what's up with the effing spam bombs in our post.

[vash]

maybe i am only seeing them. but in all of your messages, there is at least one word in blue. you even get near it with the cursor and BAM spam attack! this is crap.

[IanW505]

I think it's just you...maybe a browser problem?? I'm not getting any of that. Then again, i'm behind a goverment firewall.

Also may want to lay off the wacky weed

-Ian

[Por_sha911]

unfixed-sounds like you have been hit with spyware. Its a small piece of software that comes piggybacked to downloaded software. When you click on certain things, the spyware will dump ads onto your screen. To find and remove it, go to
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ and download ad-aware. Its free and works great.

[Sonic dB]

Ditto on that unfixed....your computer is INFECTED with Spyware.

Frustrating isnt it?


Go to Yahoo and do a search for "Spybot"....this is a FREE program which you can download. Run this program and it will clean out your computer, ridding it of nasty Spyware.

Think of it as an enema for your computer.

The Feds are thinking of cracking down hard on these sleezy Spyware thugs. Hopefully they will do it...until then, cut down on surfing for porn as this is where many Spyware artists hang out dispersing their virtual AIDS.

[ubiquity0]

This guy said the same thing today:

Unwanted links in postings

[vash]

this is my girlfriend's computer so i dont surf porn.
spyware, what deeiicks.

i am old fashioned, i think porn should be in magazines
thanks, i just gave the machine it's first enema. thanks.

[mikester]

Try spybot search and destroy - it is the best spyware remover and it is free also.

http://www.safer-networking.org/

[Por_sha911]

spyware comes from lots of stuff besides porn. You can pickup spyware from clicking a link or opening spam e-mail.

[moazam]

Get "SpyBot Search & Destroy" and switch your browser to Mozilla FireFox.

Firefox = http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Firefox does not allow popups and is generally "Good". Oh , and it has tabs so you can surf 5 different websites without opening 5 different browser windows.

[jrdavid68]

Ok, you ready for this? I have zero problems with all my machines when it comes to this spyware/adware/malware crap. Here is a bunch of information that some of you may find useful.

Credit for some of this information goes to threads on the forums on: http://www.techsupportguy.com

Mozilla works great. If you download it, you do need to go to the settings and "turn on" pop-up blocking. More info at: http://www.mozilla.org

Spybot and Adaware are both free and available for download at http://www.download.com

I prefer to run Adaware first and then Spybot - they both work well and sometimes one will find some that the other misses.

Don't just download them and run them. Like Virus programs, there are updates released all the time for these programs. Make sure you get the latest updates.

Spybot, once updated, is pretty much ready to go. Adaware needs to be "tweaked" a little for optimal scanning.

More information on Spybot (with pretty screen shots included):

http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php

About Ad-Aware 6
Ad-Aware 6 is a powerful tool that is used to detect and give the user the ability to quarantine and safely remove the offending objects that are targeted.

Step 1- Download and Install Ad-Aware 6
Please download your copy of the free Ad-Aware 6 Personal Build 181 from here: http://www.download.com
If you have ever had Ad-Aware on your computer before, please first uninstall it via Add\Remove Programs before installing the new version. Install A-A after closing as many running programs as possible.

Step 2- Updating the Ad-Aware reference file
You will need to run the Web-update Feature before each scan to make sure you have the current reference file installed. It is imperative that you always have the current Build and Reference File in use to ensure the proper detection and removal of objects.
On the start screen:
Click on the "Check for updates now" hotlink. (The globe at the upper right also opens the web-update feature)
Click "Connect".
If you see that a new reference file is available, click "OK", and it will download and install automatically.
Click "Finish".

If you have a Proxy, you will need to configure the Web-update feature. Click on "Configure", check the "Use HTTP Proxy" option, and enter the information.
[NOTE: If you need to enter a username\password for your Proxy, you will have to manually update your Reference File]
Connect to the Internet. Click on "Connect", then "Finish" after the update is completed.

