God DAMN ****ing spyware! PLEASE HELP ME... THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NORMAL!

[Glo-Boy]

Okay, so for some reason, all of a sudden now if I open my browser, or even when the "AIM Today" window opens, hundreds and hundreds (LITERALLY) of pop-ups just keep appearing, and the only way to close them is by CTRL+ALT+DEL and I end the IEXPLORE process.

So, the only way for me to get on the web is by opening a folder on my desktop and typing in an address in the address bar. I have ran spybot and ad aware, and while I have gotten rid of a LOT of stuff, this problem persists.

I heard about something called Hijack This, but I can't open it because there is a MANDATORY pop-up to download the program (most likely a java window or something like that) and that triggers that massive assault of pop ups to bone my computer in the ass.

PLEASE HELP ME I CANNOT STAND THIS ANYMORE.

P.S. I do not have my windows reinstallation CD, so that option is out the window. Plus, I hate doing that.

 

[Deemo]

1)Download, install and run Spybot S&D (security.kolla.de). This software is free and is one of the best adware and spyware removing programs there is. but it is not perfect, so:

2) Download, install and run Adaware(http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/). This software is free for a reduced version, but for all your needs, it should be fine. This picks up some of the stuff spybot doesnt, and vice versa

3) Run a system scan on your antivirus. Most new antivirus programs now can detect and delete adware and spyware. I recommend Norton Antivirus (however, it is not free, it is about 20-30 US$)

4) If that still doesnt fix the problem, download the google toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com/) which blocks pop ups and provides a handy box where you can type in your search from any web page



That should in most cases fix the problem. However, most spyware is targeted towards Internet Explorer because it is built in to windows and most people use it. The easiest way to get rid of all spyware and adware problems is to use something else. Here are some of my recomendations:

1) Mozilla & Mozilla Firefox - Mozilla is an open source project (meaning you can download the source code), so therefore it is free, but it is secure and has many interesting features. Both have Tabbed Browsing, built in pop up blocker, many easily downloadbale themes and extensions, and many other cool features. I use this personally because it is a huge improvement over IE. The differnece between Mozilla and Firefox is that Mozilla includes a whole Netscape suite (meaning it comes with browser, email, html writing, etc). Firefox is just the browser, and personally i like it better. You can get these at www.mozilla.org. Also for a full list of the advantages of firefox over IE, they are all listed there as well.

2) Opera - Opera is very similar to Mozilla Firefox as in it has many features. However, unline Mozilla, Opera costs money, and most people arent willing to pay. However, paying also ensures that you do get a quality product and quality service. If you are interested, check out http://www.opera.com/

 

[Vegeta897]

Virus scan?
Make a backup of your pc and format?
Get StopZilla?

Hope one of those work.

EDIT: Deemo, read more carefully. (Suggestions 1 & 2)

 

[bosox188]

Download Spybot and Ad-aware, you use both of them as a sort of combo and it stops spyware easy. Ad-aware scans really quick, it supposedly misses a lot of things but I doubt it would miss what you have. I'll send you a direct link so you don't have to do your iexplore.exe thing. I'm gonna send you Ad-aware just because it scans fast and then you can just get rid of this quick and get spybot after.

http://www.pcextreme.net/adaware/aawsepersonal.exe

 

[Deemo]

lol i just copyed and pasted that from a post i made in my clan forums, and i forgot to take that out

in most cases, your anti virus should pick it up if spybot and adaware dont. My norton picks up a lot of that type of adaware.

 

[Glo-Boy]

This is a picture of what happens. This is AFTER spybot and Adaware have been run... twice.... so now I'm doing a virus scan.


Not sure why the pic isn't working....

 

[SubKamran]

You will want HijackThis (google it), look through the entries and delete the ones that aren't right.

That should fix it.

Then when you're done, be a sane person and get Firefox...I opened ONE website in IE one day, and got too much spyware...so now I will never use IE unless it's to test a site I'm working on.

Also, faster way to close (maybe) ALT-F4

I wish someone just hung these people who make spyware. :sniper:

 

[blahblahblah]

See if you still have this problem in Windows Safe Mode. That will prevent any unnecessary programs from starting up. Then try using those programs mentioned above.

However, some of the more nasty spyware will still start up and refuse to be eliminated. In that case, a reformat is neccessary.

 

[JimmehH]

Sounds nasty. I do recommend moving to Firefox.

In the meantime though, try this...
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html

 

[Glo-Boy]

I am proud to say that I just torrented Pest Patrol. **** a company that wants to charge me to get rid of something I should not have in the first place!!!!