PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Broadband, Networking, PC Security, Internet & ISPs => Topic started by: chew on March 26, 2004, 00:39
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I have suddenly been getting loads of pop-up ads even though I had panicware pop-up stopper installed. I then installed Intellistopper also - helped a bit, but not much. Uninstalled both and tried Google toolbar with pop up stopper - still no use.
any suggestions - i don't have a firewall, do you think i need one?
thanks.
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Hi Chew and :welcome:
You definately should have a firewall on but that wont affect your popups.
Have you tried altering the settings in your popup stoppers as some have an "aggressive mode", if yours have and you enable that it may help :)
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Hi Chew. :welcome:
Why not try a decent web browser? Opera (my favourite browser) and Mozilla (which has a big following on here) both stop popups without having to install third party programs.
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i've just reinstalled panicware. Neither this nor the google popup stopper have an agressive mode.
The panicware one also stops some links opening (like the link to the 'get more smilies' on this site) but still lets some popup ads open. :'(
can you recommend a firewall?
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chorleydave - is doing that easy, im not sure i would know how to do it. I'm a bit dim.
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If you look at the bottom left side of the main page of the forum there are links to some guides, one is for firewalls, there are a couple of free ones in there :)
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Hi Chew,
The best treatment which will irradicate and heal completely your pc is the program "Spybot". You don't need to break your head with other programs. I'm telling that after similar experience.
Good luck. And enjoy our company in ther this forum. :)
Oh...sorry. I just noticed that you have posted a similar problem on another thread. Maybe you've tried what I suggested, but anyway, just this week, the only program which solved my problem was "Spybot". And most propably, my problem was because of "Alexia". Seems you have a different one. :-X
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Chew,
Your surfing the web with no firewall is your main problem, it's only a matter of time until your in deep doo doo. Whats deep doo doo, well you'll know when your in it.
hit THIS (http://www.sugrue.ndo.co.uk/security.html) link
it's a PC security page giving links to seven totally free security programs, install them along with the Mozilla Web browser, and you will have a nice secure PC, plus your pop-up problem will be a thing of the past.
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Whatever one you pick DO NOT install freesurfer pop up blocker, it will leave you with over 35 spyware programs on your pc.
Tried it last week and adaware went mad plus they all got past spywareblaster, took ages to get rid of them and the program does not uninstall fully.
A real nasty piece of work that one.
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Hello again,
Well, here's an update:
- Visited sheilds up - not good
- Installed zone alarm - brilliant
- Visited sheilds up again - everything seems hunky spunky now
- Uninstalled panicware and google pop up stoppers
- Installed free surfer mk II pop up stopper - pop ups seem to have stopped
- Ran Spybot, Hijackthis, Adaware, Cwshredder
- Installed Empty Temp
- Installed Mail Washer
- Installed Mozilla browser and the IE viewer plugin - great
Everything is great except:
- Tried to install AVG anti virus software but i did not receive a serial number via email??
- Rebooted PC but still getting 'Found Hardware Wizard' for Media Audio Controller and two internet connection windows (which keep popping up after I close them - a few minutes later) Zone Alarm asks me now if I want to let 'werule' access the internet - I clicked 'No'(ZA also asks if I want 'sear1 MFC Application' acces the internet - again I clicked 'No')
Thanks for all your help - any ideas on these last few irritations?
Chew ;D
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Both 'werule' and 'sear1 MFC Application' are trojans. Ad-Aware is capable of dealing with both of them so I would suggest that you start your computer in safe mode, disable system restore, and run Ad-Aware again. Remember to enable system restore afterwards! I can only suggest that you try and re-register with AVG using a different e-mail address.
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Clive
I dont know how to start my Pc in safe mode - so I printed out how to do it from 'help and support'. The instructions do not make sense, things like 'Please select operating system to start'
does not appear anywhere.
