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!!