Can anyone help??

[watchcaddy]

Have you tried Windows Defender yet? Were you able to DL it?

See, spybot will/try to remove these programs. However, most of the time that these programs are hooked deep into your system. Once they are removed, they will take part of your system with it thus render some functions unusable or whole system unstable. Since you have many malware in your system, this could be problematic. Thus, I want to create a system restore point before moving further. Mmmm.... Do you have a spare computer you could use in case something goes wrong?

It does not matter which one you dl from. It is all the same. Choose one where you don't have to register.

 

[h~chan]

Originally Posted by watchcaddy

Have you tried Windows Defender yet? Were you able to DL it?

See, spybot will/try to remove these programs. However, most of the time that these programs are hooked deep into your system. Once they are removed, they will take part of your system with it thus render some functions unusable or whole system unstable. Since you have many malware in your system, this could be problematic. Thus, I want to create a system restore point before moving further. Mmmm.... Do you have a spare computer you could use in case something goes wrong?

It does not matter which one you dl from. It is all the same. Choose one where you don't have to register.

I tried Windows Defender but I had problems.. after it downloaded I got it to give me a validation code but there wasn't a place to put it on the screen.. it just said "thanks for downloading" so I wasn't sure what to do.. I have it, but when I open it, it just gives me a code.

We have a computer in the other room, but I never use it.. it's not mine, and it's set up a lot different, so I don't like to use it.

 

[watchcaddy]

Ok, after you get the code, go to the dl page again. It should let you dl now. Actually, it will ask for the code, you input it and another page should show up that allows you to dl. Give that a try.

 

[h~chan]

I did it, but now when I try to open it, it won't do anything because it says I don't have a "service pak 2".. ? I have no idea what that is, and I'm getting really confused..

 

[watchcaddy]

Originally Posted by h~chan

I did it, but now when I try to open it, it won't do anything because it says I don't have a "service pak 2".. ? I have no idea what that is, and I'm getting really confused..

Ok. I can let you know now that since you don't have Service Pack 2, you were probably infected a while back and it is more serious than just pop ups. Service Pack 2 is an update package for Windows XP that came out few years back. It fixed many security holes and there were many patches after Service Pack 2 that fixed even more security holes. I could teach you how to update your system to Service Pack 2, however, it might just mess up your system even more.

My best suggestion is to find someone with the XP disc to reinstall windows for you. Do you find your system sluggish at times? Sometimes something will not open or give you weird error msg? Also, please do not put any passwords, sensitive informations or even visit your bank page on the computer. It will put your identity at a great risk. Even though most of the time hackers just use your computer to forward spam, porn, illegal mp3..etc, they also install keyloggers to steal your passwords. I am not trying to scare you in any way, but just to inform you of the danger of a compromised computer.

Since you can't get Windows Defenders to work, did you give Spybot a try?

 

[h~chan]

Originally Posted by watchcaddy

Ok. I can let you know now that since you don't have Service Pack 2, you were probably infected a while back and it is more serious than just pop ups. Service Pack 2 is an update package for Windows XP that came out few years back. It fixed many security holes and there were many patches after Service Pack 2 that fixed even more security holes. I could teach you how to update your system to Service Pack 2, however, it might just mess up your system even more.

My best suggestion is to find someone with the XP disc to reinstall windows for you. Do you find your system sluggish at times? Sometimes something will not open or give you weird error msg? Also, please do not put any passwords, sensitive informations or even visit your bank page on the computer. It will put your identity at a great risk. Even though most of the time hackers just use your computer to forward spam, porn, illegal mp3..etc, they also install keyloggers to steal your passwords. I am not trying to scare you in any way, but just to inform you of the danger of a compromised computer.

Since you can't get Windows Defenders to work, did you give Spybot a try?

I'll try to look around for my XP disc sometime tomorrow.. maybe it's hidden somewhere around here.

I downloaded Spybot and ran it, and I chose "fix selected problems" but it's been sitting here for a while.. it keeps showing a message saying one of my Opera "cookie" files is corrupt and it can't open it, so I hope it's not stopping it somehow.

 

[watchcaddy]

ok, try this. Open IE, Opera and Firefox and clean out their cache, cookies, then give Spybot a try.

Also, do you run any antivirus programs? Do you keep those up to date?

I will suggest you to back up all of your data onto a CD/DVD/flash drive. And verify it after you back it up just in case.

 

[h~chan]

Originally Posted by watchcaddy

ok, try this. Open IE, Opera and Firefox and clean out their cache, cookies, then give Spybot a try.

Also, do you run any antivirus programs? Do you keep those up to date?

I deleted my Opera/FF/IE cookies, but I closed Spybot a while ago, and it took a while to scan.. so I think I'll let it scan when I get off the computer and check it in the morning.

I use AVG, but it just recently said it went out of date, so I'll update it tomorrow.. I scanned yesterday or the day before and it didn't find anything, so I might let it scan tomorrow sometime.

Originally Posted by watchcaddy

I will suggest you to back up all of your data onto a CD/DVD/flash drive. And verify it after you back it up just in case.

I'm pretty stupid when it comes to those things, honestly, so I'm not really sure how to do any of it..

 

[watchcaddy]

That is ok. That is what community forums are about, help each other out.

Do you dl songs, videos, softwares using peer to peer application such as Kazza,or Morpheus? If you do, these songs, softwares sometimes contains virus and malware, so be careful.

Do you have any valuable photos, music or videos on this computer?

Do you have something that you need to back up in case of emergency, comp crashes...etc?

 

[h~chan]

Originally Posted by watchcaddy

That is ok. That is what community forums are about, help each other out.

