Computer Gone Wild

[jake75]

Out of the blue - get what appears to be adware - boxes that look like MS OS generated messages telling me my system is not optimized, or there are viruses detected and would I like to download a free scan. When you try to close the box it starts the scan anyway. At one point my sw stopped the installation of what they said was Active X Control. Brand names appear to be CleanupTool, Full System Optimizer, and antivirus 2009.Then a coule of times got a blue screen with a message "Fatal System error. The Windows login process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0X000000 etc. The system has been shut down." After booting in safe mode I finally got to a point where I could go back to the most recent good reset point. Now also getting some kind of random web pages opening - examples away.com, entrepreneur.com. Seach me, OV Guide online video guide, Aime Deluxe, Webcam girls, Windows Live online home etc.Trend Micro virus/adware and Webroot Spyware scans and removal of all suspects (mostly cookies) didn't help.If I just run e-mail there is no problem. Only if I open the web browser.What a mess. I may have to reformat, reload everything and and start over.I have been running the Trend Micro Suite which is supposed to be very good.

[Kevzaz]

Try Spybot Search and Destroy. I love it.http://www.safer-networking.or....html

[kunkstyle]

Good call on Spybot S&D. Sounds like an internet explorer hijack. In the mean time you could get firefox and surf with that.

[breezd]

I've had that "system scan" thing pop up a few times also. Every time it came up, I was only on MySpace. I was using Firefox, now I'm using Google Chrome, and no problems any time recently. to Spybot S&D

[bull77]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »Brand names appear to be CleanupTool, Full System Optimizer, and antivirus 2009. ah antivirus 2009 --- good times with that one ( http://www.bleepingcomputer.co...-2009 )boot to safe mode and run spybot. I'd also try running these:SuperAntiSpyware --> http://www.superantispyware.comMalwarebytes' Anti-Malware ---> http://download.bleepingcomput...p.exe

[renate]

That hapened to me also,almost exectly like you said.I purchased Norton symnatec for (I think) $40 and it removed it.

[harryyiii]

Whenever one of those bad boys pops up, I control-Alt-delete, get into task manager, and close the browser. These windows have been rigged to start the program on any hit.

[jake75]

The Doctor came and removed about 50 additional Trojans undetected by retail spyware but my settings etc. were so screwed up he had to admit it to the hospital to reformat the drives (have a SATA Backup system) and reinstall the operating system etc.I don't know if this is true, but he said that sometimes you can get infected when you mistype a url and get to a rogue site that way. I am adding a router (hardware firewall) for added protection. Hopefully I will be back in business on Friday - my work has been piling up. A long weekend ahead and I am leaving Tuesday for a trip to NC to see the grandkids. [My stocks are doing so well I can afford to take the time off!]

[jake75]

Oh - I am going to ask him to switch me to firefox.

[ClunkClunk]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »[My stocks are doing so well I can afford to take the time off!]Got any hot tips?

[tribalman]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »I don't know if this is true, but he said that sometimes you can get infected when you mistype a url and get to a rogue site that way. I am adding a router (hardware firewall) for added protection. yes you can get infected like that. i'm sure you have heard of this type of attack before, you are given a hotlink and the text says something like "click here to update your bank/ebay/whatever account". the link will actually take you to a phishing site that looks similar to the actual page, but have a few things off. a good way to see where a page will actually take you is to put the mouse over the hotlink and let it hover, it will show the full url it will send you to. if you see something unexpected or wayyyyyy excessively long don't click, delete right away.if you are getting a router that is also a wireless, make sure the wireless is off if you do not need it, or if you decide to enable it, ENCRYPT IT! you don't need to pay some someone to set it up. most if not all routers are easy to setup, plus it keeps your information out of someone else's hands(you can do a lot with someones IP). the software to change settings on them is easy to understand and work.i also hope you have a software firewall too. the routers we have are good at blocking outside stuff from comming in without a request, but if you have software from your computer go out to a bad site, the return will be allowed in. (this is a longer conversation as to why). the software firewall will allow you to make sure that only the applications you allow are accessing the internet.if you have other questions, feel free to ask. i'm sure there are a few other IT people out there.

[jake75]

My comment about my stocks doing so well was "sarcasm". I'm down about 35% like a lot of others.But I only drank one pitcher of the Kool-Aid. I was only about 50% in stocks - the other half was good ol' cash that should take care of my first 10 years of retirement.

[jake75]

The router is "wired". Am using Trend-Micro Security that includes a software firewall.