Step 3- Manually updating the reference file
If you need to update your reference file manually, you can download the file from:
www.lavasoft.de/ls/reflist.zip
Unzip the folder, and place the file inside your Ad-Aware 6 folder.
Then choose "OK" when asked to over-write it.
If you would like a backup of the previous reference file, simply re-name it "Reflist.ref.old" before moving the new one in.

Step 4- Configuring Ad-Aware 6 for your first scan
[NOTE: Ad-Aware 6 has two scanning options: SmartScan and Custom. As explained more fully below, SmartScan is faster, but also less comprehensive. While SmartScan is satisfactory for routine use, it is HIGHLY recommended that your FIRST scan with A-A be a Custom scan. After a thorough cleaning, use the capabilities within SmartScan for everyday use. Think of SmartScan as your regular oil change, whereas the Custom Scan is the 30,000 mile checkup.]

Ad-Aware 6 comes pre-configured with default options that are already ON (green check-mark) ... do not change them. The following are changes that you will need to make to prepare the "Full" custom scan that is recommended for the first look into your computer (instead of a red "x", you will make them a green "check-mark")
[NOTE: any options that are greyed out are only available for users of the paid Plus or Professional versions of A-A]

Launch the program, and click on the Gear at the top of the start screen to access the preferences/setting window.
Click the "Scanning" button.
Under Drives & Folders, select "Scan within Archives".
Click "Click here to select Drives + folders" and select your installed hard drives.
Under Memory & Registry, select all options.
Click the "Advanced" button.
Under "Log-file detail", select all options.
Click the "Tweaks" button.
Under "Scanning Engine", select the following:
"Include additional Ad-aware settings in logfile" and "Unload recognized processes during scanning."
Under "Cleaning Engine", select the following:
"Automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion" and
"Let Windows remove files in use after reboot."
Click on 'Proceed' to save these Preferences.

When you are finished, you will be using the Custom Scan with Memory and Both registry scans ON. Please make sure that you activate IN-DEPTH scanning before you proceed.

Step 5- Scanning
From the start screen, click on the "Scan now" button.
On the next screen, select "Use custom scanning options". [You would change this to SmartScan in the future]
Click on "Next" to begin the A-A scan.

Step 6- Quarantine and Removal of Detected Objects
Quarantine: Ad-Aware includes a Quarantine feature, which can back up detected objects before they are removed. This can prove useful in the event a program doesn't work after certain detected objects are removed ... you can restore the detected objects, much like an anti-virus quarantine. The program is pre-configured to automatically quarantine the selected objects before removal, so you do not need to click on the 'Quarantine' button. Make a Quarantine only if you do not have the Auto-Quarantine option ON.

Removal:
From the "Scan complete" window ...
Click on "Next".
This will take you to the "Results" window ... this is where you will need to mark the objects that you wish to remove. There are many options available with a right-click.
It is recommended (as stated above) to remove all of the objects unless you wish to ignore some (see below for instructions on the ignore list).
To remove everything, right click in the Results List and click "Select all objects".
DO NOT click the 'Quarantine' button, this is automatically done as
explained above.
Click "Next" to remove the chosen objects.
Click "OK".
The Quarantine will be made and the objects will then be removed.

[Please Note: After removing a Browser Hijacker, Ad-aware 6 will set your Start Page to "Blank", so you may need to set the Start and Search pages in your Browser manually back to your preferred one. The reason for this is that the hijack has changed the page, and since Ad-aware 6 does not know what it was set to before the hijack, it resets it to a blank page. If you do not see any differences, then disregard this note.]

Now, a little information about how machines get "infected":

You usually get infected because your security settings are too low.

Here are a number of recommendations that will help tighten them, and which will contribute to making you a less likely victim:

1) Watch what you download!
Many freeware programs, and P2P programs like Grokster, Imesh, Kazaa and others are amongst the most notorious, come with an enormous amount of bundled spyware that will eat system resources, slow down your system, clash with other installed software, or just plain crash your browser or even Windows itself.

