Help! How to remove SPYWARE?!?! | FerrariChat

Help! How to remove SPYWARE?!?!

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by stokpro, Nov 17, 2003.

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  1. stokpro

    stokpro F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jun 25, 2003
    4,383
    Himalayas
    I've installed both Spyhunter (crap software, don't buy it) and Spybot (free download) and my spyware problem still persists. After running both programs, no further problems have come up however, I know some form of spyware is still running on my PC because... one, the same pop-ad always appears from 8ad.com and two, I can't seem to open more than one browser through clicking on the "IE" icon... I bypass this by just hitting CTRL N for a new browser. My thought is that the spyware can only track one browser at a time, thus attempting to disable the ability to open multiple browsers. I have even deleted registry keys associated with Xupiter, Kazaa, Morpheus, etc... Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.
     
  2. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Apr 21, 2003
    15,111
    Gulf Coast
    Try Ad-aware from Lavasoft, it's a free download

    Ad-aware
     
  3. stokpro

    stokpro F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jun 25, 2003
    4,383
    Himalayas

    Thanks Mark. Does Ad-aware search AND remove?
     
  4. Noelrp

    Noelrp Formula Junior

    Aug 30, 2001
    630
    SSF
    Full Name:
    Noel
    I recommend ad-aware as well. And yes, it will search, prompt & remove.

    Good luck.
     
  5. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Apr 21, 2003
    15,111
    Gulf Coast
    As Noel said it searches and removes. It seems to work well though I haven't dealt with any major spyware problems like you are having.
     
  6. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
    Full Name:
    Mike Z.
    Ad-Aware is great; I also use Pest Patrol, which seems to catch everything, including many trojans. Make sure that you UPDATE any spyware/malware/etc removal programs so that you can identify and remove the lastest stuff.
     
  7. Nibblesworth

    Nibblesworth Formula 3
    BANNED

    Nov 29, 2002
    1,756
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    BillyBoy
    I gotta put into another good word for ad-aware here. I installed in on my three-year old desktop w/DSL and found over 800 spy programs installed, including the god-forsaken Gator and Xupiter (may the creaters of those programs burn in Hell for eternity with demons prokin' them in the a ar$e).

    It's a great program, costs nothing, and if you run it once a month, you'll be surpirsed at how much crap sneaks onto your computer.
     
  8. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,457
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    Is there a kid in your household, too?
    I manually removed these insidious programs myself a few months ago. Fun. Not.

    I've also been quite successful by doing Search>For files or folders>Containing text (include the .com in the name!)

    Then started using Spybot.
    I kept it updated & used it religiously.
    To see if there was any difference, I ran Spybot, downloaded Ad-Aware.
    Updated it, caught a bunch more trackers.
    Deleted Spybot.
    I keep Ad-Aware updated & use it religiously.

    Read what to do about 8ad.com and 00hq.com
    http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/w/winshow.asp

    If I recall correctly, this PestPatrol info wasn't available at the time I removed it. I found info elsewhere about getting uninstaller from 00hq.com site. Did so & it uninstalled.

    Do what thou wilt.

    When all else fails, shoot the kid.
     
  9. ART360

    ART360 Guest

    I had 76 tracking devices on my computer.

    Thanks

    Art
     
  10. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
    Full Name:
    Mike Z.
    IMO, necessities for any (Microsoft-based) computer are a virus scanner and "pest" scanner, along with a firewall of some sort.

    Your computer will be a lot cleaner if you do the following:
    1. Make sure Automatic Updates are running if you use 2K/XP.
    2. Make sure your virus scanner is "auto-protecting", and run scans at least once a week (I run them every night while I'm sleeping). You should be able to schedule them through the Windows Scheduler. Make sure the antivirus program automatically downloads the newest definitions.
    3. Download one of the spyware removal tools listed below, keep it updated, and run it about once a week or so. One of the reasons I really like Pest Patrol (besides the fact that it's free) is that it loads at startup, isn't a memory hog, and will be active in trying to prevent "pests".
    4. After running file-sharing programs/downloading porn/whatever, run the virus and pest scanners to make sure you didn't contract any dishonest programs. It's kind of like wearing a condom, then getting tested for STDs after every time you have sex.

    Hope that helps someone somehow.
     
  11. stokpro

    stokpro F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jun 25, 2003
    4,383
    Himalayas
    I'll run Ad-ware and Pest Patrol tonight and let you guys know what I find. Do you know if running a desktop/application firewall (XP, ZoneAlarms, etc.) would help prevent some of this crap sneaking onto my PC? Thanks a ton for all your help!
     
  12. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
    Full Name:
    Mike Z.
    Don't use the XP built in firewall; it's horrendous. ZoneAlarms is great, and should also reduce some of the crap. I've heard good things about BlackIce. If I were going with an application based firewall, I'd probably check out BlackIce because it's made by the same people that make ISS, which is probably the best tool that security pentration testers use. In addition to being an app-firewall, BlackIce also is an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) which will further secure your machine.
     
  13. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    17,564
    Savannah
    AD AWARE 6.0 found 62 spy ware thingies on my pc before the new firewall and hard drive were installed. i run it weekly and as of yet i have not had anymore problems.
     
  14. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    17,564
    Savannah
    oh yea i have ZONE ALARM PRO WITH WEB FILTERING AND IT RUNS WITH NORTON ANTI VIRUS.... BEEN GREAT SO FAR EXCEPT FOR SOME MOVIES AND THE "BOBBIE" AVATARS THAT DONT WORK.
     
