COMPUTER people...Spyware/parasites/trojan horses.....etc
 

I recently hooked my new PC that I've had for a few months up to the internet. I got Norton Systemworks 2004 beforehand. I was and am very determined to keep my computer safe from viruses, and all that kind of crap, so after a week or so everything was cool, until a few days ago I got a window that said Spyware was detected on my PC.

I also noticed that every time I opened Internet Explorer, my homepage was changed to from BC to "www.realsearcher.com/?aid=31635." I later found out that one of the symptoms of having spyware is unintentional homepage changes.

To make a long story short, I did some research and downloaded SpyKiller 2005. I cleaned the spyware off (first I had 26 spyware files), but the homepage still changed on me. And I also noticed that a list of sites/folders were in my 'favorites' that I did not add there. I would delete them but they always reappeared.

My question is, How do I PERMANENTLY remove this annoying spyware? Seems like this "award-winning" SpyKiller is only temporary. I don't feel like running Spykiller 5 times every day. There is always at least one new spyware file found a day. Today there were 14 new parasites found.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. I want to make sure my computer is totally free and safe from all potential threats. Any additional help on this topic would be awesome. Thanks!! :)

I WILL be getting Personal Firewall too eventually...hopefully that will help too.

ALSO: Every day a few times a day I get a little window that says:

"Error occurred: program will exit now." I click "OK" and another window opens that says: "Initialization Error!" I click "OK" and it's gone....what is this?

This started occurring after I got this spyware. I have no idea what kind of error this is or what "program" it is referring to. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks again!

Get Spybot Search and Destroy. Run it in "easy" mode, it is self explanitory, make sure you update and immunize before you search for spyware. I can surely help with any questions about it.


-justin

Run Regedit
>Local user
>Software
>Microsoft
>Windows
>Current Version
>Run
In there are things that boot up when you first turn on your computer, The only that should be in there is what your system needs (internet etc.)
If there is something suspicious remove it and reboot your pc.

Download HiJack this to fix any browser related issues. It is for advanced users, but it is very straight forward. Any questions about it, PM me.

I use a 3 piece system. I scan with Ad-aware, then Spybot, then top it all off with Spy Sweeper. Whatever Ad-aware misses Spybot catches and so on. Good Luck with your pc problem.
Deb

first things first:
1. What OS do you use? If you have windows XP download all updates and service pack two. this will help a lot
2. Do you use programs such as Kazaa? Weather Bug? Comet cursor? If so, GET RID OF THEM. These programs infest your computer with memory hogging spyware.
3. How do you access the internet? Is it through high speed or dial up? If it's highspeed make sure you go to "my network places" right click the connection, and enable the firewall. If you have Service Pack 2, make sure you have the firewall enabled.
4. (don't have to answer this one) but if you go to shady websites, (such as porn) you could have spyware from there, even viruses.
5. You need a good virus scanner/realtime scanner, in addition to spyware. A virus can make the same symptoms you are describing.
6. download adaware. It seems to be a great program. Make sure to run updates on it atleast once a week and scan for spyware often.
7. Run liveupdate on your anti-virus software. (I do it atleast once a day. You can set it up to automatically run.)
8. Ditch internet explorer. IT SUCKS. use a broser such as Mozilla firefox or netscape. They're more secure, plus you're much less likely to get third party programs installed on your computer because of them. Tons of stuff gets through IE through flaws.
By following all these steps I have never had a computer virus on my computers.. they're running in tip top shape even after all this time. :)

that would seem to cover all the bases except firewall. i know you said you were getting one, so i'd encourage you to get something ASAP. if you're on broadband, especially a cable modem, you're hooked into what is essentially a huge network of some of your service provider's customers. other private computers in peoples' homes that have become infected have open season on your system. get something like kerio personal firewall (kerio.com) to save yourself a real headache.

bonnie94sse,

Send me your email address and I will send you a program to get rid of the home page changes.

Rick

Use a MAC.....



Oh....



Wait....



Aren't PC's great :)

If you decide to start hacking around in the registry it's a good idea to first backup the entire folder in which you're going to remove contents from. That way if delete the wrong key you can easily restore it with the "import" function.

I agree, though, with Deb. Adaware, SpyBot, and Spysweeper are an excellent combination. Those three have worked flawlessly for me.

