GAIN - Gator Adserver Software

[richard3330]

Hi,

Hopefully this wont affect any of you, but have you heard of a company called GAIN??

Basically (from what I can gather) what they do is install programmes and place many cookies on to your PC which are almost impossible to delete or uninstall. These programes and cookies make adverts pop up every so often and sometimes I have 5 adverts popping up every 2 minutes whilst I am online, It gets very annoying as you could probably gather.

I have visited the GAIN website(http://www.gatoradvertisinginformationnetwork.com) to try and find out how to delete/uninstall the software but it doesn't have many answers. It simply says you should go to control panel and then add/remove programmes to uninstall it. But surprisingly enough it is not there for me to delete.

I have Norton Antivirus 2003 and this cannot delete it either. Every time I turm my PC on a message from Norton Antivirus comes up saying 'Your Antivirus system settings are trying to be altered by an intruding virus'. However, Norton cannot locate the virus and when I go to Norton Cleansweep and choose the GAIN programme to delete it says 'Sorry, you don't have permission to delete this file'

I have tried e-mailing the customer service department, but surprisingly enough I have got no reply or answers and now I am stuck on what I should do. I have also tried AOL's Tech Chat, but they cannot help either.

If you ever get this on your PC, my immediate advice would be to delete it ASAP, before it tries to ruin your system, like it is mine.

If anybody has any advice they can share, I would be really greatful.

Thanking You

Richard.

 

[WDWfan uk]

This looks like a US organisation - I wonder if any of our American tech pals can help with this? I'll ask.

 

[richard3330]

Thank - You, Shirley.

I have posted it on the 'normal' community board too, hopefully somebody will be able to help soon.

Thanks Again.

Richard.

 

[Penny12]

Hi Richard

There was a similar post to this on the US CB a couple of weeks ago which I answered and the discussion threw up some recommendations - you can check it out here

Hope that helps, if not, also try posting your question over on the Technical Board

 

[Goofyish]

There is a 'freeware' program you can download called 'AD-AWARE'. This removes all traces of the ad-ware software or spyware software.

Check this website for details:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

 

[richard3330]

Thank-You VERY much, Tim.

I have just downloaded AD-AWARE, hopefully it will be able to get rid of 'Gator' for good.

Thanks Again

Richard

 

[richard3330]

It is not my lucky day

Ad-Aware has deleted some of the files but about 16 of the Gator files still cannot be deleted. The message that I get from Ad-Aware is:

'We cannot delete file x : Access is denied, make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file is not currently in use'

I have made sure all of the programmes I am using are closed, including AOL and Internet Explorer and I have tried Restarting my PC, but the same error message still appears.

Anybody have any ideas??

Thank You,

Richard.

 

[anne1]

Richard another one to try is Spybot. It found a load of stuff that ad aware didn't when I ran it.

Hope it helps.

Spybot

 

[richard3330]

Thank-You everybody for all of your help.

On The US Community Board a webmaster reccomended that I run Ad-Aware in safe mode. I done this and now it has finally left my computer!!

Thanks Again

Richard.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Result !!!!!!!! Really pleased to hear it Richard