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Freeper Help Needed to remove adwareware from my PC
self, vanity ^ | 3/27/05 | Passionfruit

Posted on 03/23/2005 8:42:31 PM PST by passionfruit

I have been a Mac user since the first one rolled off the assembly line. I love them, and still have one, which I am using to write this post. The problem is that I bought a notebook PC because I have some work related needs that I couldn't use my Mac for.

My teenage son asked if he could check his email on the PC, and like an idiot, I said yes. He walked off with the notebook, and went to a web site that a friend had told him was "really cool". It became infected with spyware, ad ware and goodness knows what else. We have been running Norton anti virus on it, and have deleted all of the infected files several times. Some persistant ones pop up again when the computer re-starts, and now, Norton Anti Virus won't allow us to do any repair wizard fumctions. It tells us that it has deleted fioles, but won't let us do anything manually, and of course, the files aren't really deleted.

Our version of Norton Anti Virus came with the computer, and did not come with instructions.

Any suggestions that don't include bodily injury to my son, or buying another Mac would be appreciated!


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: adware; cary; help; microsoft; nortonantivirus; pc; spyware; windows
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To: passionfruit

Most of the advice to get rid of spyware is OK. However, I think that you also have malicous files which Norton has isolated.

Try this:
1 In the Norton AntiVirus main window, click Reports.

2 Click View Reports next to the Quarantined items option.

3 In the left panel of the Quarantine, click Quarantined Items.

4 Select a file in the list of Quarantined items and click Delete Item.

You are prompted to confirm that you want to permanently remove the item from you computer.

5 Click Yes to delete the file.

Copyright© 2000-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.


21 posted on 03/23/2005 8:51:22 PM PST by yeetch! (Enjoy the good times (these are the good old days)!)
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To: Prost1
Until Congress passes laws making hackers and malicious attackers punishable with severe penalties, there is not much recourse.

That would be about as effective as King Canute commanding the waves to stop crashing on shore. Hackers in Russia and India and Vietnam will take no notice whatsoever of laws passed by our Congress.

-ccm

22 posted on 03/23/2005 8:51:27 PM PST by ccmay (Question Diversity)
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To: passionfruit

I've been using Ad-Aware for about a year now. Between that and my ZoneAlarm firewall software, I've been in pretty good shape as far as pop-ups and spyware are concerned.


23 posted on 03/23/2005 8:51:38 PM PST by Alberta's Child (I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine. I ain't rich, but lord I'm free.)
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To: Prost1

I sure appreciate all of this help guys, It's been about three weeks now and I haven't been able to use the computer for it's intended purpose for fear I would infect the companys web site.


24 posted on 03/23/2005 8:51:59 PM PST by passionfruit (I don't understand what I said so here's a man eating chimp with a pancake on it's head)
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To: passionfruit

Don't listen to the Adware or Spybot suggestions. The best product out there by far is Microsoft's Antispyware. This stuff ROCKS.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx


25 posted on 03/23/2005 8:52:56 PM PST by ClintonBeGone (In politics, sometimes it's OK for even a Wolverine to root for a Buckeye win.)
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To: ConservativeMind
Go to Microsoft.com and click on the link in the home page for the Anti-Spyware program.

Microsoft® Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)

26 posted on 03/23/2005 8:53:03 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Andrew Heyward's got to go!)
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To: ol' hoghead

The PC that is infected has XP on it. My Mac's just don't get infected.


27 posted on 03/23/2005 8:53:56 PM PST by passionfruit (I don't understand what I said so here's a man eating chimp with a pancake on it's head)
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To: passionfruit
Any suggestions that don't include bodily injury to my son, or buying another Mac would be appreciated!

Quit.

There's no job so good that it would make me use Bill Gates's feeble crapware instead of my Mac.

-ccm

28 posted on 03/23/2005 8:55:14 PM PST by ccmay (Question Diversity)
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To: passionfruit

I would also suggest downloading SpywareBlaster - keeps the nasties from ever getting ON your PC.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Another thing you might DL is X-Ray PC: works like Hijack This! but automatically.

http://www.x-raypc.com/


29 posted on 03/23/2005 8:59:41 PM PST by decal ("The French should stick to kisses, toast and fries.")
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Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

The absolutely best spyware remover is Spy Sweeper from Webroot. If everything else fails use this software... you get a free 30 day trial, more than enough to get the crap out of your system.


31 posted on 03/23/2005 9:12:42 PM PST by catonsville
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To: sinkspur; Ethrane

I have both AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy plus a registry cleaner. I got a Download Trojan last week and have been running scans over and over.

I also have Norton with Symantics update but I am getting popups like crazy in spite of MS blocker and also getting new icons on my desktop.

Nothing seems to be working!


32 posted on 03/23/2005 9:13:36 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: passionfruit
“Any suggestions that don't include bodily injury to my son, or buying another Mac would be appreciated!”

You could always reformat your computer and start from scratch.

Go here and see if any parasites are detected: Parasite detector

33 posted on 03/23/2005 9:17:23 PM PST by joan
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To: potlatch

I have tons of spyware cookies on my computer.
Adaware will get rid of them, but the second i got a website the cookies are on my computer.


34 posted on 03/23/2005 9:18:11 PM PST by Lori675
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To: Lori675

Cookies are not always bad. Free Republic uses one.


35 posted on 03/23/2005 9:20:30 PM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: ClintonBeGone

absolutely agree...the new anti-spyware program by Microsoft is awesome!


36 posted on 03/23/2005 9:20:43 PM PST by scoastie
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To: Lori675

Are you talking about a website of your own? I have several and of course you have to have cookies for them unless you want to relog in over and over.

I blame mine on downloading gifs from everywhere!

My computer is running slow tonight and I'm on cable.


37 posted on 03/23/2005 9:21:19 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: passionfruit; ShadowAce
Seems to me you have a virus, and not malware. I would go ahead and run adware removal tools just in case. Are your Norton Antivirus virus Definitions up to date?

If I were you I would just back up any valuable data if possible, reformat your hard drive, and reinstall Windows. Even if you resolve this issue I would do that anyway. When things like this happen and even when you correct the main problem other issues tend to occur afterward, and just reformatting and going forward with a fresh install will take care of everything.
38 posted on 03/23/2005 9:29:39 PM PST by KoRn (~Halliburton Told Me......)
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To: scoastie
absolutely agree...the new anti-spyware program by Microsoft is awesome!

Isn't it great? I tried all that other crap - the adaware, lavasoft, spyhunter, etc. Microsoft caught all the stuff that the others left behind. I am 110% behind it. (of course there are Microsoft haters that will ever acknowledge it's a good thing)

39 posted on 03/23/2005 9:29:51 PM PST by ClintonBeGone (In politics, sometimes it's OK for even a Wolverine to root for a Buckeye win.)
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To: ClintonBeGone

It is really good, isn't it? Since you recommended it before, I haven't had one!


40 posted on 03/23/2005 9:32:55 PM PST by Howlin
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