<font color=plum>I was browsing the internet last night when I got hit with a very agressive spyware program. A pop-up appeared on my screen asking if I wanted spyware protection (or something to that effect). Naturally, I clicked "NO", but I guess I should have just clicked the "X" instead.

My screen suddenly FILLED with all kinds a pop-up ads. When I finally got through those, I found several icons added to my desktop. Some of them implied they were spyware buster programs, but I didn't open any of them to find out.

My homepage has been changed to "about:blank". My Google Searchbar has been removed and replaced with a different one. When I tried to do a Search, I got a completely different Search Page than I'm used to. It said "Just Find It" at the top (I believe).

I finally just shut the computer off to prevent further infestation. When I turned it on this morning, it went through the same series of pop-ads and added all the icons I removed BACK to my desktop again. Anytime I go into a legitimate site, I automatically get a "Related Search" bar on the side of the screen. "STOPZilla" is the first entry that shows up there.

I didn't have my spyware-buster programs updated on this PC, so I am currently downloading them again. Even though I removed the icons from my desktop, I know the core programs are still there.

So, does anybody know the name of this particalur spyware hell-spawn? I am currently running Spybot:S&D on my system. I will be downloading Adaware, HiJack This and probably a couple of others (please feel free to recommend some you like). But I've learned from experience that spyware THIS agressive usually has to be removed manually. Any help in identifying this program would be appreciated.</font>

Sorry matey, I'd just go with the Spybot S&D solution. Couldn't really suggest anything else :(

There are too many varibables to tell you which it is, since there are so many..

For reference, never, and I mean never click inside the popup windows, then tend to be just images of buttons and so clicking anywhere on them is just asking for trouble..

Also, watch out for the double X windows, these are popup's that have a little X near to where the real X is, again this is a trick to try and get you to click in their window and thus "autherise" them to install junk to your computer..


Hmm, you could try Ctr+Alt+Del and check for processes you don't recogonise, there's only roughly 14 or so critical windows processes, maybe less maybe more depending on your configs..


Oh I'd suggest running Lavasoft Adware, that's pretty good these days..

Then run your fav virus scan..

Then restart and repeat above steps just to be sure.

[ 02-18-2005, 06:38 AM: Message edited by: Q'alooaith ]

NEVER click the ad it self!
it was probably just a picture and will take you to the same trouble whereever you click. Click the X... or to avoid pop ups altogether use Firefox. Ihavn't seen a popup on my screen for months now.

It's safe to say that anything that turns the mouse icon into a little hand (indicating a link unless you've been fiddling with your settings) AND comes unto your screen unwanted is bad. So if there's a hand on your screen instead of the normal mouse pointer, always think twice and wonder if you really want to click that link. Clicking the 'X' in the above right corner is always the safest thing to do when dealing with pop-ups, and if you still feel insecure, ALT-F4 will take the trouble even further away by enabling you to keep the mouse as far as possible from the nasty pop-up .

dont you have firewall?

i just want to add.. what website is it? so i will try and avoid it. I have 2 firewalls (zone alarm and norton) which more or less protects me of unauthorized actions. when i find out.. i just deny them [img]tongue.gif[/img]

About the only added thing I can suggest is heading over to techtv.com and check out their forums/links. They are *VERY* thorough and instructions for removal of "crap" on your system you don't want are very easy to understand.

They may even know if this particular one has a name. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hope you get it all sorted, Cerek. I know what a pain it can be. Since switching to Firefox & Thunderbird, Mike and I have had no problems like this, so you just might want to seriously consider the above suggestion to switch. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color=plum>Yeah, I know I screwed up by clicking inside the ad instead of just clicking the "X". I just had a brain cramp and wasn't thinking.

The "spybuster" icons come back on my desktop after each restart. Here is what is showing up:

<font color=lime>Evidence Eraser</font>
<font color=red>Popup Blocker</font>
<font color=dodgerblue>Spyware Avenger</font>
<font color=yellow>Virus Hunter Security</font>

I don't have my own firewall installed, but I just got DSL service this week - and it is supposed to come with MSN Premium, which provides a firewall, popup blocker and virus scanner.

Maybe these new icons are actually legit and part of the MSN package - but they didn't show up when I activated my DSL connection. They showed up after I got hit with the spyware last night.</font>

Hmm. How about Zonealarm or the default XP firewall?