Re: Unsollicited toolbar inserted in New Message dialog! (Adware?)

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: PA Bear (PABear_at_mvps.org)
Date: 06/07/04 

Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 14:16:55 -0400

SmileyCentral hijackware was installed with the permission of a user of your
machine. It (and the rest of the malware which comes with it via "drive by"
install) is notoriously difficult to get rid of.

Check your system for "hijackware":

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
     http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957 

-- 
HTH - Please Reply to This Thread
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP
AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org
What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx
Pierre B. wrote:
> Has this happened to anybody else?
>
> In my OE 6 XP home system, whenever I create a new message, the New
> Message window opens, and a second or two after the window creation,
> an additionnal toolbar is displayed. This toolbar is not part of OE -
> rightclick on the toolbar doesn't give any option to enable/disable
> it. It is chalkfull of link buttons (I hesitate to press any of
> them...) and a search box with options for other links.
>
> This has appeared recently (couple of weeks). I suspect piggybacked
> adware. I have carefully uninstalled the most recently installed
> free/sharewares. I have AdAwared my system, repeatedly. The toolbar
> remains, and adware popups too.
>
> Check http://www.uploadimages.net/images/342173OE6_bug.JPG for a
> screenshot.
>
> What else can I do to remove this unsollicited toolbar?
Quantcast