Spyware- Popunders?

DeadLogic · Post by **DeadLogic** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:00 pm

Recently my computer has been experiencing what I have heard reffered to as "popunders" Basically, the spyware runs sites on your computer, but you cannot see the windows and the only indication that explorer is running is in the task manager window. It really slows down my computer, and I usually see that about 20 pornographic websites are running without even seeing any windows. This has led also to a lot of spyware and adward being downloaded, because I'm sure that those sites infect my computer easily. Can someone advise how to get rid of all these? I've tried Ad-Aware, which usually works great, but now it doesnt seem to do anything. Norton anti-virus is a peice of SHlT.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:45 pm

take it to a professional, say "geeksquad" inside of best buy, they'll get rid of your problem roughly for bout $40...

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:05 pm

Your solution is always to bring it to someone Truggy

lol. Anyway, my solution would be to run ad-aware and Antivirus VERY often. Also make sure you have at least two pop-up blockers running at any one time, so if one misses one, the other will get it. This is very important because pop-up ads are the main portal for spyware on the internet.

Also, if you have norton antivirus, and have an updated virus database, it should be able to detect "portal" spyware. These are exe's that are installed into your System 32 directory that serve as a door to let other spyware in. So even if you eliminate the spyware you have with ad-aware, and you are still getting pop-ups and porn, this is probably the reason. As i said, the only way to dtect these is with an antivirus program that's equiped to do it. Norton 2004 worked fine for me.

One such one is iehost.exe, so search for this and if you find it delete it. If the dile won't delete because it says it is currently being used by the system, start-up in safe mode, and do it that way.

Just make sure that before deleting stuff like this you backup your files just in case.

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:53 pm

Make sure your adaware definitions are updated...
Personally I don't run pop-up blockers, those simply mask the sym,ptoms until the spyware 'infection' geta almost too deep to clean. Popups are rarely the actual source, it's usually when you click on said popups LOL... anyway, I prefer to see the popups, this shows me that there is an issue witht he machine. Most popups don't find their way onto machines, downloading things like extra email smileys, programs like "Memory Watcher' etc that purport to be PC tune up utils often package spyware, and if you don't read the licensing - then you are probably giving permission to install it when you accept the license. LimeWire, Kazaa and a LOT of other P2P software is supported thru adware...
Anyway, back to the issue at hand...
Update and run adaware...
download and run Spybot search and destroy ( it picks up a few AA misses)
download and run CWShreddedr ( only handles Cool Web Search derivative adware - but that is the worst to clean)
and finally download
SpyWare Blaster from www.javacoolsoftware.com make sure it is updated and enable all protection. It blocks access to known adware sites, as well as blocking known nasty active-x code.

Truggy · Post by **Truggy** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 8:08 pm

Correction - Bring it to someone if u dont know what your doing...like me :jester:

DeadLogic · Post by **DeadLogic** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:42 pm

I dont need to run popup blockers, I use Mozilla Firebird. I dont even USE Microsoft Internet Explorer, but stuff stull gets infected through it. I wish I could just delete it altogether.

xbreaka420 · Post by **xbreaka420** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:52 pm

wtf is firebird i run firefox which could easily kill its birdlike cousin

DeadLogic · Post by **DeadLogic** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:13 am

Yeah, made by the same people, FireBird is just an earlier version... I gotta get firefox sometime.

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 3:37 am

I love firefox, I've had a lot less spyware since iI started using it instead of crappy IE.