2) Go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and install ALL Security Updates listed.
It's important to always keep current with the latest security fixes from Microsoft. Install those patches for Internet Explorer, and make sure your installation of Java VM is up-to-date. There are some well known security bugs with Microsoft Java VM which are exploited regularly by browser hijackers.

3) Go to Internet Options/Security/Internet, press 'default level', then OK.
Now press "Custom Level."
In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to 'prompt', and 'Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to 'disable'.

Now you will be asked whether you want ActiveX objects to be executed and whether you want software to be installed.
Sites that you know for sure are above suspicion can be moved to the Trusted Zone in Internet Option/security.

So why is activex so dangerous that you have to increase the security for it?
When your browser runs an activex control, it is running an executable program. It's no different from doubleclicking an exe file on your hard drive.
Would you run just any random file downloaded off a web site without knowing what it is and what it does?

[Porschekid962]

simple and best fix would be for you to buy a macintosh. i have had zero internet spam problems, no virus problems or anything you can think of, best internet protection period! get one today!!!

ryder

[imcarthur]

JrDavid68

Thanks for the walk-thru. I had already run the default (but updated) SpyBot & A-A, but when I did your suggested Custom A-A sweep, I came up with another 82 objects!

Thanks

Ian

[Wavey]

Originally posted by Porschekid962
simple and best fix would be for you to buy a macintosh. i have had zero internet spam problems, no virus problems or anything you can think of, best internet protection period! get one today!!!

ryder

Ditto. Fly below the radar.

[vesnyder]

These are getting to be an epidemic! My kids pick them up on the sites they visit. Real PIA. I wiped my disk clean the first time, but this time I ran Ad Aware and it seemed to fix the problem. I see where the State of CA is trying to ban them - go baby go. I was pissed. This cost me hours!!

[Bill Verburg]

I have a subscription from
Webroot

works great, much better than the free stuff and worth every penny.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by jrdavid68
Ok, you ready for this? I have zero problems with all my machines when it comes to this spyware/adware/malware crap. Here is a bunch of information that some of you may find useful.

thanks

[masraum]

There are Mac viruses too, they are just much fewer and farther between. Mac's are good machines, but not for me. I used to like to run Wordperfect Suite (Office competitor) and try all of the IBM compat non-MS stuff, not so much because I hate MS, but because I like to make sure I'm using the best, and the MS stuff is not always the best. I eventually switched to mostly MS stuff out of self defense because everyone else was using it. Things have gotten much better (I still primarily use Netscape as a browser)

I don't have spyware problems or virus problems. I also don't have any virus protection software. I have some safeguards in place that so far have kept me clean, and I keep my patches updated.

I never have to worry about being compatible with what everyone else is running, and I have my pick of whatever piece of software I want to run (unlike Macs)

Just keep yourself educated and you don't have to switch to Mac to get a (false) sense of security.

[Westy]

I think you're all missing the point. Cliff (unfixed) IS the spy! He's affecting you as you type. RUN!! RUN AWAY!! Cliff is evil!!!!!!!

[scottb]

JrDavid:

Thanks for the great info. I have Ad-Aware, but ran it with your suggestions and found more spyware on my computer. Should I run it with these configurations every time, or just once?

Thanks for your great advice.

[Por_sha911]

ScottB
Use those setting every time. Scan about once a month unless you see something weird (in which case you should do it again).
Also, lest we forget, Keep your virus protection software up to date AT LEAST once a week. Spyware is a pain but usually harmless. Viruses kill.

I have been online for about 5 years now. I've used virus protection: McAfee or Nortons and ad-aware and I have yet to have a problem. The virus software has saved my bacon many times when friends had infected machines and didn't know it.

Being online without Virus protection is like never doing oil changes and other maintenance on your Porsche and then wondering why the motor died.