Browser problems, help!

[Nanny Fine]

Well Im not sure what happened but I'm stuck with a browser problem that is very frustrating for me.

I use Internet Explorer and last night for some reason my browser "pattern" switched. My Icons used to be big across the tip and that stupid row that says "LINKS", TVLand Schedules, etc was not there. I can't get it to be removed.

Now also every time I open a page I get one of these!



They continue to pop up!!!! Every time I open a new page!

I went to Internet Explorer to try and find an update for my browser without doing anythign to my email program but I can't seem to find anything.

Can anyone help me out? I'm pretty computer stupid so I am not sure what to do.

Below this message is what my browser looks like now. That's not how it was last night.

[Nanny Fine]

and my now screwed up browser :(

[PZelda]

This is pretty easy - all you have to do is a little tweaking...

Go to

View > Toolbars > and there should be "Links" - it will be checked. Deselect that to make the links toolbar disappear. Now go back out of View and then right-click anywhere on the buttons part of the toolbar (it doesn't matter) and then click on "Customize" - you can get your buttons to look normal again. Hope that helps. :)

(I am on Windows XP but it works in all versions)

[PZelda]

BTW, it looks like you don't have Pop Up Stopper (a free program that kills off those annoying popups). You can go to www.panicware.com and look for the FREE Pop Up Stopper there. It's a small download and really works. I've been using Pop Up Stopper since it came out in 2000 and I have no complaints about it for the most part.

[Truth]

Looks like someones got some spyware... Go to www.lavasoftusa.com to download a free spyware scanner that removes it...

[Truth]

They talked about this in the latest Spywareinfo Newsletter...



http://www.spywareinfo.com/newsletter/archives/0903/3.php




Go down some till you see it on the page..

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by AAOT
Looks like someones got some spyware... Go to www.lavasoftusa.com to download a free spyware scanner that removes it...

I went to thast site but I cna't find anything about spyware? Help!

[Truth]

Considering how new that hijacker seems to be, Ad-aware might not even detect it yet... IF you check out the spyware info Article on it, i believe they give instructions on how to remove it...

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by AAOT
They talked about this in the latest Spywareinfo Newsletter...



http://www.spywareinfo.com/newsletter/archives/0903/3.php




Go down some till you see it on the page..

I tried to do that Hijack this thing but I'm not having any luck. I'm very frustrated, I'm not a cocmputer savvy person and I have no idea how this happened.

How can I fix this? Can someone PLEASE explain it to me in a way that a computer moron can understand?

[Truth]

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
I tried to do that Hijack this thing but I'm not having any luck. I'm very frustrated, I'm not a cocmputer savvy person and I have no idea how this happened.

How can I fix this? Can someone PLEASE explain it to me in a way that a computer moron can understand?


Ok sure.., let me type it here..

[Truth]

Actully, go here: http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showforum=11



You don't have to register... You can post as a guest.. just make a topic and explain your problem... They know a lot more about this stuff then I do and im sure they will help you and give you easy instructions on how to...

[Nanny Fine]

I deleted those files from that article that says about The Hijack this but it did not work.

I am almost in tears. :(

[Nanny Fine]

I'm reading all of this stuff and it just does not click for me because I dont understand it. I dont know how to fix it :(

[Truth]

Actully.. Ad-aware does detect this... Ok here.. let me type out some stuff to try,

[Truth]

Ok here is a link to download Ad-aware...


http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10214379.html?tag=lst-0-1





Hit Download Now, if it says you have to register to download it, tell me and then Ill find another link to download it at, if it does download, then once its downloaded, go ahead and install it... reply back on here what happens...

[Nanny Fine]

It's an HTML file. It won't download.

[Truth]

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail.php3?fid=965718306


Try that one, hit download now...

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by AAOT
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail.php3?fid=965718306


Try that one, hit download now...

Okay that downloaded now what?

[Truth]

Go ahead and open it up, Install it...