  15. Santini

    Santini Formula Junior

    Oct 1, 2003
    480
    North Carolina
    I can also vouch for Ad-Aware, Spybot and Zone Alarm. I also use a PopUp blocker and the combination of all these programs keeps the crap to a minimum. It's an on-going battle.
     
  16. Ike

    Ike F1 Rookie

    Nov 4, 2003
    3,543
    There is a program called HiJackThis you can find it at download.com It found a bunch of stuff ad-aware missed. I had something that kept setting my homepage to a weird search engine and it was the only thing that found it.

    It will give you a list of stuff it finds and you have to check each one that you want to get rid of. Make sure you look at them all b/c it had files that programs I use need in the list so......
     
  17. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

    Nov 16, 2001
    6,099
    MA USA
    Full Name:
    Mr. Doody
    one tool i use religiously that PREVENTS a lot of this bull**** is AdSubtract. not only does it block web ads (not yours rob - yours come from your site, so they're cool), but it watches for all sorts of nasty things web idiots try to do.

    can't say enough about a good virus program either. it MUST check your email too! i use mcafee on all my computers.

    i also use mcafee's SpamKiller to front-end my email. it's a GREAT tool, imo, worth every penny ($35?). as a result, virtually none of the moronically stupid email crapola stuff ever hits my system - it gets killed dead long before i get near it.

    doody.
     
  18. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
    Full Name:
    Mike Z.
    I was plesantly surprised with Outlook 2003's automatic junk filtering for mail. It's caught nearly all junk email coming to my work account so far.
     
  19. stokpro

    stokpro F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jun 25, 2003
    4,383
    Himalayas
    Thanks to everyone for the useful tips and info. Ad-aware and Pest Patrol found 43 files including trojans and registry keys that should NOT be on my PC!! Both programs may be a great idea for everyone on Fchat to try. I had no idea how much more of this sh*t was living on my machine. Thanks again!!
     
  20. 150shot

    150shot Formula Junior

    Jun 15, 2003
    807
    San Dimas, CA
    HAve any of you seem to get "Igetnet.net" or something similar. My spybot ALWAYS finds this only after I go to ebay.
    Its a damn redirector whenever I search or use CTRL +ENTER to add the www &.com.

    I seem to only get it after I visit Ebay. Spybot always kills it but ZA Pro doesnt stop it.
     
  21. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
    Full Name:
    Mike Z.
    IGetNet is a NIGHTMARE to remove. Try doing a search for instructions on how to remove it. Sometimes, the anti-spyware programs don't fully get rid of it.
     
  22. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,457
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    If an exorcist knows a demon's name, he has to call upon it by name. If he chooses the wrong incantation - he could be harmed. If he uses the correct name, then he can cast the spirit out. Here's what needs to be done:

    A) Get a priest/rabbi/pentecostal minister to come over to your place.

    B) They get approval...
    [Skipping a few steps in the approval process]

    C) The priest comes back over to your place. During the exorcism, the priest will press upon the body (your computer's desktop) in which the demon spirit resides. He'll touch the body in such a way as this:

    Start>Search>For Files or Folders...>Search for files or folders named:>IGetNet

    if that doesn't bring the spirits up, he'll keep the holy book open, and place the IGetNet beads in the most holy of places. That holy place is...

    Start>Search>For Files or Folders...>
    (again, the holy book has continually been kept open)
    Containing text:>IGetNet

    When he is removing the Evil Spirit, he'll shout "I CAST THEE OUT, EVIL SPIRIT IGETNET!"
    ______

    Intermediate-Low Advanced geeks/
    Some folks don't like to do it the easy way, though.
    (I use Earthlink as my ISP. That being the case, I'll indicate by way of example via Earthlink's files.)
    More often than not, the Evil Spirit will be residing in a place such as:
    My Computer:>C:>Program Files:>Earthlink:>(user)@earthlink.net>Hey, I'm not going to explain everything!
    Hint: If it's evil icon is glaring at you, mocking you by being near the folders you're supposed to have, you know what to do. Kill it. Do it inside each persons account. If it isn't mocking you on the outside, then by all means, look through your folders. Again, repeat with each user, not just you.
    /Intermediate-Low Advanced geeks

    Advanced is Registry stuff - Forget about it. Usually overkill.

    Junior geek/
    Tip: Clear delete all cookies in each user's cookie folder except that from your ISP (such as (whoever)@earthlink.net, and don't delete the *notebook* entitled "index" within said Cookie folders.
    Reason: The Internet Service Provider's Cookie folders aren't cleared when you delete cookies in MicroShaft Internet Explorer.
    /Junior geek
     
  23. Evolved

    Evolved F1 Veteran

    Nov 5, 2003
    8,700
    Steps to Safety:

    1. Ad-Aware subscription 27 dollars

    2. Kaspersky virus scanner 50 dollars

    3. Hardware firewall 100 dollars.


    Warm fuzzy feeling of reasonable security: Priceless
     
  24. Mike328

    Mike328 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 19, 2002
    2,655
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Agreed. Without question, the best I've seen (Outlook 2003). It was clearly designed around the collection of Junk E-Mail, isntead of it being an afterthought. This relates to Bill Gate's new nati-spam initiatives, and how his stance is that it can be beat with software and technology (from COMDEX this year).
     
  25. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

    Mar 16, 2002
    13,337
    Ex-Urbia
    Full Name:
    Jack

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