comcast popups and Spyware

[Jeff]

I've spent several hours cleaning my daughter's college laptop (XP Home
SP-1) of a variety of spyware and problems. I've set her up with
ZoneAlarm's Firewall, Spybot, AdAware SE, Spyware blaster and she has
updated McAfee virus software. One problem I cannot seem to solve.

She has broadband web access through Comcast Cable. As soon as she opens
I.E. 6 she gets a popup ad that seems to come from Comcast itself. I've
already disabled Window Messenger. These Comcast popups do not appear when
she uses Mozilla's Firefox. Is there anything I can do to stop this in I.E.
6? She no longer gets other popups from 3rd party sources. Does anyone
know if Comcast cable sends its own popup ads to its paying broadband
customers and if there is a way to disable this?

A possibly associated problem is the attempt by TGCMD.EXE to access the
internet. ZoneAlarm blocks it, but from what I see on the web, this seems
to be some form of spyware installed with Comcast's "Support" software. Any
thought what to do with this other than having ZA block it?

Thanks.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I am a Comcast Customer. There is absolutely *no* need for *any* Comcast
software. Uninstall it.

Start menu | Settings | Control Panel | Add or Remove programs |
Remove Comcast Support Software

[[This program (TGCMD.EXE) collects data on the programs that you use and
websites you browse. It is unclear if anything is being done with the
data.]]

I know of one popup that Comcast uses, I get this all the time >>>

[[Many of the rich-media features of Comcast.net require the Macromedia
Flash Player version 6 or higher. For the best experience, we suggest you
download this free software. Please click on the button below to download
the latest version.]] Horse hockey!! ;-)

 

[Rock]

I've spent several hours cleaning my daughter's college laptop (XP Home
SP-1) of a variety of spyware and problems. I've set her up with
ZoneAlarm's Firewall, Spybot, AdAware SE, Spyware blaster and she has
updated McAfee virus software. One problem I cannot seem to solve.

She has broadband web access through Comcast Cable. As soon as she opens
I.E. 6 she gets a popup ad that seems to come from Comcast itself. I've
already disabled Window Messenger. These Comcast popups do not appear when
she uses Mozilla's Firefox. Is there anything I can do to stop this in I.E.
6? She no longer gets other popups from 3rd party sources. Does anyone
know if Comcast cable sends its own popup ads to its paying broadband
customers and if there is a way to disable this?

A possibly associated problem is the attempt by TGCMD.EXE to access the
internet. ZoneAlarm blocks it, but from what I see on the web, this seems
to be some form of spyware installed with Comcast's "Support" software. Any
thought what to do with this other than having ZA block it?

Thanks.

Look up Tgcmd.exe on this site:
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_t.htm

You don't need it to use comcast cable. Remove it by removing the
comcast support tools.

 

[Phil]

I worked for comcast a few years ago and never heard of them sending popup
ads, but things may have changed. I can't believe they are still using
tgcmd.exe as it is spyware. I tested it years ago and it transmits data that
you don't want transmitted. Supposed to be for their support, thru
support.com I think, which is a known spyware creating site/company. What we
always did was have the user unistall the comcast software as it's not
needed to get on the internet. No software is needed for any cable
broadband. Or have za block it always.
What does the popup she gets look like and what does it say?

 

[Jeff]

Thank you. I do not have access to her laptop till next week and therefore
cannot describe the popup but I recall that it had Comcast in its heading.

 

[NobodyMan]

Look up Tgcmd.exe on this site:
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_t.htm

You don't need it to use comcast cable. Remove it by removing the
comcast support tools.

You should also install SP2. It has a fairly decent pop-up blocker.
Sometimes it's too agressive and blocks pop-ups I want, but it's easy
to temporarily allow pop-ups on a site.

 

[wayne]

check under add/remove programs for any comcast programs

do a search for the file and see where it is located rename the file and see
what happens

Wayne

 

[Jeff]

I'll install SP-2 on her laptop during the Christmas break. I've heard too
many horror stories about SP-2 to try that when she has daily need of her
laptop during the college term <grin>.

Thanks.

 

[Microsoft]

Hi mister.

I have recently installed SP2 on 32 computers that all are used for very
different purpose and some are on domain and some are not, i get all
problems direct and i have had none that are not easily solved.

Sp2 has done good in performance and many more things.. as users talk about
that they can feel a big difference on the computer and har overall happy.

Just my input =)

-s-