm! I thought, what a bloody goof you are.
Peter R.

[kiwigeo]

Peter mate,

It sounds like you dont really like mucking around with the workings of your computer.....I'm the same, its why I got myself a Mac. Less time spent dicking with OS's and programs and worrying about security issues.

[Peter R]

Peter mate,

It sounds like you dont really like mucking around with the workings of your computer.....I'm the same, its why I got myself a Mac. Less time spent dicking with OS's and programs and worrying about security issues.
Would it be rude to ask you what your percentage is with Mac?
And yes, I am a bit squibbish with hidden secrets of my computer. I am not afraid of snakes if I can see them, and it is a bit the same with the buttons and gizmos in the various programs.
It is just a matter of gaining confidence, trying things and keeping track of where I went and where I ended up.
I am also in awe of the help that is out there via this forum and the kindness of you people, and I don't mind a bit of a chat.

Peter R.

[kiwigeo]

Would it be rude to ask you what your percentage is with Mac?
And yes, I am a bit squibbish with hidden secrets of my computer. I am not afraid of snakes if I can see them, and it is a bit the same with the buttons and gizmos in the various programs.
It is just a matter of gaining confidence, trying things and keeping track of where I went and where I ended up.
I am also in awe of the help that is out there via this forum and the kindness of you people, and I don't mind a bit of a chat.

Peter R.
No kickbacks from Apple Pete..I just love their machines and wonder why I suffered PC's and Windows for so long. Like most Mac owners I probably do rave on a bit but for me the Mac OS supplies the goods while Windows supplies unfulfilled promises.

The Windows OS is cumbersome and complicated and too much time needs to be spent "ünder the hood"....dicking around with the registry database is a potential minefield unless you know exactly what youre doing.

Anyway it sounds like youre getting there..just remember to fully pad up with a good antivirus package, a firewall and anti ad/spyware software. Set up the firewall on the ASDL modem too if youre using one.

Cheers Martin

[reeves]

Mate if u r runing win98, yr only hope is to upgrade to XP....
the net world is a much more hostile place thna it wa sback then and there is no way u can be safe from intruding software..

cheeeeers

[smidsy]

Peter,
Do yourself a favour and get spyware blaster - I haven't had a single spyware infection since I got it, and it is completely free.
People here have said get adaware but adware and spyware are two different animals so you need something for both.

If you want an OS upgrade I would look at Win 2000 rather than XP - I put Win2k on my mums Celeron 700 and it ran noticeable faster than with W95.

As for a Mac being better Kiwi? Mac could have crapped on MS if Jobs and Wosniak had let it. But if you really belive that Mac is better come and see me because I've got some beach front land in Alice Springs that you might be interested in.
Cheers
Paul

[Peter R.]

Peter,
come and see me because I've got some beach front land in Alice Springs that you might be interested in.
Cheers
Paul
Paul, That land at the Alice, I reckon it would be a good investment for watching the Todd River Regatta, Hey! What's the surfing like up there?

Peter R.

If this posts as a new member, read what the in the Nothing at all...section.

[bitingmidge]

But if you really belive that Mac is better ......l

Not better, just easier to use, more reliable, free of spyware and much more virus resistant.


But definitely not better.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

P

[silentC]

much more virus resistant.

http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php?id=1771656169&eid=-4152

[bitingmidge]

Thanks!


Taken from Macintouch

Anyway its not a virus or trojan.
1. Requires root access to install
2. Cannot self propagate
3. Cannot spread remotely
4. Requires physical access to the machine


Anyone who has root or superuser access to your machine can do more damage than this script

Be ALERT but not ALARMED!!!

P
(Phew for now, but they'll eventually get us!)

