DRSN Search, how did I get it and how can I get rid of it? Anyone know?

[TeresaNJ]

A few weeks ago when I clicked on my search button, instead of getting MSN search, something called DRSN search came up on my computer, and I don't know how it got there or how to get rid of it. I'm also now getting TONS of popup ads. I installed and ran McAFee AntiSpyware, but it didn't get rid of it, and I also have Spybot Search and Destroy, plus PC BugDoctor, but nothing is getting rid of it. Please help!!!

 

[mommytotwo]

Try spynuker.

 

[KathyTX]

Webmaster Alex has a very informative thread on the tech support board that deals with viruses, trojans, worms, spyware.

Take a look- you'll find information on several (free) programs that can help you get rid of the pests, as well as some useful tips on staying protected and clean.

 

[Otto's Doll]

Check out Lavasoft.com for their Adaware. Lots of times it will catch spyware that Spybot does not get. Good luck.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thanks so much guys, I'm off to read Alex's post.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Teresa, I have used both the Lavasoft Ad-aware Plus, and Webroot's Spy Sweeper, in tandem. Seems flawless.

http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adawareplus/

 

[Amberle3]

I love spysweeper, does a great job.

I've also changed my IE settings to prompt for cookies and now for Active X. It's amazing how many things want to either put cookies on your computer or run Active X. I had a trojan horse about 2 weeks ago that I got because Active X was just plain allowed and it was one of those drive-by installs. Very annoying. Changed the setting, went back to the site and when it prompted for the Active X I just said "no" and everything was fine. (I still had to get rid of the trojan horse, of course, but at least kept it from being installed again).

Active X is required for some things to run properly, like some flash animations and things like showing PDFs. There are some things - pictures I guess - in signatures on the DIS that prompt me for Active X now and then.

I also get prompted for cookies now and then, also I'm assuming from some of the sites the pictures are hosted on. I don't remember what they are at the moment, I remember one of the cookies is something about a princess.

Yes, it's a pain to keep clicking "yes" or "no", but at least you know what's going on with your computer.

(Just as an aside, there was a website that claimed to be a Disney shuttle website, but wasn't run by Disney and was actually being investigated by Disney. When you went to the website it autoinstalled a cookie for "islamnation" on your comptuer. If you didn't have it set to prompt for cookies, you'd never know it was on there.)

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thank you all. Ad-aware did the job!!! I'm really ignorant of all these things, so now I'm going to be much more diligent in protecting my computer, and read up on everything.

 

[BostonTigger]

I went to www.majorgeeks.com and did a search for 'Adaware' and it seems to work. I use it on my computer and have found several things on my computer.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Teresa, check into the 'pay for' edition, the Plus, I think about 25 bucks. I used the free for about a year, and as good as it is, it still is 'reactive'. You have to update, and then do regular scans to ferret out what has come into your PC. With the Plus, it runs in the background, updates automatically and PREVENTS the garbage from coming in. Since I added the Plus version, not a single incident of spyware. Before, wit hthe free, I used to have to delete several every few days.

 

[KathyTX]

Excellent news, Teresa. I'm glad Adaware helped with this one!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

This same thing happened to me about 1 week ago