I am in popup hell

[char]

I'm getting a shitload of popups. The weird thing is that they started out as IE popups and I am navigating around in Firefox. Now they have gotten into Firefox, pop-up when I'm not even around the computer (I'll come back to the computer after an hour to a zillion pop-ups).

I'm running Spybot and Ad-aware every day or more to no effect. Also, something called Tag-a-saurus is loaded on my desktop now.

What else can I do to get rid of this thing?

Who ever wrote these pop-ups certainly has a sense of humor, half of them are for pop-up blockers and spyware removal software.

[milkman]

Sometimes with really malicious spyware, it's just easier to reload Windows than go through the complicated cleaning process. Just went through this with a friend's computer not too long ago....

[Son1cdeth]

char,

Most of the newer spyware (Aurora and company) are successfully able to cloak itself after it's been loaded into memory. Meaning that tools like Adaware and SpyBot aren't ever going to see the infection.

Here is what I've had to do in the past for friends and family who always seem to get infested with this crap.

- Turn off Windows XP system restore (right click on My computer, goto System Restore Tab, check 'Turn off System Restore). Windows XP only, and you can turn it back on when your done.

- Download the Ewido Security tool located here. It's a fully functional 14 day evaluation copy.

- Install Ewido, update the detection database, restart your computer.

- Enter Safe Mode by pressing F8 at the Windows splash screen. You should see a menu, choose Safe Mode. If you dont get it the first time, just hit F8 every 1/2 second or so after you turn on your computer.

- Run Ewido and choose a full scan (will take awhile)

- Reboot into safe mode and run it again. Make sure the scan comes back clean. Keep doing this until it does.

- After it comes back clean reboot your computer normally. You should be pop up free. (Also feel free to run SpyBot and Adaware now if you like)

Optional:
- turn back on system restore (see above)
- uninstall the ewido security tool


Mandatory:
Use Firefox more often, make sure your running 1.5.0.1 and have extensions like flashblock and adblock installed


edit: some good forums to check out in case you need some more help.

http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php

[Spats]

Extensions you need for Firefox:
-Adblock
-Filterset.G Updater (contains an updated list of sites for Adblock to block...you need both)
Optional:
-NoScript (blocks Java and Javascript, gets those sneaky Flash popups that Adblock and Firefox sometimes miss)

[Free Range Lobster]

new version of MS Antispyware (Windows Defender) works really freaking well.

Install it.
Run it.

[char]

Well, I would try all of those things if the computer wasn't locking up as soon as I start it up. It's my parents computer, which they don't take care of. I suspect someone opened an attachment that had a virus because this seems like it is going beyond the normal spyware/popup bullshit I've dealt with before.

I put them on the FireFox diet last year, but they don't ever update or use Adaware or any other pop-up blocking software.

So, I'm just going to have them take it to someone and have it fixed.

[fez]

Well, I would try all of those things if the computer wasn't locking up as soon as I start it up.

follow the instructions above for booting into safe mode. safe mode only starts enough services to get the machine running, from there you can try and fix the damage.

[72Twenty]

Shit. I thought this thread was about pop tarts.

I like pop tarts. You can eat them hot or cold.

[Blatant]

buy a mac.