[kiwigeo]

Peter,
As for a Mac being better Kiwi? Mac could have crapped on MS if Jobs and Wosniak had let it. But if you really belive that Mac is better come and see me because I've got some beach front land in Alice Springs that you might be interested in.
Cheers
Paul
Gidday there Paul,

Before we enter the good old Mac verus PC/Windows debate (pointless exercise anyway) am I talking to a person who has suffered years of stuffing around with the latter? Have you used a current model Mac running OSX?

Agreed Apple has done some shocking marketing with their product..Commodore did the same thing with the Amiga (know what Im talking about..used to own one). That doesnt mean the product isnt a good one and better than whats on offer from MS and Intel.

For the record I use a Powerbook in my job as a Field Geologist and have had no problems with compatibility with client IT systems. The only downside with the Mac is if you start running specialist software....on the rare occasions that happens I run on top of a Windows emulator and havent had any problems.

Other reasons I use a Mac: it does what I want it to without continually asking me if Im sure I want to do it, Macs are costing me less to run than PC's (average upgrade every 18 months for PC laptops...Powerbook is now 2 1/2 years old), I dont spend as much time stuffing around with the OS so have more time to do other things with my time and my blood pressure is alot lower than it used to be.

Cheers Martin

[smidsy]

Hei Martin,
I have got no doubt that the Macs are a half decent machine, and they had the potential to be the dominant force in the PC world. They fell over in a spectacular way because Jobs and Wozniak locked up the source code and would not let other people write software for it - they became expensive because you had to buy the Mac brand software whereas with MS you could buy the generic stuff which was way cheaper.
Look at the history of Mac - the brought out the Newton, it was a great little machine, it shat on everything else around at the time, it sold plenty and they killed it because they decided they only wanted to concentrate on PC's.
The sad fact is that the only reason Mac are still around is because Gates bought in to the company and is propping it up, and Gates does this because it's cheaper and easier than suffering all the anti-trust grief he would suffer if MS was the only system going.

As for stability, I've got a Win2k box that has been stable for two years.

Cheers
Paul

[silentC]

My development machine running Win2K has been on my desk for four years now. I've never rebuilt it. I install patches from time to time as they come up. Never had a virus. Never had a 'blue screen'. Never had to touch the O/S (apart from installing the security patches). It does everything I ask it to (OK, it does say "Are you sure?" a lot). I've had problems with my mouse, with my keyboard (spilt my breakfast on it one morning) and with my ISDN modem but never with the box itself.

My boss recently asked me if I wanted to upgrade to a new machine. I said no - no need, this one is fine and it's a hassle building a new machine.

I think if there ever was an advantage to owning a Mac, the margin is growing ever narrower. I'm not saying they're rubbish. I worked with a guy who did everything on a Powerbook. He was happy, he did good (excellent) work. It's just interesting to me how fanatically anti-PC a lot of Mac users are.

[kiwigeo]

It's just interesting to me how fanatically anti-PC a lot of Mac users are.
Yes Im the first one to admit Im a Mac nut but you cant really blame me......I suffered years of PCs and Windows..hours of time wasted dicking with the OS (and hardware). The bottom line is its saves me time and time is money.

Cheers MFT

[kiwigeo]

Hei Martin,
The sad fact is that the only reason Mac are still around is because Gates bought in to the company and is propping it up, and Gates does this because it's cheaper and easier than suffering all the anti-trust grief he would suffer if MS was the only system going.

As for stability, I've got a Win2k box that has been stable for two years.

Cheers
Paul
All your comments taken on board Smidsy and I agree with 75% of same. All that aside the Mac and OSX do for what Windows and PC's dont....they work and they dont cost me time and money.

Glad to hear youre Winbox has been running stable for 2 years....wish Id had that sort of luck with my last PC laptop (Comcrap) and Win 98. It got to the point where both were costing me money....I had nothing to lose by at least trying the Mac and I havent regretted'the change...I just cant justify going back.

