Stopping Software installation / Removing Software

[Stephen]

Whilst internet browsing a programme appears to have been
installed on my system without my having been prompted
about it in anyway. I cannot delete this programme
(Internet Optimizer). It doesn't show up in
the "add/remove software" panel and when I simply try to
delete the folder that contains the programme, I get
an "access denied" prompt.

I'm not sure whether this programme is actually doing
anything. The only visible result is that when I boot up
my computer and open Outlook Express or Internet Explorer
the system appears to believe that there is already an
open internet connection before I've logged on.

Any thoughts about how I can delete this programme?

Also this is not the first time software has appeared on
my system without me knowingly installing it, although it
is the first time I've not been able to delete it. Is
there anyway that I can set up XP to prevent any software
installation without my specifically OKing its
installation.


Thanks

 

[Kelly]

Hi Stephen,

Follow the steps provided here and good luck!

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

 

[Phil]

To stop this stuff in the future:

Always use a firewall.
Always use an anti-virus program and keep it updated.
Scan your machie for spyware weekly.
And try a more secure browser. FireFox doesn't let these active-x things to
load and has a built in pop-up blocker as well.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

To deal with issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Smiley Central, 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.

Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
varieties of scumware are available here:

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml


Bruce Chambers
--
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