Help Me Out - computer question

[Mad D]

The family computer has been infected with some sort of spyware. Uninstalling the program, deleting files, trend micro virus scan and using ad-aware/spybot won't work.

This page has been placed as my homepage (and it won't allow me to change it) and all pop up blockers are disabled (and it won't allow me to turn any on).

 

[Mad D]

Could the title of this thread get (computer question) in it please?

EDIT-
Thanks

 

[Mad D]

2-Spyware.com research center took a decision to move SpyAxe into the Corrupt anti-spyware category because of deceptive and aggressive advertising issues related with its name. The program was initially classified as a reliable anti-spyware, but unfortunately its vendor and/or affiliates began to use aggressive advertising methods in order to promote SpyAxe. We received numerous user reports and complaints stating that their computers are infected with a particular trojan that displays fake warning messages saying "Your computer is infected!" and asking to download and purchase SpyAxe. These messages contain links leading to the official web site of SpyAxe. Although we do not know who is actually responsible for these issues (the program's vendor denies all charges), you shouldn't buy SpyAxe until the situation will turn out.

Well I know what it is now it is time to mess around with my computer for another few hours :-\

 

[Mad D]

Thanks for all your help fellas

I got my homepage back to normal but now my computer looks like it is running on Windows 98.

See what I mean:
Can anyone help me with this at least, to get it back to the XP skin?

EDIT: Never mind I just changed the skin back, that was obvious, but..

I know the orignal problem isn't actually fixed because my msn pop up blocker bar (my yahoo ad blocker also) is still disabled and the computer won't let me get it back up.

 

[6th]

Sorry, I can't help you, Mad D, since it is way out of my realm of expertise. Someone will come along, eventually, to offer help. I think, right now, everyone is commiserating the Kings horrible loss. Not many people stopping by the Lounge.

 

[treewoman]

Yuck, good luck, I'd help but I sadly know nothing of use.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I don't know much, but try restarting your computer in safe mode? I've had some problems on my PC, and that usually is the way to start...

 

[Stojakovic]

Mad, why don't you try system restore ? Try and restore it to an earlier date, and I'm 99% sure that the spyware/malware will be gone.

In case you haven't tried,

Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore

 

[Mad D]

Well I worked on it for about 6 hours non stop. I'll try some more stuff tommorow. Thanks for the suggestions.

I moved all my files onto a laptop for now. I'm really glad this didn't happen during a school session otherwise my computer dependent classes would be hurting. I'm getting a new computer in the next week or so anyways, so I lucked out.

The main spyware problem is taken care of, but it's the fact that I can't restore/uninstall/reinstall my pop up blockers that's bothering me.

I found out the computer has/had been infected with a trojan virus and the browser has been hijacked.

 

[PixelPusher]

When you're system gets that bad, the only solution is to reformat your hard drive and re-install Windows. You should be able to back up files (music, pictures) onto a disc (CD-R, DVD-R, or whatever) since spyware is almost exclusivly found inside your windows system files, particularly folders that deal with Internet Explorer.

Another solution, regardless of whether you decide to re-install or not, is to get Mozilla Firefox and use that as your web browser. It's pretty much spyware-proof by the simple fact that it isn't a poorly-programmed Microsoft product, with loopholes that 99.9% of all spyware, viruses, etc. are designed to attack. It also comes with several plugins for that specifically address pop-ups, web-spoofing, etc. I've used mine for the past 7 months and love it. I only use IE for the occasional webpage that has a multimedia component that doesn't load up right in Firefox, but they're working on that.

 

[Folsom Al]

Have you tried RESTORING YOUR SYSTEM back to a date prior to this infection ???

Windows-XP allows you to do this ...

Start --> Control Panel --> Performance and Maintenance

Now look in the left-hand column for SYSTEM RESTORE

 

[Bricklayer]

Well I worked on it for about 6 hours non stop. I'll try some more stuff tommorow. Thanks for the suggestions.

I moved all my files onto a laptop for now. I'm really glad this didn't happen during a school session otherwise my computer dependent classes would be hurting. I'm getting a new computer in the next week or so anyways, so I lucked out.

The main spyware problem is taken care of, but it's the fact that I can't restore/uninstall/reinstall my pop up blockers that's bothering me.

I found out the computer has/had been infected with a trojan virus and the browser has been hijacked.

Ok Mad, several things:

1) If it won't allow you to reinstall ANY popup blockers, even new/fresh installs, then there would seem to be 3 possibilities: 1) it flipped some option that is a normal part of your system; 2) it overwrote a normal part of your system and replaced it with its own file(s) to block popups; 3) it is still there running in the background.

2) Have you tried running a simple file search sorted by date? If you know approximately when this whole mess started you could search for all files craeted or modified for those days and might be able to get a much better idea of what was altered and/or loaded onto your computer

3) Have you ever used regedit? (Selct Run from the start menu and type in reggedit if you have not). The thing might have written itself into your registry and if you know its name, and the name of the company (you apparently do) you could run a search through the registry asking for all entries using those names. They'd ahve to be idiots to use their own name, but sometimes they are. Then just delete those entries (be careful in there though).

4) Check your system info under Accessories -->System Tools-->System Info and see inf anything is running on boot that should not be. You should also have a System Restore option there which might be able to reset your critical files to before the infection.