Adware/Spyware making my life hell

Some how my pc has been infected. when I log on to my broadband i am inundated with about 30 popups advertising Spyware removers!! ironic heh. Also my homepage has changed to about.com & cannot be changed. I have run Spybot & AOL searhc to no avail
I am in desperate need of some help, has anyone experienced this before?
Please please help me!!

What program have you recently installed

The events you describe have happened to persons when using Messenger Plus.

Try Control Panel | Admin Tools | Services Find Messenger and disable it.
That should stop the pop ups for spyware removers unless you have picked
something else up.

You don't need this and its nothing to do with MSN Messenger IM.



"Adam" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B0E14F80-87B7-460E-87BB-EDD14F7334B2@microsoft.com...
> Some how my pc has been infected. when I log on to my broadband i am
inundated with about 30 popups advertising Spyware removers!! ironic heh.
Also my homepage has changed to about.com & cannot be changed. I have run
Spybot & AOL searhc to no avail.
> I am in desperate need of some help, has anyone experienced this before??
> Please please help me!!


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 18/05/2004

Goto www.Wilderssecurity.net and download Spywareblaster. Anything that is on your computer that is creating the popups will be removed after you install spyware blaster

No.It will not.It will be deactivated,surpressed.Not
removed.

Refer to http:/cexx.org for assistance.

>-----Original Message-----
>Goto www.Wilderssecurity.net and download
Spywareblaster. Anything that is on your computer that
is creating the popups will be removed after you install
spyware blaster
>.
>

That is a very bad fix if it is the only fix.
What you suggest will stop Messenger Service ads.
However if those ads are getting through, your fix does little more
than cover the symptoms of an unprotected computer.
A firewall is the appropriate protection.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"Vernon Spools" <vernon156-mailbox@yahoo.co.in> wrote in message
news:%23UAHwzZPEHA.1644@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Try Control Panel | Admin Tools | Services Find Messenger and
disable it.
> That should stop the pop ups for spyware removers unless you have
picked
> something else up.
>
> You don't need this and its nothing to do with MSN Messenger IM.
>
>
>
> "Adam" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B0E14F80-87B7-460E-87BB-EDD14F7334B2@microsoft.com...
> > Some how my pc has been infected. when I log on to my broadband i
am
> inundated with about 30 popups advertising Spyware removers!! ironic
heh.
> Also my homepage has changed to about.com & cannot be changed. I
have run
> Spybot & AOL searhc to no avail.
> > I am in desperate need of some help, has anyone experienced this
before??
> > Please please help me!!
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 18/05/2004
>
>

Adam;
No need to pay for the fix.
For Messenger Service ads:
You need to install or enable a firewall:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330904
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...te/stopspam.asp
Disabling Messenger Service can be a good idea, but it does not solve
the real problem.
The ads are not the real problem, the ads are only a symptom.
The real problem is open ports that allow unwanted traffic into the
computer.
Disabling Messenger does nothing for the open ports.
The firewall controls the traffic.

Internet Connection Firewall will not work if you have AOL.
AOL is not compatible with Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
(ICF)
If you have AOL, you should contact AOL and/or get a 3rd party
firewall:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/

Disable Messenger Service:
Start/Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, double click
Services.
Go down to "Messenger".
Right click "Messenger" and select Properties.
Then under Start-up select DISABLE
Click OK and follow prompts

Also see:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/security.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"Adam" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B0E14F80-87B7-460E-87BB-EDD14F7334B2@microsoft.com...
> Some how my pc has been infected. when I log on to my broadband i am
inundated with about 30 popups advertising Spyware removers!! ironic
heh. Also my homepage has changed to about.com & cannot be changed. I
have run Spybot & AOL searhc to no avail.
> I am in desperate need of some help, has anyone experienced this
before??
> Please please help me!!

>-----Original Message-----
>Some how my pc has been infected. when I log on to my
broadband i am inundated with about 30 popups advertising
Spyware removers!! ironic heh. Also my homepage has
changed to about.com & cannot be changed. I have run
Spybot & AOL searhc to no avail.
>I am in desperate need of some help, has anyone
experienced this before??
>Please please help me!!
>.
>
Besides shutting off messenger service as another poster
suggested you need to install a firewall.
www.zonelabs.com


Other tools you may need:

Spybot "Search and Destroy"
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download

Spywareblaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html

Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoft.de/

CWS Shedder,Hijackthis,BHO Demon
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
Hijackthis tutorial
www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.php

winpatrol
http://www.winpatrol.com/

CWShredder (Line 313) Home page lock (Line 63)
Hijack this (Line 116)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Useful links about spyware.