Cheers Martin

[silentC]

hours of time wasted dicking with the OS (and hardware)
This is my point. It's just something that I haven't had to do. I turn on my PC and work at it all day, then turn it off and go home. The same story every day and, with this particular one, has been the same for the last 4 years. Before that I had a different machine. The only reason I changed then was because my boss thinks you need to upgrade every couple of years. I resisted the last offer.

Maybe it's the kind of work I do. I use all the usual office stuff (Word, Excel). I use Adobe Photoshop. I develop in Visual Basic, C++, SQL Server. The only peripherals I have are a Printer and the ISDN modem.

The PC at home has a more checkered history but I put that down to a 3 and a 5 year old in the house. They've managed to find settings I didn't even know existed. Maybe I should buy them a Mac.

Nah ;)

[vsquizz]

The PC at home has a more checkered history but I put that down to a 3 and a 5 year old in the house. They've managed to find settings I didn't even know existed. ;)
AAaahHa, Have they developed the knack of cutting and pasting the desktop to all corners of the harddrive yet?. Mine are professionals at this.

Cheers

[silentC]

AAaahHa, Have they developed the knack of cutting and pasting the desktop to all corners of the harddrive yet?. Mine are professionals at this.

Cheers
Not yet but they managed to find a setting that forced you to physically dial the phone number of the ISP before it would connect. We had to click 'connect' then pick up the phone and dial the number then click OK and hang up when it answered. Took me ages to sort that one out. Do you think I could find the setting? At least it stopped the little darlings from getting on the internet by accident.

[kiwigeo]

This is my point. It's just something that I haven't had to do. I turn on my PC and work at it all day, then turn it off and go home.

(SNIP)

Maybe it's the kind of work I do. I use all the usual office stuff (Word, Excel). I use Adobe Photoshop. I develop in Visual Basic, C++, SQL Server.

(SNIP)

The PC at home has a more checkered history but I put that down to a 3 and a 5 year old in the house. They've managed to find settings I didn't even know existed. Maybe I should buy them a Mac.

Nah ;)
My last 3 PC laptops never turned off 9 times out of ten without me having to rip the battery out. Glad to hear youre having more luck.

Youre obviously someone with more knowledge of computing than the average PC user....you probably have a slight advantage over average dolts like me who have the stupidity to expect a PC to turn on and off properly and do what you want it to do.

3 to 5 year old kids playing with my laptops?....no kids and the wife doesnt come near my computers. My problems were directly related to crap hardware running a crap OS.....plus generally crap back up service from suppliers of same.

Get your kids a Mac??? Definitely....but then they'll be hounding you for an Ipod.

Martin :)

[silentC]

Youre obviously someone with more knowledge of computing than the average PC user....you probably have a slight advantage over average dolts like me who have the stupidity to expect a PC to turn on and off properly and do what you want it to do.
Don't jump to that conclusion :eek: I assure you my expectations of a PC are every bit as doltish.

We are not comparing apples with Apples though (excuse the pun). You are talking laptops, I am talking servers. Perhaps the Powerbook beats a PC clone laptop hands down. I've heard they are a bit flakey - never owned one and hopefully never will. On the other hand, there aren't too many Macintosh servers around ;)

[kiwigeo]

You are talking laptops, I am talking servers. Perhaps the Powerbook beats a PC clone laptop hands down. I've heard they are a bit flakey - never owned one and hopefully never will. On the other hand, there aren't too many Macintosh servers around ;)
All laptops Ive owned have been major brands (Compaq, Acer, Toshiba, IBM)...Powerbook beats em all hands down.

Not clued up on servers.....I know that Apple does market a G5 Server and server version of OSX but that's all I know. Have a friend in Sydney running his office on same and he loves it.

As an aside......at work here Im running a sad ar...e Dell laptop running Win 2000 and tied into a Citrix server running over a satellite comms link...I hate it. Never seen a system where boot up takes 45 minutes and blocking text in a word document takes 5 minutes. Bloke next to me has just had the IT boys load up XP and its even slower....have told the IT lads to take there XP and shove it.