Please help - problem with spyware

[Dakota_Lynn]

I have a huge problem with something – I think spy ware – on my computer. I know this subject has been covered, and I have done a search to read advice that has been given out in the past. I’ve tried everything I’ve seen suggested and am still having the problem. Please let me tell you what is happening and what I have tried, and if you can offer anymore suggestions, I’d be eternally grateful!

This problem started yesterday when I was reading a “Little House on the Prairie” message board. Either when I open, or when I close Internet Explorer, I get pop ups. They range from weight loss and contest ads to sex ads. One ad actually said to download their spy ware program – of course I didn’t do that!

I ran Ad-Aware, which is something I do regularly anyway. That didn’t fix the problem, which surprised me. I do have the Google tool bar with the pop up stopper. That doesn’t stop these pop ups, though.

I downloaded CWShredder and it wouldn’t run. The program starts, but it always stops at CWS.smartsearch when running through the list of bugs. It tells me that the window must close and asks me if I want to send the error message to Microsoft. It does manage to tell me that I have a variant of the coolwebsearch Trojan (cws.smartsearch.2) that has attempted to close cwsshredder. So, I downloaded the miniremoval tool so I could fix the problem enough to use the CWshredder. Get this – that program tells me that Coolwwwsearch hasn’t been found on my computer! So that did nothing to make shredder function for me.

I’m pretty computer aware, but I sure can’t figure out how to fix this problem. Please, if you know what to do, let me know, because I’m losing my mind over here.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Nevermind! I downloaded UPDATES for Ad-Aware, and those updates got rid of the problem. Dang, that Ad-Aware really is something! I can't believe how well that works. Whoever invented that...he or she is a genius!

 

[Towncrier]

Glad to hear that you solved your problem.

It's ALWAYS a good idea to check for AdAware updates before doing a spyware scan. It seems they update it on an almost daily basis.

 

[piratesmate]

Originally posted by Towncrier
Glad to hear that you solved your problem.

It's ALWAYS a good idea to check for AdAware updates before doing a spyware scan. It seems they update it on an almost daily basis.

Ummm - are you running a paid version or free version of AdAware?? I downloaded the free version & have only ever had it find one update. Spybot, on the other hand, seems to find them about once a week or so.

Just curious....

 

[hometech99]

i use ad-aawre professional, and ad-aware plus on DW and DS machines.

these come with ad-watch, that is on constant alert and will nab many spys as they attempt to come in.

worth it IMHO.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I too have just recently upgraded to the Plus version of Ad-aware, being proactive rather than reactive to the spyware. It has worked flawlessly the week or so I have had it. Well worth the $27. With the free version, updating is manual, almost daily updates. Plus is automatic, in the background.

 

[Mskanga]

I just went through this yesterday with the same thing , the darn coolwebsearch trojan that kept re-directing me to other sites I didn't want. I cleaned out my registry and installed spybot and another program that's called Hijack this and it worked wonders. The problem is gone. I know how to get to my registry now and clean up what's not supposed to be there.