If you have a router on a broadband connection make sure that the firewall is enabaled. That will stop a lot of the spyware and viruses from hitting your system.

An easier and safer way to do this is to run msconfig from the run line.

Sometimes MSCONFIG doesn't get rid of all of them.

Check under LOCAL_MACHINE, and LOCAL_USER

Also under both when you go to .... > Current Version, check not only Run, but RunOnce, RunService (or something like that)

And you don't need to ditch IE. There is nothing wrong with it if you treat it right. HiJack this will always fix IE problems.

Good lordy you windows folks do too much work.

since my mac plus in 87, i've had how many viruses?

0

how much spy ware?

0

how many viruses out there for os X?

0.

I don't worry about going online, wondering what i've accidentally downloaded to my system :roll:

of course, if someone did manage to try it on my machine, any program that attempts to open itself for the first time requires an admin name and password... so that's not a problem...

but, since people seem to think you can't do anything on a mac, blah blah blah, the first step you NEED to take is dump IE... get a real browser, that sticks to the standards. IE is about the biggest security flaw there is for windows users right now. try out something like firefox or camino. or mozilla. or netscape.

really, anything but IE will help you out a lot...

are you a fellow mac user, rogue?

HERETICS!! Unclean!!!! :lol:

!!!!

IE is a broken browser to begin with, that single handedly trampled all over internet standards, making the web a less safe place for everyone.

anyhew, try out a different browser. doesn't cost you anything except a little time. there's a lot of feature rich browsers out there (i think IE is the only browser out there anymore without tabbed browsing) that work great, and support web standards.

No but Pete is, and he is moving to a PC, growing pains.

Macs are for sissys who like everything tidy, and working, and virus free, and...and....


expensive! yea thats it....

I would love to have a G5, but I can't afford one.

lol! sounds like some arguments people have tried to draw me into... they're toooo expensive, they're only good for graphics, blah blah blah.

hey, you have a mac right? can you read the emails i send you?
how do you go without microsoft office?
can you open jpegs?
hey, can you fix my pc? :)

and that's the truth of it. the people who give me the most crap for using my mac are the people who are always calling me to fix their pc. *sigh*

Thanks for all the advice! Once I actually get some time off of work I will check out all the options you guys have given. Last night I actually downloaded Ad-Aware SE Personal, and History Killer, and that helped a lot. I get a window that pops up once in a while saying that my homepage has changed on me, but it has a "yes" or "no" on whether I accept the change. I click "no" and it has seemed to work. My homepage has not changed on me in at least 24 hours, and the strange folders in "favorites" have not reappeared so far..which makes me feel better. I will still be getting a firewall eventually. I'll do/ download as much as possible to keep my computer safe.

I do however still get the window that says "Error, program will exit now...then "Initialization error!" Still not sure what that is. But it does not seem to be causing any problems.

And to add on the PC vs. Mac debate..

Macs are very nice computers. So are PC's. I like both. I'm sure there are people that think that Macs are for those who aren't too technical (one of my friends has said that anyways). That doesn't mean that everyone who uses Macs don't know their way around computers though.

But while being easier to use, Macs are much harder (and more expensive, of course) to fix though. I took apart my iMac because the video board blew, and it was a PITA to take apart (at least the first time). The technicians tried to (it seemed) scare me into thinking I'd kill myself if I fixed it myself. Probably a way to get more $$ out of me and let them fix it ..though screwing about around the CRT was still potentially dangerous :lol: , but nothing I couldn't fix. Macs still are more expensive in every way. Whether they are intentionally designed to be more expensive to fix, or they just happen to be, either way, it sucks they cost so much. A G5 would look nice on my desk.

I do graphic design/illustration and yes Macs are more industry standard for graphic design, but PC's are used in designing as well. The same design programs I have on my Mac are on my PC. A lot of my friends from class in college used PC's too. It's just personal preference. My iMac worked fine for the time I used it (I still use it for certain programs), but I love my PC though. Built it with the help of my friend. It's fast, has amazing graphics, all the memory I'll ever need, and has a sweet looking case and a nice flat screen monitor. I like the fact I can build a PC myself, upgrade/change hardware, and save money.

It works for me that I'm familiar with and like both Macs and PC's because whether my next design job is at a PC or Mac environment, I would have no problems. So I'll be sticking with both of my computers :)

Pete, Are you using XP home? Check out this link.
http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportf...+error&x=6&y=8