Re: SPYWARE PROBLEM???
From: David Hollway [MVP] (tNhOrSePaApM_at_angelfire.NOCAPITALS.com)
Date: 04/19/04
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Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 00:57:59 +0100
"Andy" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:132201c42667$de16ce20$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> Hi....
>
> FRUSTRATED!!!!
>
> The other day, I noticed that some spyware was on my
> system - a few things made me notice, though I don't know
> how they got there...
>
> - bottom search bar from some "place" had no uninstall
> instructions - couldn't get rid of it.
>
> - homepage auto-changed; URLs addded to favorites and
> desktop
>
> - popups from "same places" started to appear, even
> though I have a pop-up blocker
>
> - etc.
>
> I used Spybot and Spykiller 2004 - each one found stuff
> the other could not. Then, I purchased SpyHunter
> V1.5.81 - this found a lot more stuff than the other
> two. Finally, after rerunning all three, it appeared
> that my system is free of spyware and adware.
>
> YET....the pop-ups continue to happen here and there
> (with TWO pop-up blockers running) - and, most tellingly,
> all of a sudden, when booting up, at the splash that
> says "LOADING PERSONAL FAVORITES" before going to the
> desktop, this used to take a couple of seconds,
> tops....NOW, it takes a FULL MINUTE. There STILL HAS TO
> BE something wrong here, and I'd like to avoid
> reinstalling Windows XP like the plague!!
Hi Andy,
I appreciate that this is too late to help you, but.. there's really NO need
to spend money on anti-spyware software, because some of the best
anti-spyware programs out there are completely free. Many people swear by
Ad-Aware (www.lavasoft.de, if I recall correctly) and my personal favourite
is the excellent Spybot Search & Destroy (http://security.kolla.de). Try
downloading either one of these - Spybot, for preference. Then update them
using their inbuilt update feature, and then scan your system. See what
comes up. I must admit I can't recall seeing a "Loading Personal Favorites"
screen on my own XP machines - perhaps it flashes up too quickly on a
"clean" PC for me ever to have noticed it, but it may be that this is a
remnant of some more spyware on your system.
Once you've disinfected your system, install a decent firewall; either the
built-in XP one or a third-party one like the excellent and free ZoneAlarm
(www.zonelabs.com). The soon-to-be-released Service Pack 2 for Windows XP
has a much-improved firewall and other security enhancements, so you may
want to update to that once it's out, which will probably be sometime this
summer.
Hope this helps..
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