Bizarre net experience

[TigerBear]

The other day I was surfing the net and a page popped up that had a loud warning signal and my CD player automatically ejected. If that happened, the page said my internet activity was being traced. For $39 they could get rid of the trace. It was actually a little scary because I restarted my computer and sure enough the page was back and my CD player ejected again. After a couple of minutes I realized that my home page had been automatically replaced by this page. That is why I couldn't seem to get rid of it. What a scam! I wonder how many people have given money not realizing that all they have to do is replace their home page again? The best of humanity.

Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[grinningghost]

Yes it happened to me, and now that computer is fried. I think that was the cause of it. It was working fine until that happened. It kept changing my Yahoo homepage to that ad.

I even posted something about it on this board. I'd be careful if I were you. I think it wrecked my computer.

 

[Alex]

I would suggest going to www.lavasoftusa.com and downloading their free ad-aware software. Click on the regular ad-aware on the left. Make sure you update it before you run it. Even if you set your home page back there's a good chance this garbage left some stuff on your computer.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Do you have Ad Aware? You can download it for free. You may want to run it and make sure the "spyer" is really gone!

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

From my understanding when they are able to replace your homepage with THEIR home page, it's a type of virus.

I use TWO virus protection systems now and what one doesn't catch the other will.........and what you are describing is exactly what happened the other day to me. It took both virus systems to delete everything that was put onto my computer.


I use Norton (annual subscription) and Trend Micros free scan. Trend Micro catches more than the Norton does.


Good luck. When you get rid of whatever it is they planted in your 'puter, you'll have to re-set your home page.

 

[Alex]

Not neccesarily HauntedMansionGeek. There are active pages and trojans that can do that and are not virus's and will not be picked up by anti-virus software.
It's flat out amazing how much stuff ad-aware will pick up on that anti-virus software won't catch.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

I have had ad-aware on my computer and it caught plenty of junk, but comparably, Nortons catches the same stuff.

Nortons is ok but Trend Micro has been the only thing that has rescued my computers from these kinds of attacks.....viruses, trojans, whatever ya call 'em LOL......

I'd still recommend Trend Micros free scan to TigerBear and grinningghost because it sounds like what was going on with my computer.

Good luck. It's scary to think that your computer might be ruined from one of these things.

 

[TigerBear]

Thanks everyone! Alex, I downloaded ad-aware and it removed 30 objects!

 

[KathyTX]

Now that you've cleaned up the junk with Ad-Aware, you'll probably still need to go and set your homepage back to where it needs to be.

I have found that it's a good idea to run Ad-Aware every few days. Be sure to click the "check for updates" item first, so you'll be scanning for the most recently identified problems.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Originally posted by TigerBear
Thanks everyone! Alex, I downloaded ad-aware and it removed 30 objects!

YAY!!! Get rid of that unwanted junk!

It's amazing how much of it there is sometimes and how it can screw up your computer!

 

[Alex]

actually that's not a lot. We have a contest going at work to see who can find the customer workstation with the most "stuff". Last I checked the winner was well over 600

 

[Dan Murphy]

With Ad-Aware, Spybot, Norton, Zone Alarm and router, I'm all set, LOL.

 

[Alex]

For REALLY safe computing you should follow this important advice from "New Witch" magazine!!!

» Because the physical hard drive is a conduit for a unique type of energy, it is possible for nature spirits (called vaettir) to take up residence within it.

» Do not curse, yell, smack or otherwise vent your anger on your computer. Most vaettir are extremely sensitive to emotions.

» Emotions are energy, and mixing incompatible energy fields can have bad results: culminating in the dreaded "blue screen of death."

» Do what you can to make the computer feel welcome in your home. This includes talking to it, naming it and even offering words of encouragement.

» [Cleanse your computer] by sound. Either clap your hands around the computer or use a rattle. A handful of coins in an old coffee can works just as well—the object is to break up stagnant energy.

» Put unusual and pretty things by your computer for the vaettir's enjoyment. Pretty stones, crystals, feathers, intriguing pictures help create a positive environment.

» TURN THE COMPUTER OFF COMPLETELY WHEN YOU ARE WORKING MAGIC. I cannot emphasize this enough. I've had friends who have had their computers completely crash due to simple energy overload when they inadvertently left them on while doing spellwork.

 

[KathyTX]

Sounds like good advice, Alex!

 

[Melora]

I have ad aware and it routinely catches about 6-7 items a day. I only come here or ebay! (Hubby says the ads on the top of the pages here must contribute some tracking software because if I only go to ebay I do not get any.)

He goes to ebay and a car enthusiasts site and rarely gets any tracking software unless he goes somewhere else.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Originally posted by Alex


» [Cleanse your computer] by sound. Either clap your hands around the computer or use a rattle. A handful of coins in an old coffee can works just as well—the object is to break up stagnant energy.

Can I borrow someone's coffee can?

 

[kidzmom3]

spy bot and spy bot blaster, also find things that ad-aware doesn't. We run adaware and the other 2 every week. My sister in law showed my husband her computer christmas day. Opening drives, chnaged home page, millions of pop ups. when he ran the 3 programs they found a total of 320 spywares.

 

[Disney Ella]

Does Ad-Aware prevent you from using the pop-ups you need, like address book for e-mail, etc.?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Disney Ella
Does Ad-Aware prevent you from using the pop-ups you need, like address book for e-mail, etc.?

No, it does not.

 

[Otto's Doll]

I have a pop up blocker, and it does not allow PM's to come through, even if I click Yes when it asks if it wants me to allow a new window. Not really a problem, it sure beats all those popups!
I do have spybot, do I need adware also? (I have Norton as well).