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You have to keep tapping the F8 key (don't hold it down!)as your computer boots up. Your screen will look a little strange but the Ad-Aware icon will be still there. It's best to temporarily turn off System Restore as some trojans and viruses are clever enough to use it to re-install themselves.
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ok clive you're gonna have to be patient with me here!
I hit F8 and it brings me into that black screen (msdos i believe) there are 4 options ,Floppy, cd rom, and two others which i have no clue about - nothing about safe mode - i selected one randomly and my pc started up no differently.
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Don't worry, we have all the patience in the world! Which operating system are you using chew?
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Hi Chew,
glad you found my little security web page handy, as for not getting an email with your serial number in...thats strange I got one straight away, anyway no bother you can use this one Edit by Clive: sorry Tony, but the terms and conditions of AVG state that only one user is allowed to use that registration number. But it was a nice gesture all the same.
re Zone Alarm asking if you want to allow things access to the web, if you tick the "remember answer" box it will and not ask you again. But if latter you find out you need to let certain things access the net, you can go into "programs" and change your permissions. My policy is "if in doubt say no"
Tony
::)
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Hi Chew,
To get into Safe Mode, as Clive said, you have to reboot your machine, and keep tapping away at the F8 key while it's starting up. You should eventually get a page of options, one of which should be to start in Safe Mode. We need to know which operating system you are using (XP, Win2K, ME, Win9x, etc), to establish whether you have System Restore, as that will need to be disabled as well.
Just another point, when you installed Ad Aware and Spybot, did you update them before you ran them? That is probably the most important thing, as they will be next to useless without.
Come back to us if you need further help. :)
Incidentally, if you are going to continue to use Mozilla as your default web browser (recommended), you can uninstall free surfer mk II pop up stopper, as Mozilla has it's own very capable pop up stopper built in.
Another layer of protection can be found in Spyware Blaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) (also free), which blocks spyware before it gets into your computer. Again, you have to keep it updated for maximum efficiency.
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I have XP.
How do I update adaware? I uninstalled it, downloaded it again and reinstalled it - will this do?
And.... ok, I restarted my pc, kept hitting F8, got a list of options none of which is safe mode. The options are as follows:
FLOPPY, IDE-0, IDE-1, and CDROM.
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That sounds like the boot options order in bios.
You need to select IDE 0 for the hard drive, maybe your pc will boot into safe mode from there but I havent come across one like that before ???
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When you open Ad Aware, Spybot, and (if you've got it) Spyware Blaster, you should see a button to 'Check For Updates'. That's what you need to do, so they download the latest definitions, i.e. details of bad stuff to look for. It's called keeping ahead of the game! ;)
Not sure why you can't seem to get into Safe Mode - maybe one of the techies know another way - but at least if you update Ad Aware and Spybot before you run them, even if not in Safe Mode, you should still get rid of the majority of the junk.
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Another layer of protection can be found in Spyware Blaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) (also free), which blocks spyware before it gets into your computer. Again, you have to keep it updated for maximum efficiency.
You obviously havent visited my security web page Simon, as a Spyblaster link is on it ......were do you think Chew got the Mozilla link from ::) another convert Bro ;D
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I realised where Chew got the links from - :welldone: - but he didn't mention installing Spyware Blaster, so I did. ;)
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Try this method chew....
http://www.ispwifi.com/virus/safe-mode/xp/
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:banana: :banana: :banana:
I do believe I'm clean!!!
Thank you thank you thank you.
I still can't get into safe mode though, but I don't think I need to now.
My Device Manager does have a Yellow ? & ! beside the media audio controller. I tried to install it again but couldn't, told it not to remind me again and it doesn't appear at start-up anymore.
What does it do anyway - I'm listeneing to the white stripes right now on my pc so it obviously doesn't affect the sound.
Thanks again anyway!!!!! ;D
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In all the excitement I didn't see that last post!
I got into safe mode but didn't think I should disable system restore and I don't think I needed to anyway.
chew :)