IE 6, XP, POP-UPs STILL GET THROUGH

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (More info?)

I have IE6 on XP. The pop-up blocker is set at high, and I still get ads
that seem to break through. Also, when this happens, if I'm using word, the
border color dulls, and whatever I'm typing does not appear on the page. I
then have to go back and click inside the application to get the cursor back.
I've tried to uninstall IE6, but it doen't appear on the ADD/REMOVE menu.
Even if IE isn't open, and I'm using a different browser, an add here and
there comes smashing through using IE 6. Now, obviously, I'm getting tired
of it. And it always seems to be the same vendor on the adds. IS THERE A
WAY TO COMPLETELY STOP THIS?????

 

[Malke]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (More info?)

Rich278 wrote:

> I have IE6 on XP. The pop-up blocker is set at high, and I still get
> ads
> that seem to break through. Also, when this happens, if I'm using
> word, the
> border color dulls, and whatever I'm typing does not appear on the
> page. I then have to go back and click inside the application to get
> the cursor back.
> I've tried to uninstall IE6, but it doen't appear on the ADD/REMOVE
> menu.
> Even if IE isn't open, and I'm using a different browser, an add here
> and
> there comes smashing through using IE 6. Now, obviously, I'm getting
> tired
> of it. And it always seems to be the same vendor on the adds. IS
> THERE A WAY TO COMPLETELY STOP THIS?????

You have some malware on your computer. Here are general removal
instructions. Do everything with updated tools in Safe Mode.

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

Before you remove malware, get LSPFix (or WinSockFix for XP which you
can get from MajorGeeks) - see links below.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

If the malware remains even after you used Ad-aware and Spybot, you can
scan with HijackThis. HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and
disable hijackers, but it requires expert skill. See below for
HijackThis links, including sites where you can post your HJT logs. A
combination of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the
About:Blank homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and
novices should get help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm - Repair Winsock 2 settings after
removing spyware

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://forum.aumha.org/
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (More info?)

Install Firefox, download, 3 clicks, and it is installed. 100 times better
than IE6, has loads of customization options, look at extensions under
Tools-->Options-->Extensions--Get More. Fantastic browser, fast too.

"Malke" wrote:

> Rich278 wrote:
>
> > I have IE6 on XP. The pop-up blocker is set at high, and I still get
> > ads
> > that seem to break through. Also, when this happens, if I'm using
> > word, the
> > border color dulls, and whatever I'm typing does not appear on the
> > page. I then have to go back and click inside the application to get
> > the cursor back.
> > I've tried to uninstall IE6, but it doen't appear on the ADD/REMOVE
> > menu.
> > Even if IE isn't open, and I'm using a different browser, an add here
> > and
> > there comes smashing through using IE 6. Now, obviously, I'm getting
> > tired
> > of it. And it always seems to be the same vendor on the adds. IS
> > THERE A WAY TO COMPLETELY STOP THIS?????
>
> You have some malware on your computer. Here are general removal
> instructions. Do everything with updated tools in Safe Mode.
>
> 1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
> antivirus using updated definitions.
>
> Before you remove malware, get LSPFix (or WinSockFix for XP which you
> can get from MajorGeeks) - see links below.
>
> 2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
> programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
> There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
> install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
> CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.
>
> Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
> to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
> all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).
>
> If the malware remains even after you used Ad-aware and Spybot, you can
> scan with HijackThis. HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and
> disable hijackers, but it requires expert skill. See below for
> HijackThis links, including sites where you can post your HJT logs. A
> combination of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the
> About:Blank homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and
> novices should get help with it.
>
> 3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
> Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
> must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
> the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
> Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).
>
> 4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
> patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
>
> 5) Run a firewall.
>
> Links to help with malware:
>
> Software/Methods:
> http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
> http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
> http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
> http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
> http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners
> http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm - Repair Winsock 2 settings after
> removing spyware
>
> HijackThis:
> http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
> Eshelman
> http://forum.aumha.org/
> http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
> forum
> http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
> http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
>
> General:
> http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
> http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
> http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
>
> Malke
> --
> MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (More info?)

Rich278 wrote:
> I have IE6 on XP. The pop-up blocker is set at high, and I still get ads
> that seem to break through. Also, when this happens, if I'm using word, the
> border color dulls, and whatever I'm typing does not appear on the page. I
> then have to go back and click inside the application to get the cursor back.
> I've tried to uninstall IE6, but it doen't appear on the ADD/REMOVE menu.
> Even if IE isn't open, and I'm using a different browser, an add here and
> there comes smashing through using IE 6. Now, obviously, I'm getting tired
> of it. And it always seems to be the same vendor on the adds. IS THERE A
> WAY TO COMPLETELY STOP THIS?????


What specific kind of pop-ups are you seeing? There are at least
three varieties of pop-ups, and the solutions vary accordingly.

1) Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"

This type of spam has become quite common over the couple of
years, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It
demonstrates that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while
connected to the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised
by these specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit,
you may well be open to other threats, such as the Blaster Worm that
swept across the Internet last year and the currently active Sasser
Worm. Install and use a decent, properly configured firewall.
(Merely disabling the messenger service, as some people recommend,
only hides the symptom, and does little or nothing to truly secure
your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with" the security
gap represented by these messages is particularly foolish.

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;168893

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
service, by itself, is a "head in the sand" approach to computer
security. The real problem is not the messenger service pop-ups;
they're actually providing a useful, if annoying, service by acting as
a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
helpful?

2) For regular Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
Popup-killer from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm, Pop-Up Stopper
from http://www.panicware.com/, or the Google Toolbar from
http://toolbar.google.com/. Alternatively, you can upgrade your WinXP
to SP2, to install IE's pop-up blocker. Another alternative would be
to use another browser, such as Mozilla or Firefox, which has pop-up
blocking capabilities. (But I'd avoid Netscape; it carries too much
extraneous AOL garbage.)

3) To deal with pop-ups caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or
KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without
understanding the consequences) installed, two products that are
quite effective (at finding and removing this type of scumware) are
Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from
www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's even
possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system
against most future intrusions. I use both and generally perform
manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.

Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
varieties of scumware are available here:

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml

More information and assistance is available at these sites:

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

The Parasite Fight
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH