I have a small..well OK, a big problem

[Stormymystic]

I have gotten hijacked, my browser has a mind of its own, and spy bot will not find what is causing this, can someone give me an idea on where to get a freeware or trial version of ad ware removers? everyone I have looked for has just been the scanner, and it cost more than I have in my pocket at the moment, any help will be appreciated [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[KDogRex]

Aside from Format C:, I assume?
You should be able to download a trial version of Norton anti virus from Symantec's website. When it starts going haywire like that, you could easily have a virus. That's where I would start.

[Timber Loftis]

Search for Ad Aware -- there's a free version. My wife surfs like a mad woman (whereas I only go here and Oasis) so she picks up this crap all the time. I put Ad Aware and Spybot on her laptop, and no worries since.

[andrewas]

Remember to run the spybot update function - new crap comes out all the time, and an out-of-date scanner can be worse than no scanner at all.

[Jorath Calar]

Download a free version of adaware here... it costs nothing and scans the computer for hostile malware on your disks and then removes it.

If it's possible run it and your Antivirus while in "Safe Mode" since some "hijackware" (new word?) are running as processes at startup so it can't be removed.
If you run in "safe mode" the computer doesn't start the hostile processes so they can be removed... damn I'm starting to sound like a robot... sorry... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hope that helps...

[ 11-25-2003, 10:24 AM: Message edited by: Jorath Calar ]

[Stormymystic]

thanks guys, Ad Aware was the one I had had once before, and loved it, and Andrewas, I updated the spybot yesterday, but it still did not find what caused this [img]smile.gif[/img] it found everything else, and got rid of the My search bar thing, that I have been trying to delete for weeks, my husband installed that, and timber, I know what you mean, I tend to go all over the place looking for freeware and trial versions of things, so I can have fun, lol, anyway, thanks again guys, and I thought about the virus, but it has not been found either, so I am assuming it is addware, when I search for something, the minute I click a link, it goes to the site, then the browser flashes, and it is at a new site

[Stormymystic]

Originally posted by Jorath Calar: Download a free version of adaware here... it costs nothing and scans the computer for hostile malware on your disks and then removes it. If it's possible run it and your Antivirus while in "Safe Mode" since some "hijackware" (new word?) are running as processes at startup so it can't be removed. If you run in "safe mode" the computer doesn't start the hostile processes so they can be removed... damn I'm starting to sound like a robot... sorry... [img]smile.gif[/img] Hope that helps...

i think this might be, because there are 32 processes running, and I am not sure what half of them are...now to just figure out how to get to safe mode......

[Jorath Calar]

Hit "F8" as soon as Windows start loading... you get a list of startup options and one of them is Safe mode... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Stormymystic]

Originally posted by Jorath Calar: Hit "F8" as soon as Windows start loading... you get a list of startup options and one of them is Safe mode... [img]smile.gif[/img]

yes! I got it, thanks, and it loads faster, the moniter no longer flashes
but there is still 32 processes running, not sure what they are, or how to get rid of them

[Albromor]

Also, if you go to www.trendmicro.com they have a free online scan for virus', etc. It found stuff that didn't even know I had (and I have the latest Ad-aware)and removed them as well. It is safe, constantly updated, and it is free!