Spyware/Adware

[Adren]

For some unknown reason, a kind of spyware/adware
(ISEARCH) was downloaded onto my IE6 browser. Now, the
search button on my browser is missing and i cant access
the toolbars option to uncheck it. It totally blocked out
any selection in the toolbars list. And it created a
toolbar (from ISEARCH) and i have no way of removing it.
Even with anti-spyware programs, i can only block the
toolbar from appearing but my browser is still in a mess.
Can anyone help? I would really be grateful..
Thanks

 

[warren montgomery]

Try Spybot Search and Destroy (http://spybot-spyware.com/) It may take
several passes to eliminate this particular nasty bot. Then go in and
disable automatic anything in your internet options. I have no idea why
Microsoft (and Netscape) ignored 25 years of research in computer security
and basic common sense by setting the defaults to allow downloaded web pages
and emails to ravage your computer, but it's a nasty world out there and
your defaults should really be to do nothing automatically that will result
in changes to your machine that survive the current web page without asking.

 

[Chuck]

For some unknown reason, a kind of spyware/adware
(ISEARCH) was downloaded onto my IE6 browser. Now, the
search button on my browser is missing and i cant access
the toolbars option to uncheck it. It totally blocked out
any selection in the toolbars list. And it created a
toolbar (from ISEARCH) and i have no way of removing it.
Even with anti-spyware programs, i can only block the
toolbar from appearing but my browser is still in a mess.
Can anyone help? I would really be grateful..
Thanks

Adren,

How current is your virus protection? Try these free online virus scans:
<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>

Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional carriers of infection.

First, download LSP-Fix from <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>, and CWShredder
from <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>. Both free.

Next, run CWShredder. Have it fix all variants.

Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
<http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download>. Both free.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it here):
<http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/>
<http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix.

Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/

Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security updates.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[philip ashley]

Also this description of what needs to be removed.

http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/i/isearch_toolbar.asp

and a browser repair tool here

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/ToolbarRepair.Exe

hth

philip ashley