Sounds like spyware. Get yourself a copy of SpyBot:
http://spybot.safer-networking.de/
Read the instructions.
Read the instructions.
Read the instructions.
Make some sandwiches and lock wifey/kids/roommate out of the room for the
day. Run the program. Read all alerts and messages. If your computer's a BIG
mess, SpyBot will find all sorts of things. Don't delete things until you're
sure of what you're doing. Homework:
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,978170,00.asp
The PC Magazine site will set cookies and probably ask you to register
before you can access articles. Register, and accept the cookies. The site
will NOT send you junk mail unless you subscribe to their newsletters. Some
of the newsletters are very good.
If any users on the machine like to download games, screen savers, music
swapping software, etc., cut off their hands. They'll get over it after a
while. If they continue downloading by using their toes or a mouth stick,
you will have to clean the computer all over again. Set up a BIOS password
to keep the offenders off the machine completely. If you're the one
downloading all sorts of crap, flog yourself with a chain until you stop
downloading. It's a computer, not a visit to a carnival. If you continue,
you will be back here within 3 months asking how to reformat your disk and
reinstall your operating system.
Tell the truth: Is it the kids, or you? There are ways of totally preventing
downloads and installations, unless authorized by a knowledgable adult, if
any.
Good luck. If you are caught or killed, we will disavow any knowledge of
your actions.
-Doug (been through this sh*t with 14 year old son, who now has no hands).
Paul said:
I keep getting a thing called "Albert Alert" that apparently installs
itself, and then when I remove it it comes back in a couple of days.
There are also a couple of times that some site has installed itself as my
default home page, without my knowledge or consent.
How can I get rid of these things once and for all?
I am running both a shareware pop-up killer, and the SBC Yahoo pop-up
killer. I have my firewall turned on, and I am running Norton Attivirus
with current updates.
