urgent help required with spyware

Ford Rocam · 8th August 2005, 00:51

What version of O.S r u running? and what type of net connection you have ?
and pls dont do any changes in registry if u r not confident of it ,will create more problem for you.

GTO · 8th August 2005, 13:54

Aadix, I think most people have already suggested the necessary steps to address your issue.

But heres some pro-active measures that I use, and have never faced a problem with Virus's and Spyware.

1. Sygate personal firewall : Fantastic product. Only the first time after installation is a little bothersome with popups asking you for authorisation of different programs trying to access the internet. But once you are done with the initial setup, its a no-hassle software.

2. Norton 2004

3. Lavasoft Ad-Aware and Microsoft Spyware

4. Use Outlook Express for all your emails and disable "dangerous attachments" from the settings. Norton will automatically scan the ones that OE has termed safe, before you open the file.

5. I use Opera as my browser. As someone has suggested earlier, the explorer seems more prone to attacks.

I have a maintainence schedule once a week where all the softwares are checked for upgrades and updates (including the Windows OS) and scans are run one by one.

GTO

Scuderia · 8th August 2005, 14:05

The first thing you do is switch to Mozilla Firefox. (its open source, hence free).

Also, put a firewall (I use Zonealarm). It asks me before allowing any software to access the net. You can permanently deny access to the spywares.

Do not play with the registry if you are not much aware of it. The entire O.S.could crash.

tsk1979 · 8th August 2005, 14:08

Firefox is just great, however be careful of zonealarm. Actually on 64bit machines if you are on winXP, you cannot install SP2. Its a known issue. Also never use Outlook express. Use thunderbird/mozilla mail.

aadix · 17th August 2005, 11:05

hi guys
really really sorry for the late reply.
been stuck with tons of work.

guys i tried almost everything,nothing is working. only thing left is to reload everything again

planning to call the ibm guy as the comp was recently upgraded by them so i dont wanna fiddle with anything.

in the mean while will this spyware do any major harm ? as the comp guy is gonna come this weekend.

ps: i am using windows 2000 and the net connetion is an hathway cable line.

comp is an ibm 300 gl series.

tsk1979 · 17th August 2005, 11:10

@aadix, any virus or spyware is not "unremovable" by simple tools.
did you run Microsoft antispyware and AVG antivirus? You will need internet connection so that these programs can download virus/spyware databases from the web.
Could you list the things you did?

mohit · 17th August 2005, 11:17

Quote:

however be careful of zonealarm

hey tsk could you elaborate on that??? I use it at home so am concerned!

tsk1979 · 17th August 2005, 12:47

Only if you have a 64bit machine. There is a bug due to which if you install zonealarm on 64 bit machines with windows XP, you cannot install Service pack 2. Your machine will never boot and keep on rebooting. This is not a zonealarm issue. while running in 32 bit mode on 64bit machines(XP is 32 bit) the XP kernel code tries to do an illegal write to a location in the 64bit space causing the machine to reboot.

merve_extreme · 17th August 2005, 13:27

i think u should try and install trend micro internet security.it is very effective.but first what problem are u exactly facing.

the problem may not be realted to spyware.spyware are mostly used by websites to allow pop-ups and other advertisements.i can help u as i have pretty good knowledge of 2000 and xp OS.please mention ur error.

aadix · 21st August 2005, 20:28

hi guys!

touch wood the problem just diasappered. all i did was download the latest antivir update.

this is the best anti virus/anti spyware software i have seen!

the things i did till now:

downloaded latest editions of spyware search and distroy,spyware blaster: no effect

downloaded microsoft antispyware: no effect

downloaded cw shredder: no effect

downloaded another antispyware software: no effect

downloaded anti vir: deleted many things expect the main problem

deleted both the spywares from the registry: no effect

downloaded antivir update: touch wood the problem dissappered.

altought the comp is running a bit slowly, will rectifiy it in a few days.

thanks guys

aaditya

SLK · 27th August 2005, 14:51

..Best prevention...
Zone Alarm Pro ... (perfect config is no easy work)
Symantec Antivirus Corporate edition 10
and set permission to "Read Only" for the 'RUN' key...

Thats it

I have been using all kinds of P2P... and only use IE 6... never had a problem.

Cure?
all the things that have been talked about
and go to www.sysinternals.com and download 'autoruns'

Enjoy!

cnu · 27th August 2005, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by aadix

downloaded latest editions of spyware search and distroy,spyware blaster: no effect

downloaded microsoft antispyware: no effect

downloaded another antispyware software: no effect

Just to add, spyware software are more effective when windows is
running in safe mode. And as SLK mentioned, www.sysinternals.com
has many useful tools for debugging windows problems.

tsk1979 · 29th August 2005, 11:33

IE 6 is inviting disaster to your doorstep. Try firefox(http://www.mozilla.org) or Opera(http://www.opera.com), once you use these you will have difficulty using the IE.

revtech · 21st March 2007, 01:36

as of now whats the best anti spyware software ?? i need it asap as im having some problems.

navdeep · 21st March 2007, 07:38

Make sure you have one antivirus and one antispyware ( lavasoft product is good ) installed. More then one is not recommended. Usually we do that to be on safer side. Run updated antivirus in safe mode ( with admin rights ) and then adware removal software.