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by AAOT
Go ahead and open it up, Install it...


AHHHHH these freaking surferbar things are ridiculous.

I installed it.

[musicradio77]

I don't like pop-up ads. It get annoying when the site begins to freeze.

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by BrooklynGuy78
I don't like pop-up ads. It get annoying when the site begins to freeze.

I dont even think this is about pop ups, I think it's a virus.

[Truth]

Ok go ahead and do the following





1. Open up Ad-aware
2. Hit The Button "Check for Updates Now" Once the program fully loads...

3. Hit Connect, If it says theres an updated reference file go ahead and hit yes to install it, If it says there isn't a new one then go ahead and hit OK

4. Hit Finish on the Update Screen

5. Go ahead and close out ad-aware

6. Reopen Ad-aware

7. Hit Start..

8. Make sure the circle next to "Use Custom Scanning Options" has a bubble inside it... if not go ahead and click that

9. Hit the Customize Button next to that....

10. Make sure there are Green Checks next to everything (Except for those that have Black X's) If there are red X's, go ahead and click them to change them to green Checks...

11. Hit Proceed

12. Hit Next




That should start the scan... Ill type more stuff to do once the scan is done but for now I want to post this so the scan gets going...

[Nanny Fine]

Okay it's scanning.

[Truth]

Ok once it's done... Itll make a weird little noise meaning it found stuff, Once it says its done...


1. Hit Show Log File
2. Hit Save
3. Save it somewhere where you can find it
4. Reply and Attach that text file...



Thatll give the log of what all it found and Ill take a look at it, you can go ahead and leave ad-aware open...

[Nanny Fine]

Okay here is the file...

Thanks for helping me out, I hope this works.

[Truth]

Yuck 282 Spyware Components... Ok Yes it found that surferbar...



Im going to post that log file at there support forums if its all right with you... I want to make sure it all gets removed the correct way and doesn't leave any of it left which is why I want to post this on there official sites support forums and they can give instructions on how to remove it..



Also... It found many other types of spyware including some that came with Kazaa Media Desktop... Do you still use that? If You remove all of that Kazaa May not work... I can then give you a link to another file sharing program without spyware where you can get free music, or give you a link to a hacked version of KMD but without spyware... or I can tell Ad-aware support that you want to keep KMD so that they make sure to tell you which spyware components not to remove so that Kazaa Still Works...

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by AAOT
Yuck 282 Spyware Components... Ok Yes it found that surferbar...



Im going to post that log file at there support forums if its all right with you... I want to make sure it all gets removed the correct way and doesn't leave any of it left which is why I want to post this on there official sites support forums and they can give instructions on how to remove it..



Also... It found many other types of spyware including some that came with Kazaa Media Desktop... Do you still use that? If You remove all of that Kazaa May not work... I can then give you a link to another file sharing program without spyware where you can get free music, or give you a link to a hacked version of KMD but without spyware... or I can tell Ad-aware support that you want to keep KMD so that they make sure to tell you which spyware components not to remove so that Kazaa Still Works...


YOu can post that anywhere you want if it means someone can tell me how to fix this stupid mess. This is terrible.

I dont use Kazaa, I haven't used it since I downloaded it. I actually thought it was deleted from my system. So if I can delete it, that's fine. I dont need it or use it.

What should I do now?

[ConservativeBalla]

Ugh, Spyware Toolbars suck. So, even after you've run ad-Aware and deleted all the files found, you're still getting the toolbar?

[Truth]

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
YOu can post that anywhere you want if it means someone can tell me how to fix this stupid mess. This is terrible.

I dont use Kazaa, I haven't used it since I downloaded it. I actually thought it was deleted from my system. So if I can delete it, that's fine. I dont need it or use it.

What should I do now?




You probably did remove Kazaa but they didn't remove the spyware... I posted the logfile... now we just wait for a reply... Shouldn't be too long till a reply comes... Im hoping within the hour...