Do you dl songs, videos, softwares using peer to peer application such as Kazza,or Morpheus? If you do, these songs, softwares sometimes contains virus and malware, so be careful.

Do you have any valuable photos, music or videos on this computer?

Do you have something that you need to back up in case of emergency, comp crashes...etc?

I have mp3's on my computer, none were downloaded from applications.. some were taken from CD's or they were sent through messenger by friends.

There are quite a few images/pictures that haven't been uploaded anywhere that I don't want to be lost, and I don't want my mp3 files lost, either..

I don't really know of anything that I would need to back up, besides small things like images/mp3 files that I don't want to lose.. I do have some programs that I don't want to lose.. but I'm not sure how any of the "backing files" works. If it has to be done on some type of disc, we don't have any..

 

[watchcaddy]

Ok, here is what you should do first. Backup all of your important data. Since you don't have any discs, you will have to use an online service. The pros is it is offsite and accessible anywhere there is internet connection. The cons is that you don't know how well they keep their data and how long they will stay in business. So whenever you have a chance, find a friend who can help you dl these docs from the net and back it up onto a disc, that will be the best.

Here is a free online backup company, pretty reputable. https://mozy.com/ They offer 2GB of free space. Give that a try. Back up the most important things first, just in case you are out of space. 2GB will take a while to upload. Once you are done and have the XP disc in hand, we can try to fix your comp again.

Oh, it is hard to back up programs. Do you have the original disc/installation program?

 

[h~chan]

Originally Posted by watchcaddy

Ok, here is what you should do first. Backup all of your important data. Since you don't have any discs, you will have to use an online service. The pros is it is offsite and accessible anywhere there is internet connection. The cons is that you don't know how well they keep their data and how long they will stay in business. So whenever you have a chance, find a friend who can help you dl these docs from the net and back it up onto a disc, that will be the best.

Here is a free online backup company, pretty reputable. https://mozy.com/ They offer 2GB of free space. Give that a try. Back up the most important things first, just in case you are out of space. 2GB will take a while to upload. Once you are done and have the XP disc in hand, we can try to fix your comp again.

Oh, it is hard to back up programs. Do you have the original disc/installation program?

I ran Spybot after deleting cookies, and it's still doing the same thing..

Do you mean the XP disc and intallation program? If we have it, it's around here somewhere and I'll have to look for it.

 

[watchcaddy]

Yea, i am sorry that did not help. It is hooked too deep for them to clean it. Now, the only way is to reinstall windows. Try to find the XP installing disc and we try to reinstall it for you.

You should use the online back up to back up your docs, photos and mp3, because once you reinstall windows, all will be gone.

The pop ups you have, what are they? ads, porn or all kinds?

 

[h~chan]

Originally Posted by watchcaddy

Yea, i am sorry that did not help. It is hooked too deep for them to clean it. Now, the only way is to reinstall windows. Try to find the XP installing disc and we try to reinstall it for you.

You should use the online back up to back up your docs, photos and mp3, because once you reinstall windows, all will be gone.

The pop ups you have, what are they? ads, porn or all kinds?

I'm still trying to find my XP disc..

The popups I get are pretty much just ads.. but they're getting really annoying..

 

[watchcaddy]

Yea, i understand. Try to find it and back up your data. Let us know once you find it.

 

[h~chan]

I still haven't found my XP disc.. but I had to go to work for a few hours. It has to be here somewhere..

I ran Adware before I left, and it found quite a few new files.. I was hoping maybe it might stop popups like it did a few nights ago, but no luck..

I'll keep looking for my XP disc.. hopefully it'll come up soon. I don't think anyone would have taken it.

 

[neetanddave]

Your problem seems to be a Trojan virus that has attached itself to your registry. If you can follow these instructions http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/da...an.favadd.html you can clean it up yourself, or maybe get your family member that built your computer to do it if its out of your level of expertise.

 

[h~chan]

Originally Posted by neetanddave

Your problem seems to be a Trojan virus that has attached itself to your registry. If you can follow these instructions http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/da...an.favadd.html you can clean it up yourself, or maybe get your family member that built your computer to do it if its out of your level of expertise.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I disabled IE for now because it was getting so annoying, and so there hasn't been any popups since, but I'll try that link in a while..

 

[natalie_ca]

It's important to do regular computer maintenance in order to keep your computer in top running form.

1. Download and install the free version of "Ad-Aware" from Lavasoft and run it now and then daily. Check for updates every week or two. Delete everything that it finds.

2. Download and run Dr. Web's "Cureit" it now and then on a weekly basis. Delete everything that it finds. The one thing about Cureit is that the free version doesn't provide updates. So each week when you want to run it, you need to go back to the site and download the current version of it. The link to download the free version is at the bottom of the text on that page.

3. Run your own updated virus scanner on a weekly or bi weekly basis.

4. Have a good firewall installed.

5. Do not open email attachments that you are not expecting.

6. Turn off "Preview Pane" in Outlook Express. Previewing emails puts you at risk for viruses because it's possible to embed images with a virus. Spam email companies and virus spreaders can embed a very tiny transparent gif into an email and when it's previewed it's considered as "opened" and the damage is done. So better to turn off preview pane and just delete emails you know to be junk or are not expecting.

7. Use any other browser than IE because IE is a target for most hackers and viruses and it also picks up a whole lot of adware. I recommend Mozilla-Firefox and looking through the various extension options to pick what you feel you would like to use.

8. Take advantage of your firewall and browser's security features such as avoiding Active X and 3rd party cookies. Things like that are explained in the link below:

Here is a link that explains more about security. Pay particular attention to the email and browsing areas as those are the ways that people tend to find their computers getting infected.

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/

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