NationStates Jolt Archive

So, it appears that I have a virus or spyware on my computer. I thought that perhaps the highly educated and intelligent denizens of the NS General forum could aid me in identifying it, since counter-spy and google have failed me thus far.

At a rate of about once per hour, the following alert box pops up:

"Microsoft Internet Explorer

Your current security settings prohibit running Active X controls on this page. As a result, the page may not display correctly."

This baffles me because I use Mozilla to do everything, and almost never use internet explorer. In fact, as far as I can tell, internet explorer is not even in the process list. Any idea what is causing this?

So, it appears that I have a virus or spyware on my computer. I thought that perhaps the highly educated and intelligent denizens of the NS General forum could aid me in identifying it, since counter-spy and google have failed me thus far.

At a rate of about once per hour, the following alert box pops up:

"Microsoft Internet Explorer

Your current security settings prohibit running Active X controls on this page. As a result, the page may not display correctly."

This baffles me because I use Mozilla to do everything, and almost never use internet explorer. In fact, as far as I can tell, internet explorer is not even in the process list. Any idea what is causing this?
Are you using Windows Explorer to view any folders? Windows Explorer is essentially Internet Explorer lite, and as such is just as easy to get through. It's possible that is what it is. I, however, am not an expert. You'd best wait till you get an answer from Upward Thrust or someone similar before deciding on a course of action.

Are you using Windows Explorer to view any folders? Windows Explorer is essentially Internet Explorer lite, and as such is just as easy to get through. It's possible that is what it is. I, however, am not an expert. You'd best wait till you get an answer from Upward Thrust or someone similar before deciding on a course of action.
Well, the Windows Explorer process is always running on any windows box, but I'm not using it to view any folders.

Are you using Windows Explorer to view any folders? Windows Explorer is essentially Internet Explorer lite, and as such is just as easy to get through. It's possible that is what it is. I, however, am not an expert. You'd best wait till you get an answer from Upward Thrust or someone similar before deciding on a course of action.
No, K-Y, don't reply to them! They've got cooties!
:)

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

No, K-Y, don't reply to them! They've got cooties!
:)
IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOU .... *infects Straughn with cooties*

Did you mean windows users?

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Thank you. I'll see if it works ...

No, K-Y, don't reply to them! They've got cooties!
:)
K-Y? Odd.

Ginnoria: Oh, that process is actually the main Windows OS, so shutting that down would force an auto-reset. So...is this pop up coming up as an ad in an IE box, or an actual Windows error box?

IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOU .... *infects Straughn with cooties*

Did you mean windows users?
It sure seems like it these days. Did you hear about the latest XP release, in Microsoft's own words?

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/business/14422589.htm

....
Microsoft said that demand for the stripped-down operating system, called Windows XP N, has failed spectacularly. The version without the media player software accounted for only a fraction of the copies sold to retailers in Europe -- 1,787 out of a total 35.5 million copies, it claimed.
...
"As of today, no PC manufacturer has shipped a PC with Windows XP N installed," he argued. "Not a single one."

--
Of course, they're using this as a public tactic vs. the antitrust ruling, but it's still funny to hear them admitting something that is normally associated with them anyway (bolded). :)

K-Y? Odd.

Ginnoria: Oh, that process is actually the main Windows OS, so shutting that down would force an auto-reset. So...is this pop up coming up as an ad in an IE box, or an actual Windows error box?
It's an alert box, so it's not an IE window.

K-Y? Odd.Almost ... dairy-like.

I could've said "Ky" but i didn't know if that would convey the proper sentiment. I erred on the side of caution. ;)

It's an alert box, so it's not an IE window.
Huh. Something odd is going on, clearly. I'm at a loss, mate.

Straughn: Oh, I get it. K-Y Jelly. Ha ha. -____-;

It sure seems like it these days. Did you hear about the latest XP release, in Microsoft's own words?

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/business/14422589.htm

....
Microsoft said that demand for the stripped-down operating system, called Windows XP N, has failed spectacularly. The version without the media player software accounted for only a fraction of the copies sold to retailers in Europe -- 1,787 out of a total 35.5 million copies, it claimed.
...
"As of today, no PC manufacturer has shipped a PC with Windows XP N installed," he argued. "Not a single one."

--
Of course, they're using this as a public tactic vs. the antitrust ruling, but it's still funny to hear them admitting something that is normally associated with them anyway (bolded). :)

Hahaha ... oh well, windows works for the most part, I generally don't complain. Getting Linux to work and still being able to play my LAN games is basically impossible for me anyway.

Huh. Something odd is going on, clearly. I'm at a loss, mate.

Straughn: Oh, I get it. K-Y Jelly. Ha ha. -____-;
Thanks anyway. IE really does suck, whenever I simply open the thing I get about four popup adds, even though my homepage is google. In Mozilla I almost never see one.

Looks like some ActiveX control has been installed, whether is spyware is another issue. Try SpyBot 1.4 and Adware SE to see if there is something funny going on. Microsoft has Windows Defender (Beta 2) which you can try too.

I've been having trouble with spyware too. I have a program that's supposed to remove it, but I still get popups. What next?

I've been having trouble with spyware too. I have a program that's supposed to remove it, but I still get popups. What next?
Use another program. And if your program is SpyFalcon, say your prayers, because that's some really harsh spyware.

Well, I just tried that link Fass posted, it didn't even finish scanning. I got kicked out my browser.