please help major computer problems

[Dznypal]

ok problem is I love doing rewards sites (sure is helping with our Dis trip in OCt )

What I do is in the lower left corner of my screen I have the AOL icon enternet explorer and a few others I have no clue what they're for.
So what I do is after I sign on use AOL for my emails now heres where the problem comes in----I then click on internet explorer and in the address line I type in another rewards address (I do this until I have 4 things going at once.

When I tried to do this on sat. I get a load of pop -ups one is for that I should have spy-ware, another is that I just won a free cell phone, theres a few more I cant "X" out of them or doing anything but one program at a time on the AOL screen

also when I first go on the computer where all the different icons are theres about 6 that I have no clue what that are or where they came from.

We do have spy bot and adware and I run those after IM done with my programs and sometimes it finds things I have to delete
but isn't that to late I mean after something gets into our computer to get it out after its already in? Hope that made sense.

What I'd like to know is what all this is and how do you get it do stop once and for all.

Sorry this is so long but it gets fustrating when you can't use your computer the way you want to

also please be real basic in any explanation as I'm not good with computers.

thanks sooooooo much for any input anyone can come up with

sorry this is so long!!!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

You've run spyware tools, that's good. Restart your PC after running those programs and deleting the files. If you're comfortable with it, go to Start>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs. Sometimes I find these nasty things by sort by date last used. If you're unsure of what a program might be and whether it is essential to running other programs, you might be able to perform a search on the internet for them. Good Luck!

 

[Maleficent2]

It sounds like you have a trojan horse that is a type of virus ck out this thread if you still need help post.


http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?s=&postid=4539439#post4539439

I think you need to run hijack this and post your scan to Computer Cops or TechGuy




Mal

 

[mrsboz]

The same exact thing happened to me yesterday. I am curious are you doing the amberspaid mail or any of the other ones. I just started doing two of them and I can't remember the other name but this same thing that you are describing happened to me. I can't get into my computer at all. I am at the library right now. This hasn't happened to me before and since I just started with these programs I figure that it must be these.

 

[Dznypal]

my DH hasn't had time to really try to fix the computer expect for recoverying it which didn't work


We'll we used to have norton but when my DH tried to renew it he couldn't get it set up now the mcafee that was on the system comes up but IM not sure how that works.. ( I warned you I was bad with computers!!!!))


mrsboz to answer your ? I dont do ambers but I do around 20 or so (not all in one day though )

but it seems this started about 6 weeks ago but then when my DH did a recovery it worked but now that didn't even help so I figured theres something in one of the programs that I just recently joined

gee maybe I am learning something!!!


any opinions

thanks again Im really learning alot!!!!

 

[Maleficent2]

Recovery will not fix a Trojan horse and I am still leaning there. You need a virus program that is up to date and running all the time while online.

I used to recommend Norton's but I really do not like Norton's Internet Security for 2004.

McAfee's is a good one although I do not know if the 2004 version is from personal expierence.

Here are some free ones:

http://www.freebyte.com/antivirus/#prevention

This advice is reposted from the advice given by Tony Klein, the acknowledged spyware & malware expert who supports many forums on the net.

This advice is reposted from the advice given by Tony Klein, the acknowledged spyware & malware expert who supports many forums on the net.

I have added a few minor updates to it

You usually get infected because your security settings are too low.

Here are a number of recommendations that will help tighten them, and which will contribute to making you a less likely victim:

1) Watch what you download!
Many freeware programs, and P2P programs like Grokster, Imesh, Kazaa and others are amongst the most notorious, come with an enormous amount of bundled spyware that will eat system resources, slow down your system, clash with other installed software, or just plain crash your browser or even Windows itself.

2) Go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and install ALL Security Updates listed.
It's important to always keep current with the latest security fixes from Microsoft. Install those patches for Internet Explorer, and make sure your installation of Java VM is up-to-date. There are some well known security bugs with Microsoft Java VM which are exploited regularly by browser hijackers.

3) Go to Internet Options/Security/Internet, press 'default level', then OK.
Now press "Custom Level."
In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to 'prompt', and 'Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to 'disable'.

Now you will be asked whether you want ActiveX objects to be executed and whether you want software to be installed.
Sites that you know for sure are above suspicion can be moved to the Trusted Zone in Internet Option/security.

So why is activex so dangerous that you have to increase the security for it?
When your browser runs an activex control, it is running an executable program. It's no different from doubleclicking an exe file on your hard drive.
Would you run just any random file downloaded off a web site without knowing what it is and what it does?

And some more advice:

4) Install Javacool's SpywareBlaster It will protect you from all spy/foistware in it's database by blocking installation of their ActiveX objects.
Download and install, download the latest updates, and you'll see a list of all spyware programs covered by the program (NOTE: this is NOT spyware found on your computer)
Press "select all", then "kill all checked", and you're done.
The spyware that you told Spywareblaster to set the "kill bit" for won't be a hazard to you any longer.
Although it won't protect you from every form of spyware known to man, it is a very potent extra layer of protection.
Don't forget to check for updates every week or so.

Let's also not forget that SpyBot Search and Destroy has the Immunize feature which works roughly the same way.
It can't hurt to use both.

5) Another brilliant program by Javacool we recommend is SpywareGuard.
It provides a degree of real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.

An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware! And you can easily have an anti-virus program running alongside SpywareGuard. It now also features Download Protection and Browser Hijacking Protection!

6) IE-SPYAD puts over 5000 sites in your restricted zone, so you'll be protected when you visit innocent-looking sites that aren't actually innocent at all.

7) The IE hosts file blocks ads, banners, cookies, web bugs, and even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the Server that supplies these little gems.
Example - the following entry 127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net blocks all files supplied by the DoubleClick Server to the web page you are viewing. This also prevents the server from tracking your movements.It Now includes most major parasites, hijackers and unwanted Search Engines!
In many cases this can speed the loading of web pages by not having to wait for these ads, banners, hit counters, etc. to load.
This also helps to protect your Privacy by blocking servers that track your viewing habits, known as "click-thru tracking".

However as time has progressed the focus of this project has changed from blocking ads/banners to protecting the user from the many parasites that now exist on the Internet. It doesn't serve much purpose if you block the ad banner from displaying, but get hijacked by a parasite from an evil script or download contained on the web site. The object is to surf faster while preserving your Safety, Security and Privacy.

Incidentally, another site with an enormous amount of information on computer security, and which is well worth a visit is http://www.wilders.org/

Finally, after following up on all these recommendations, why not run Jason Levine's Browser Security Tests.
They will provide you with an insight on how vulnerable you might still be to a number of common exploits.

And make sure your Antivirus and firewall is switched on and kept updated
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Derek
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