Smart Search

[James Irwin]

My dad has a old P2 500mhz PC with windows 98 on it. He has gotten this
SmartSearch home page locked in and I cannot remove it. I edited the
registry and ran CW Shredder but it keeps coming back. Also tried numerous
Spyware removal programs and went through Google trying the various tips I
located on posts. None have located and removed this problem.

When the page come up the address is: about:blank and webpage is
SmartSearch.

Any body got any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Not sure what removal programs you used, but if you tried several fully
UPDATED programs without success, you may want to post a hijack log at one
of the forums:

This link will take you to a page with several removal tools, also two links
for HJT if one does not work.
Hijack This http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
Download HJT to its own folder, not in the Temp Folder. -*Imortant*-check
for UPDATES. Then scan your computer. *Important* - Do not try to fix
anything HJT finds. Some files are necessary and NOT Spyware. Save the
Log in Notepad. Copy and Paste the Log to one of the Forums.

FORUMS:
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://computercops.biz/forums.html
http://boards.cexx.org/
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
http://www.techsupportforums.com/
http://forums.techguy.org/
http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php

 

[Wesley Vogel]

CWS.Smartsearch
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html#smartsearch

SmartSearch - Adware removal instructions
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/library/smartsearch/index.phtml

Smartsearch.ws Homepage Hijacker Removal Instructions and Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/smartsearch.shtml

First. Make sure of these settings and nothing will install without you
answering YES. (Except what may install as part of some other software.)

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Internet Options | Advanced tab |
Make sure both of these are NOT checked.

 Enable Install On Demand (Internet Explorer)
[[Specifies to automatically download and install Internet Explorer
components if a Web page needs them in order to display the page properly or
perform a particular task.]]

 Enable Install On Demand (Other)
[[Specifies to automatically download and install Web components if a Web
page needs them in order to display the page properly or perform a
particular task.]]

Apply | OK
=================================

Second. If you need a scan right now.

Follow the instructions!
THE PARASITE FIGHT QUICK FIX PROTOCOL
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.php

======================

Third.
It is known as Scumware. Visit these sites. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are really good.
Download, install, run, update and run again; one or all. They are all
good, FREE utilities.

1) CWShredder direct download:
http://216.180.233.163/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe

2) SpywareBlaster
[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

3) Spybot S & D
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

4) HijackThis (some other stuff that may be of interest also)
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

5) Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner v1.13
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/index.html?source=appvisit

6) ToolbarCop
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/toolbarcop.htm

7) AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
===============

Additional information & instructions.
A wealth of information here, boys and girls.

THE PARASITE FIGHT QUICK FIX PROTOCOL
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;827315#appliesto

Spyware and Deceptive Software
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx?gssnb=1

What you should know about spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

What do the experts in the Win98 Newsgroups say?