Re: Annoying Pop-Ups on Desktop

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From: dirtydog (dirtydog_at_dogpatch.com)
Date: 03/22/04 

Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2004 20:18:01 -0800

"Shenan Stanley" <news_helper@hushmail.com> wrote in message
news:uWfWov7DEHA.1452@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> dirtydog wrote:
> > Can someone help me (2) annoying pop ups from:
> > count.exitexchange.com and z1.adserver.com
> >
> > For some reason unknown I get these (2) appearing on my desktop even
> > when I'm not surfing the web. I have Norton running and added both
> > ads to block but they keep slipping by. Also, I tried to clean them
> > out with Spy Sweeper but that don't seem to help either!! It's to
> > the point where I feel I need to reformat and start all
> > over....HELP!!!
>
> If you do these things (some periodically) then I truly believe (because I
> see it every day from others I have suggested it to) that you can keep
> your machine spyware/adware/malware/virus/trojan free and running
> much better than it likely does by the time you ask this question on a
> newsgroup like this one. (I won't mention "popup free", because you
> WILL hit a web page where a popup is truly necessary and needed by
> you. But I will say "less popups guaranteed. No Messenger Popups for
> sure.")
>
> So, that being said, here is the list:
>
> Turn on that firewall...
> http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/home/using/howto/homenet/icf.asp
> (It has been reported that it now works with AOL 9.0+)
>
>
> Make sure you have all the updates (critical) installed from:
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
> (Scan for updates, Review and Install)
>
>
> Get rid of the spy/ad/mal-ware..
> (Yes - using MORE than one of these..
> I recommend at least the first three. Also..
> UPDATE the definitions for them before using.)
>
> Spybot Search and Destroy
> http://www.safer-networking.net/
>
> Lavasoft AdAware
> http://www.lavasoft.de
>
> CWSShredder
> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
>
> Hijack This!
> http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/
>
> I also like "The Cleaner" and "SpywareBlaster" and "SpywareGuard".
> - http://www.moosoft.com/
> - http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
>
> The first is a PAY product, but useable for 30 days - it has found and
> eliminated problems in the past the others did not. The latter two are
> prevention mechanisms. I like SpywareGuard for those with enough
processor
> to have something running like antivirus software - and it prevents
browser
> hijacking quite well.
>
> And Assortment of Others:
> http://www.merijn.org/downloads.html
>
>
> After you cleanup your PC somewhat of spy/ad/mal-ware, verify your
antivirus
> software is updated and run a full scan of your computer. If you have no
> antivirus software - get one NOW! Grisoft AntiVirus:
> http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
>
>
> Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to about
> 80 to 120MB (seems to be an optimal size for the normal user)
>
> - Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
> - Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
> - Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
> do the following:
> - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
> - Click on "Settings" and change the
> "Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 80MB
> and 120MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.)
> - Click OK.
> - Click on "Delete Files" and select to
> "Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click
> OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or
> more.)
> - Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer
> - Re-open Internet Explorer.
>
>
> Uninstall any software you do not use often/ever. (If you have something
> installed but never use it, uninstall it.) If you go through Control
> Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and see things you seldom if ever use, it is
to
> your advantage to remove it.
>
>
> Also, if you are tired of Web Page Pop-Ups/Unders.. You could try the
> Google Toolbar.
> http://toolbar.google.com/
>
>
> Stop loading applications at logon.. run MSCONFIG and look under the
startup
> tab for things you DON'T want to startup! Search the Internet with Google
> to discover what things are safe to remove and what things may even be
> malware infecting your computer.
>
>
> Better control your email and lessen the amount of time you spend dealing
> with SPAM:
> SpamBayes
> http://spambayes.sourceforge.net
> or
> Spamihilator.
> http://www.spamihilator.com
>
> --
> <- Shenan ->
> --
>
> ??????Gheeez...........I have the latest anti-virus (Norton) and running
Spy Sweep and all the latest patches, and the firewall and I disconnected
from the internet for a day cleaning and deleteding and when I reconnect the
little buggers keep coming back. I can handle them well surfing but to pop
up while doing an excel, word or visio is just getting just a little
annoying!! And it all started after I loaded Office 2003.......is anyone
elese having the same problem??

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