8th August 2005, 00:51	#16
Ford Rocam BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai-India Posts: 878 Thanked: 23 Times	What version of O.S r u running? and what type of net connection you have ? and pls dont do any changes in registry if u r not confident of it ,will create more problem for you.
	() Thanks

8th August 2005, 13:54	#17
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,517 Thanked: 300,584 Times View My Garage	Aadix, I think most people have already suggested the necessary steps to address your issue. But heres some pro-active measures that I use, and have never faced a problem with Virus's and Spyware. 1. Sygate personal firewall : Fantastic product. Only the first time after installation is a little bothersome with popups asking you for authorisation of different programs trying to access the internet. But once you are done with the initial setup, its a no-hassle software. 2. Norton 2004 3. Lavasoft Ad-Aware and Microsoft Spyware 4. Use Outlook Express for all your emails and disable "dangerous attachments" from the settings. Norton will automatically scan the ones that OE has termed safe, before you open the file. 5. I use Opera as my browser. As someone has suggested earlier, the explorer seems more prone to attacks. I have a maintainence schedule once a week where all the softwares are checked for upgrades and updates (including the Windows OS) and scans are run one by one. GTO
	() Thanks

8th August 2005, 14:05	#18
Scuderia BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 127 Thanked: 8 Times	The first thing you do is switch to Mozilla Firefox. (its open source, hence free). Also, put a firewall (I use Zonealarm). It asks me before allowing any software to access the net. You can permanently deny access to the spywares. Do not play with the registry if you are not much aware of it. The entire O.S.could crash.
	() Thanks

8th August 2005, 14:08	#19
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Firefox is just great, however be careful of zonealarm. Actually on 64bit machines if you are on winXP, you cannot install SP2. Its a known issue. Also never use Outlook express. Use thunderbird/mozilla mail.
	() Thanks

17th August 2005, 11:05	#20
aadix Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: hyderabad Posts: 1,597 Thanked: 14 Times	hi guys really really sorry for the late reply. been stuck with tons of work. guys i tried almost everything,nothing is working. only thing left is to reload everything again planning to call the ibm guy as the comp was recently upgraded by them so i dont wanna fiddle with anything. in the mean while will this spyware do any major harm ? as the comp guy is gonna come this weekend. ps: i am using windows 2000 and the net connetion is an hathway cable line. comp is an ibm 300 gl series. Last edited by aadix : 17th August 2005 at 11:07.
	() Thanks

17th August 2005, 11:10	#21
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	@aadix, any virus or spyware is not "unremovable" by simple tools. did you run Microsoft antispyware and AVG antivirus? You will need internet connection so that these programs can download virus/spyware databases from the web. Could you list the things you did?
	() Thanks

17th August 2005, 12:47	#23
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Only if you have a 64bit machine. There is a bug due to which if you install zonealarm on 64 bit machines with windows XP, you cannot install Service pack 2. Your machine will never boot and keep on rebooting. This is not a zonealarm issue. while running in 32 bit mode on 64bit machines(XP is 32 bit) the XP kernel code tries to do an illegal write to a location in the 64bit space causing the machine to reboot.
	() Thanks

17th August 2005, 13:27	#24
merve_extreme Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	i think u should try and install trend micro internet security.it is very effective.but first what problem are u exactly facing. the problem may not be realted to spyware.spyware are mostly used by websites to allow pop-ups and other advertisements.i can help u as i have pretty good knowledge of 2000 and xp OS.please mention ur error.
	() Thanks

21st August 2005, 20:28	#25
aadix Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: hyderabad Posts: 1,597 Thanked: 14 Times	hi guys! touch wood the problem just diasappered. all i did was download the latest antivir update. this is the best anti virus/anti spyware software i have seen! the things i did till now: downloaded latest editions of spyware search and distroy,spyware blaster: no effect downloaded microsoft antispyware: no effect downloaded cw shredder: no effect downloaded another antispyware software: no effect downloaded anti vir: deleted many things expect the main problem deleted both the spywares from the registry: no effect downloaded antivir update: touch wood the problem dissappered. altought the comp is running a bit slowly, will rectifiy it in a few days. thanks guys aaditya
	() Thanks

27th August 2005, 14:51	#26
SLK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: DL XX XX XXXX Posts: 1,634 Thanked: 1,011 Times	..Best prevention... Zone Alarm Pro ... (perfect config is no easy work) Symantec Antivirus Corporate edition 10 and set permission to "Read Only" for the 'RUN' key... Thats it I have been using all kinds of P2P... and only use IE 6... never had a problem. Cure? all the things that have been talked about and go to www.sysinternals.com and download 'autoruns' Enjoy!
	() Thanks

29th August 2005, 11:33	#28
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	IE 6 is inviting disaster to your doorstep. Try firefox(http://www.mozilla.org) or Opera(http://www.opera.com), once you use these you will have difficulty using the IE.
	() Thanks

21st March 2007, 01:36	#29
revtech Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,992 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	as of now whats the best anti spyware software ?? i need it asap as im having some problems.
	() Thanks

21st March 2007, 07:38	#30
navdeep BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 892 Thanked: 4 Times	Make sure you have one antivirus and one antispyware ( lavasoft product is good ) installed. More then one is not recommended. Usually we do that to be on safer side. Run updated antivirus in safe mode ( with admin rights ) and then adware removal software.
	() Thanks