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/

http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm

www.spychecker.com/home.html

A list of "bogus" anti-spyware tools
http://pcpitstop.ibforums.com/axsli...pfiles/bogus.ht
m

Very true.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

However I suspect the ad pop ups and the homepage change are two unrelated
events, unless of course both due to the lack of adequate firewall.


"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" <jones_jupiter@hotnomail.com> wrote in message
news:%23K2SRFbPEHA.2128@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> That is a very bad fix if it is the only fix.
> What you suggest will stop Messenger Service ads.
> However if those ads are getting through, your fix does little more
> than cover the symptoms of an unprotected computer.
> A firewall is the appropriate protection.
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/
>
>
> "Vernon Spools" <vernon156-mailbox@yahoo.co.in> wrote in message
> news:%23UAHwzZPEHA.1644@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > Try Control Panel | Admin Tools | Services Find Messenger and
> disable it.
> > That should stop the pop ups for spyware removers unless you have
> picked
> > something else up.
> >
> > You don't need this and its nothing to do with MSN Messenger IM.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Adam" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:B0E14F80-87B7-460E-87BB-EDD14F7334B2@microsoft.com...
> > > Some how my pc has been infected. when I log on to my broadband i
> am
> > inundated with about 30 popups advertising Spyware removers!! ironic
> heh.
> > Also my homepage has changed to about.com & cannot be changed. I
> have run
> > Spybot & AOL searhc to no avail.
> > > I am in desperate need of some help, has anyone experienced this
> before??
> > > Please please help me!!
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 18/05/2004
> >
> >
>
>


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 18/05/2004

Greetings --

There are at least three varieties of pop-ups, and the solutions
vary accordingly. Which specific type(s) is troubling you?

1) Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"

This type of spam has become quite common over the past year or
so, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It
demonstrates that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while
connected to the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised
by these specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit,
you most definitely open to other threats, such as the Blaster Worm
that still haunts the Internet. Install and use a decent, properly
configured firewall. (Merely disabling the messenger service, as some
people recommend, only hides the symptom, and does little or nothing
to truly secure your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with"
the security gap represented by these messages is particularly
foolish.

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...KB;en-us;168893

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...te/stopspam.asp

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

If you're using AOL, you'll either need to find a 3rd party
firewall that is compatible with AOL, or switch to a real ISP that is
compatible with the real Internet. This is because AOL is an on-line
content provider that ignores international Internetworking standards
in favor of its own proprietary products, and has deliberately made
its connection software incompatible with both WinXP's built-in
firewall and WinXP's Internet Connection Sharing feature. AOL's
proprietary connection applet is deliberately designed to preclude
your setting/adjusting any of its properties, to include
enabling/disabling WinXP's ICF and ICS.

Whichever firewall you decide upon, be sure to ensure UDP ports
135, 137, and 138 and TCP ports 135, 139, and 445 are _all_ blocked.
You may also disable Inbound NetBIOS (NetBIOS over TCP/IP). You'll
have to follow the instructions from firewall's manufacturer for the
specific steps.

You can test your firewall at:

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/vr...GBYNCJEIMXQKCDT

Security Scan - Sygate Online Services
http://www.sygatetech.com/

Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
service, by itself, is a "head in the sand" approach to computer
security. The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups;
they're actually providing a useful, if annoying, service by acting as
a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
helpful?

2) For regular Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
Popup-killer from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm, Pop-Up Stopper
from http://www.panicware.com/, or the free Google Toolbar from
http://toolbar.google.com/, which is what I use.

3) To deal with pop-ups caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or
KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without
understanding the consequences) installed, two products that are
quite effective (at finding and removing this type of scumware) are
Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from
www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's even
possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system
against most future intrusions. I use both and generally perform
manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Adam" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B0E14F80-87B7-460E-87BB-EDD14F7334B2@microsoft.com...
> Some how my pc has been infected. when I log on to my broadband i am
> inundated with about 30 popups advertising Spyware removers!! ironic
> heh. Also my homepage has changed to about.com & cannot be changed.
> I have run Spybot & AOL searhc to no avail.
> I am in desperate need of some help, has anyone experienced this
> before??
> Please please help me!!