Ads appearing on desktop

[Dave Roddick]

Recently a number of shortcuts for cheap cigarettes,
viagra, etc., appeared on my desktop, and also in my
Favourites folder. I can delete them, but once I start up
again, they're back. Also my homepage is constantly
changing to something called "your-search", which usually
results in a 404 error.

Knowing this to be a spyware problem, I downloaded Ad-
aware, and it cleaned a huge number of things off my
machine. When I restarted my computer, though, there were
the ads back again.

A friend suggested that I try doing a system restore. I
did, and it seemed to fix the problem, until I realized
that some data files had reverted to their earlier
versions. Needing the current data, I undid the system
restore (temporarily), copied the files to a diskette,
and tried to do the system restore again. It won't allow
me to do it. I have now tried several restore points, and
none of them work.

My question is threefold: (1)How can I get rid of this
spyware that has infested my system, when Ad-aware
doesn't seem to work; (2)Is the problem with System
Restore a symptom of this, that will go away when I solve
the spyware issue, or do I have to do something else to
fix it; and (3)if I hunt down the people who created this
plague, is it legal to beat the living daylights out of
them?

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

Recently a number of shortcuts for cheap cigarettes,
viagra, etc., appeared on my desktop, and also in my
Favourites folder. I can delete them, but once I start up
again, they're back. Also my homepage is constantly
changing to something called "your-search", which usually
results in a 404 error.

Knowing this to be a spyware problem, I downloaded Ad-
aware, and it cleaned a huge number of things off my
machine. When I restarted my computer, though, there were
the ads back again.

A friend suggested that I try doing a system restore. I
did, and it seemed to fix the problem, until I realized
that some data files had reverted to their earlier
versions. Needing the current data, I undid the system
restore (temporarily), copied the files to a diskette,
and tried to do the system restore again. It won't allow
me to do it. I have now tried several restore points, and
none of them work.

My question is threefold: (1)How can I get rid of this
spyware that has infested my system, when Ad-aware
doesn't seem to work; (2)Is the problem with System
Restore a symptom of this, that will go away when I solve
the spyware issue, or do I have to do something else to
fix it; and (3)if I hunt down the people who created this
plague, is it legal to beat the living daylights out of
them?

First eliminate any scumware.
See
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
especially
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm#Coolwebsearch

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each needs to be updated before every use, even when just
downloaded. There's also a lot more to do than just those two programs.
CWShredder is also available here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/cwshredder.zip
**Post your HijackThis log to
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or the Spyware forum at
http://forum.aumha.org/ for expert analysis, not here.**
Alternative download pages for Ad-Aware, Spybot, HijackThis and CWShredder
may be found on this page:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.
If trying everything at that site does not fix the problem please post back
in the same thread.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

 

[# 3 answer is yes]

in ie tools options advanced uncheck both "enable
install on demand",,apply.or you get 'firefox' from
mozilla.org and get rid of the ie security problems..
blocks popups too and ad' blocker available. and a better
cookie manager/blocker.

 

[Jerry]

You forgot to metion that the answer to #3 was YES.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE]

You forgot to metion that the answer to #3 was YES.

Actually, I don't think it is legal.
It should be, though.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/