spyware on computer

[drifter106]

As the title says.... I keep getting these pop ups wanting me to purchase software. Only thing I have on puter is AVG free edition. What does it take to get these off computer? Have gone into MY COMPUTER and tried looking for it put haven't found anything that remotely looks like the programs that I keep seeing pop up.

Any thoughts would be appreciated...


by the way, if i get a copy of PC-CILLIN or Norton or any other brand name will they be able to remove something thats already on the computer?

thanks

 

[mechBgon]

1) uninstall AVG Free Edition

2) install a 30-day trialware of Kaspersky Antivirus. I have a download link and configuration instructions on this page. Follow the instructions. I SAID, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS! :evil:

3) after Kaspersky is installed, you have a red K icon in your system tray. Right-click it and choose Update so it has up-to-date virus definitions, then reboot if it says to.

4) right-click the red K and choose Scan My Computer.

5) have some snacks while it scans your computer When it's complete, it will probably say it needs to reboot the computer and do some Advanced Disinfection stuffs.


One way you catch these kinds of viruses is by being a gullible noOb and trying to install fake video codecs to view pr0n. Or they might be called an Image ActiveX Object or a Video ActiveX Object. Don't fall for it. pic of what they typically look like :camera: and another type to beware of :camera:. Kaspersky is quite good at detecting these. Key concept: it's not safe to take the Intarweb at face value and just download and run stuff willy-nilly.

Once your 30-day trialware of Kaspersky expires, right-click the red K and choose Exit, then uninstall it from Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. Install the free AOL Kaspersky and configure it like the full version was configured.

If the malware gives you more trouble, refer to John's advanced malware removal guide.

 

[drifter106]

running as I speak and am looking into purchasing this or Bit defender after the 30 day trial runs out. Thanks Mech for the heads up...

 

[mechBgon]

sure thing I'd be curious to hear what the names of the viruses ends up being. Zlob, DNSChanger, Renos?

 

[drifter106]

right now it says there are 23 detected and 22 are untreaded...most of them are referred to as trojans with a few adware and riskware:hidden data sending. Don't see anything that refers to a virus yet. Hard to believe that people sit around and make this stuff up just to make it miserable for people who have computers. Very selfish and simply minded for sure.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: drifter106
right now it says there are 23 detected and 22 are untreaded...most of them are referred to as trojans with a few adware and riskware:hidden data sending. Don't see anything that refers to a virus yet. Hard to believe that people sit around and make this stuff up just to make it miserable for people who have computers. Very selfish and simply minded for sure.

My friend, they are not making it up just to make you miserable. They're doing it to make money. It's crime, and people like you are the victims. If you were to buy the bogus software it was pimping on you, then not only would they have your $40 or whatever, but they'd have your credit-card details to do anything they want with.

So be really skeptical about free stuff. Some of it's OK, but a lot of it is just the bait on the hook.

 

[mechBgon]

BTW I'd be curious to hear the names of the stuff that Kaspersky found, but AVG Free didn't. If you want to indulge me, it's easy to just select the items, right-click them and do a Copy, then paste the text.

 

[drifter106]

You have PM Mech... wow you talk about an eye opener...never thought about what you just said in reference to the scam in your above mentioned post. Heck, I even thought about buying their product just to get them off my back and low and behold I would of done it with paypal or debit card....geesh....if this don't make you humble.

owe you a bunch Mec...a whole bunch...

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: drifter106
You have PM Mech... wow you talk about an eye opener...never thought about what you just said in reference to the scam in your above mentioned post. Heck, I even thought about buying their product just to get them off my back and low and behold I would of done it with paypal or debit card....geesh....if this don't make you humble.

owe you a bunch Mec...a whole bunch...

Thanks for the PM, YHPM back. Yeah, the bad guys are almost all financially-driven nowadays, and it's not easy to prosecute them for their crimes.

 

[drifter106]

Finally, the PIG squealed!!!

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: drifter106
Finally, the PIG squealed!!!

Hehe


(darn, I forgot to tell him to crank his speakers up all the way! :frown: )

 

[John]

Great advice as usual from mechBgon.

Here are some additional thoughts.

[*]After Kaspersky finishes I would highly recommend that you disable the system restore, then right-click the Kaspersky 'K' in your system tray -> settings -> put a check next to potentially dangerous software (riskware) -> now go to Scan -> move the slider to High ->click the first apply, and then the 2nd apply.
[*]Now you can download and install Crap Cleaner, run it
[*]Download and install SUPERAntiSpyware in normal mode, update it, then reboot to safe mode and run it.
[*]Afterwards run another Kaspersky scan since you've enabled advanced Heuristics and scanning.

 

[aCynic2]

I never see anyone recommend spybot + spyware blaster. Any reason why?

 

[MustISO]

Originally posted by: aCynic2
I never see anyone recommend spybot + spyware blaster. Any reason why?

I see them recommended all the time.

I use:
"Super"
Adaware
Spybot
Spyware Blaster
A-Squared Free

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: MustISO

Originally posted by: aCynic2
I never see anyone recommend spybot + spyware blaster. Any reason why?

I see them recommended all the time.

I use:
"Super"
Adaware
Spybot
Spyware Blaster
A-Squared Free

I use Spybot and SpywareBlaster with KAV 6,anyway I'm trying out John's SUPERAntiSpyware recommendation on my Vista x64 .

 

[John]

Originally posted by: aCynic2
I never see anyone recommend spybot + spyware blaster. Any reason why?

My $.02 cents:

Spybot's detection rates have declined over the years, and since there are better freeware alternatives it doesn't make much sense to use or recommend it anymore. Ad-Aware falls into the same category.

Spyware Blaster is a prevention tool. Firefox w/ the No Script plug-in is a more robust solution.

 

[mechBgon]

Firefox w/ the No Script plug-in is a more robust solution.

For IE fans, here's a similar tweak for IE: screencapture video :camera: showing how to change your Security Zone settings in IE, as well as arbitrarily disabling third-party cookies for the heck of it.

The clip shows how you can use your Trusted Zone as a "whitelist" of websites where Javascript is permitted, and how to add sites to it when necessary (in the video, I add AnandTech Forums because it does use JavaScript for stuff).

Meanwhile, sites that aren't in the Trusted Zone (or one of the other zones) fall into the Internet Zone, where you've disabled scripting. Note the important step of scooting the Trusted Sites zone up to Medium-High.

Maybe a bit of a hassle, but if you tend to browse the same core sites mostly, this could be bearable