NationStates Jolt Archive

Some sort of virus or adware has infested my Internet Explorer. I run PC Cillin (always up to date), run a popup killer, and have a firewall enabled...how the feck did it get through?

Anyway, problem is this: it has rese my homepage to h ttp://ww w.whatsfind.com/page.html (dont try this link, it leads to a lot of popups and viruses/adware). It wont let me change my homepage - the box to enter a homepage is greyed out and cannot be accessed...

A similar problem happened on my PC before, and it led to a total reinstall to rectify. I don't want to do that again...how can I fix it? Last time, even an uninstall of internet explorer didn't work...

System OS is Windows XP Professional, IE 6.0.28.

P.S. Please dont tell me to use another web browser or OS, it isn't really an option.

Thanks :)

Try running Lavasoft AdAware and SpyBot? (Make sure to update both first before using). One sec, will go look for the webpages.

Try the following places: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ and http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html . I've not actually upgraded to SE yet, but make sure you go to the downloads section in the Lavasoft page and you can get a free version (as long as you are using it for a home PC). Good luck.

i run AVG anti-vrus it works nicely

delete all offline files for starters then run get ad-aware and spybot S&D and run those, the new ad-aware SE is much more powerful than ad-aware 6

Try running Lavasoft AdAware and SpyBot? (Make sure to update both first before using). One sec, will go look for the webpages.

Thanks, but I've got Lavasoft AdAware, and it can't seem to find anything. Might try spybot though...

They do work very well together. One will find things that the other did not. Often have to run both to get rid of everything.

My buddy had a very similar problem with a redirect to www.ads234.com, which was a royal pain in the rear to fix. The best way I found is at http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8428. While it is very detailed, and uses a combo of adaware, trojan and virus scanners, it did solve the problem we were having.

Thanks for the replies - I found and solved the problem! A little untility called CWShredder that I found through a Google search fixed it. Here's a link in case this ever happens to anyone else ;)

http://www.softpedia.com/public/scripts/downloadhero/10-17-150

My buddy had a very similar problem with a redirect to www.ads234.com, which was a royal pain in the rear to fix. The best way I found is at http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8428. While it is very detailed, and uses a combo of adaware, trojan and virus scanners, it did solve the problem we were having.
yeah wtf is that, ill be damend if i can fix it, nothing is picking it up

and if you have ad-aware but dont have ad-aware SE, uninstall your current one and get the new se and install it, and i find ad-aware is alot better than S&D

Don't forget to install a pop-up blocker once it's gone!

Don't forget to install a pop-up blocker once it's gone!
the windows sp 2 IE comes with a good blocker, which coincidently is the same time i got this damn ads324 thingy...i feel conspiracy.

Watch out for Spybot, there was a group who ripped the original Spybot and re-released it. So there's two identical copies, one that is actually spyware itself and the other is the real blocker.

Watch out for Spybot, there was a group who ripped the original Spybot and re-released it. So there's two identical copies, one that is actually spyware itself and the other is the real blocker.
you could jsut go to the spybot S&D website..

I know you've got the current situation taken care of, but have you gotten the XP Service pack 2 and installed it yet? That'll take care of a numbe rof issues as well.

I know you've got the current situation taken care of, but have you gotten the XP Service pack 2 and installed it yet? That'll take care of a numbe rof issues as well.
or it will create more issues, after i installed i was flooded with trojans from i dunno where then i developed the ads324 thing right after installing

Are your ports in stealth? It helps, defends against trojans.

or it will create more issues, after i installed i was flooded with trojans from i dunno where then i developed the ads324 thing right after installingMy g/f had the exact opposite situation. She idscovered a trojan and was getting hammered by spyware she couldn't get rid of, cleaned everything and installed the service pack and hasn't had a lick of trouble since.

speaking of ads324, where the hell does that come from

* The Rep of Komokom huggles his Norton Internet Security package. Ignores price. Ignores having to leave updater on almost all the time to be protected best. Also ignores fact that since he got Mozilla FF, all problems are solved, :D

I also found hyjack this (http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/) to be really usefull if used properly :)

I also found hyjack this (http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/) to be really usefull if used properly :)


Hello again!

Its your freindly neighborhood computer technician here to help!

What you have aquired is your standard browser hijacker, common on many sites these days.
What to do?

Easy.

As many have suggested, you should be using the following things:

1. Up to date virus protection.
2. Up to date Spyware program. (I use Spybot 1.3 , and AVG anti-virus myself.)
3, a Firewall, such as Zone Alarm, or other..

Youd be amazed at how mnay fewer problems you'll have.

The best thing you can do is the following:

1. Delete all temporary Internet Files.
2. Run anti-virus.
3. Run Spybot.

You may want to pick up Hijackthis , its designed specifically for just such a purpose, but isnt for amateur use.
You MUST know what to delete and what to keep.

This will take care of your problem.

Good luck.

If you weren't wearing pants then this never would have happened...

If you weren't wearing pants then this never would have happened...


Maybe he wasnt wearing pants, and using the computer at the same time...

,,,browsing questionable sites....

Picked up some porn adware........

Nay, I was wearin' me kilt! :p