Help from you IT types please!

[nel]

I've got a "free6" sex site that keeps popping up on the screen despite my anti-pop-up Google bar and repeated search and destroy missions in the temporary internet files folder. Normally can sort these things out but this one seems to be embedded deeper than I know how to surgically remove!

It's not very tasteful and a problem when the kids are about due to it's graphic nature. How the hell do I get rid of it?!?!

Thanks for any suggestions - other than putting the hard drive in the dishwasher, etc.

[docevi1]

Ad-Aware Get the Free/Personal copy of this, update it and bob is your uncle.

Try Spybot as well.

>> Edited by docevi1 on Friday 19th November 23:12

[just dave]

Beat to it!! Not IT btw, just two good programs to use.

Dave

>> Edited by just dave on Friday 19th November 23:15

[docevi1]

oh, and www.mozilla.org. Most of these pop-ups rely upon Internet Explorer, use FireFox and those problems disappear

[just dave]

Also for a decent anti-virus program, Avast! seems to work well, if you want to keep Internet Exploder.

What do you think, Doc?

Dave

[BliarOut]

Spybot should crack it... if not, Hijackthis will show up the problem area pretty quickly

Rob, IT, but pissed

[docevi1]

I prefer Avast / AntiVir (same thing) to most of the others I have used, it's flagged up virii a couple of times now and has also helped get me back from having nearly 1500 infected file

Updated almost daily as well, only thing I think could be a problem is the size of the updates - regulary over a MB which could be a problem for dialup.

[nel]

Thanks chaps - just downloaded and zapped my machine with ad-aware. It found all sorts of data-mining nasties and net usage trackers that have now been blitzed!

BUT, this frigging bastard (http://540.scmg.net/randomsites/pages/28.html) just popped up on me again - it's an alternative link to the free6 site that I mentioned before. At least it now fails to open properly as I've stuck it on the restricted list, but it's still got a hook up my machines ass!

Maybe once I've powered down and up again it'll turn out to have been sterilised - failing that I'll be trying other solutions proposed above.

[just dave]

docevi1 said:

I prefer Avast / AntiVir (same thing) to most of the others I have used, it's flagged up virii a couple of times now and has also helped get me back from having nearly 1500 infected file Updated almost daily as well, only thing I think could be a problem is the size of the updates - regulary over a MB which could be a problem for dialup.

Yeah, I keep forgetting about that issue- Broadband is what I cannot do without!

[just dave]

nel said:

Thanks chaps - just downloaded and zapped my machine with ad-aware. It found all sorts of data-mining nasties and net usage trackers that have now been blitzed! BUT, this frigging bastard (<a href="http://540.scmg.net/randomsites/pages/28.html">http://540.scmg.net/randomsites/pages/28.html</a> just popped up on me again - it's an alternative link to the free6 site that I mentioned before. At least it now fails to open properly as I've stuck it on the restricted list, but it's still got a hook up my machines ass! Maybe once I've powered down and up again it'll turn out to have been sterilised - failing that I'll be trying other solutions proposed above.

Spybot _should_ do it. Re-boot and see. Then run it again.

Firefox is the answer. New broswer, almost the same look (icons are similar enough to recognise w/o getting Microshaft on their backs), keeps all the stuff away.

One question you need to ask:

Who has been clicking on the ads, shopping sites and getting the downloads that usually have this stuff in the background?

Nosey Dad,



Dave

>> Edited by just dave on Saturday 20th November 00:15

[GreigM]

You might also need to run the "CWShredder" which can be downloaded from here:
www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

If you keep getting these things back you need to get a decent firewall (none of this windows built-in rubbish), a decent anti-virus & anti-spyware prog and use firefox as your browser - www.getfirefox.com

[nel]

just dave said:

One question you need to ask: Who has been clicking on the ads, shopping sites and getting the downloads that usually have this stuff in the background? Nosey Dad, Dave

Hehehe - I've got no illusions about that Dave - the wife! The kids are still too small to run riot on the net, but wife and I are keen users/browsers/shoppers etc.

Will try Spybot as Free6 has just popped up again. Basically every time I open a window by clicking on a link, Free6 or its alter ego launches itself aswell. Bastards.

Thanks for the help - off to give my PC a mustard enema to clear it out...

[docevi1]

there are some basic things that you need to put on your PC:

Software Firewall. I use Sygate Personal Firewall, but BlackIce is an option. Zone Alarm looks nice

Anti Virus Program. Grisoft was the big name and has released a new version of it's free AVG, but I prefer Avast.

Anti Mal Ware. as mentioned alread, Ad-Aware & Spybot

Browser / Mail. Firefox and Thunderbird from mozilla don't have as many security flaws as MS's inbuilt IE does.

edit:: On average, it takes an unprotected Windows XP box connected to the 20mins before it's un-usable

>> Edited by docevi1 on Saturday 20th November 00:35

[just dave]

nel said:

just dave said: One question you need to ask: Who has been clicking on the ads, shopping sites and getting the downloads that usually have this stuff in the background? Nosey Dad, Dave nel said: Hehehe - I've got no illusions about that Dave - the wife! The kids are still too small to run riot on the net, but wife and I are keen users/browsers/shoppers etc. Say no more!!! I am dodging that mine field, thank you very much!! [quote=nel] Will try Spybot as Free6 has just popped up again. Basically every time I open a window by clicking on a link, Free6 or its alter ego launches itself aswell. Bastards. Thanks for the help - off to give my PC a mustard enema to clear it out...

And with that image etched in my mind, I am done for the day.

Dave

[tja]

Just seconding what docevi1 said...

Get rid of IE and install Firefox

[BliarOut]

OK, I'm sober now.....

Some of the nasty critters are buried pretty deep. If spybot etc can't shift it, get a copy of hijack this. It will write out a log file that shows everything pertinent. Most likely there is a BHO (browser hijack object) that shouldn't be in there.

Tick the stuff you want rid of and it will be gone. If you get lost, post the log up and I'll tell you what to nuke!

[nel]

OK - after powering up this a.m., I re-ran ad-aware and spybot and the jizz site has not popped up when I opened iexplorer - success touch wood!

Have just downloaded firefox - before I install it, will my "favourites" site links be grabbed by firefox automatically? If not, is there any easy way of listing them other than screen dumps of the open directories in IE favourites?

Thanks

[SMP]

nel said:

OK - after powering up this a.m., I re-ran ad-aware and spybot and the jizz site has not popped up when I opened iexplorer - success touch wood! Have just downloaded firefox - before I install it, will my "favourites" site links be grabbed by firefox automatically? If not, is there any easy way of listing them other than screen dumps of the open directories in IE favourites? Thanks

When you run Firefox for the first time, it'll find your IE favourites, history etc and ask if you would like to import them.

HTH

SMP

[GreigM]

nel said:

OK - after powering up this a.m., I re-ran ad-aware and spybot and the jizz site has not popped up when I opened iexplorer - success touch wood! Have just downloaded firefox - before I install it, will my "favourites" site links be grabbed by firefox automatically? If not, is there any easy way of listing them other than screen dumps of the open directories in IE favourites? Thanks

Firfox will ask if you want them transferred during the install process, so no problems.

Once you get used to tabbed browsing (Ctrl+T for a new tab) you'll never go back!!!

[nel]

Cheers chaps - a mine of info as usual.

, even if it is a bit early.