[Nanny Fine]

Okay, thank you.

My daughter isn't feeling well and wants me to go to bed with her so if I disappear my problem isn't fixed - I just have to go with her.

Should I leave my computer running? SHould I keep that Adaware open?

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Ugh, Spyware Toolbars suck. So, even after you've run ad-Aware and deleted all the files found, you're still getting the toolbar?


No I haven't gotten that far yet.

This sucks. ROYALLY.

I'll be glad to have it all back to normal :(

[Truth]

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
Okay, thank you.

My daughter isn't feeling well and wants me to go to bed with her so if I disappear my problem isn't fixed - I just have to go with her.

Should I leave my computer running? SHould I keep that Adaware open?


Nah if you have to go to bed go ahead close it all up... part of the instructions they will probably give is to do a rescan with certain options changed or whatever... and then deleting it

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by AAOT
Nah if you have to go to bed go ahead close it all up... part of the instructions they will probably give is to do a rescan with certain options changed or whatever... and then deleting it

Okay I'm gonna go and lay down with her and then I'll be back hopefuly. If not I'll be here tomorrow morning.

I appreciate your help ~ this is very frustrating for me.

Hopefully I'll be back in a bit!

[Truth]

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
Okay I'm gonna go and lay down with her and then I'll be back hopefuly. If not I'll be here tomorrow morning.

I appreciate your help ~ this is very frustrating for me.

Hopefully I'll be back in a bit!




Ok No prob, and I hope your daughter gets feeling better! :)

[ConservativeBalla]

Uh, so, is Ad-Aware still scanning Nanny Fine's system?

[Truth]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Uh, so, is Ad-Aware still scanning Nanny Fine's system?



She first tried to remove it with "Hijack This" That didn't work.. so then she did the ad-aware scan, and we posted the log file on there support forum..... so that they can tell correctly how to remove it...

[ConservativeBalla]

Well, so did the Ad-Aware delete all of it except for the toolbar or something?

[Truth]

Alrighty They Replied.....


Once you read this go ahead and do the following...



Open Up Ad-aware, At the Top hit Settings (That little Round Icon), then hit tweak on the left, Then hit Scanning Engine...




Make sure the following are checked..

"Unload recognized processes during scanning."


Then under Cleaning Engine Make sure these are checked..

"Automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion."
"Let Windows remove files in use after reboot."

If not then check them...

Hit Proceed

Hit Settings Again, This time Hit General, and check to see if you have the option "Automatically quarantine all objects prior to removal" checked, If not Check it...


Run ad-aware scan, make sure its hit on custom scanning options like before, also make sure the Active Indepth Scan Has a Check Next to It..

Once its done, Hit Next, Right Click and hit Select All Objects... Then Hit Next to clear them all...




Then Restart Your Computer..



They also provided some instructions on What to do if the removal fails... But for now lets see what happens...



Once Its done and youve restarted... Go ahead then do another scan... Post the Log File Here like you did before (Save it in Ad-aware then upload it in a post)... and Ill post it there to make sure its all gone...



Here is the Link to where they posted...


http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=11499

[Truth]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Well, so did the Ad-Aware delete all of it except for the toolbar or something?


No, she didn't delete anything with ad-aware yet cause we first posted the log file to make sure it all gets deleted right...

[ConservativeBalla]

Oh....I never did that, I just always tell it to delete everything; but it's probably better you do it that log-file way.

[Truth]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Oh....I never did that, I just always tell it to delete everything; but it's probably better you do it that log-file way.


It is generally ok to do it that way but when you have 250 spyware components, don't wanna take any chances lol

[ConservativeBalla]

Yeah, good point.

[Nanny Fine]

Okay thanks for all your help AAOT.

I did what you posted and it seems to have worked. I am not getting those pop ups anymore. When I ran Ad-Aware after I deleted everything it came up and said nothign detected. I still cannot get my toolbar changed back to the way I like it. Any suggestions on that one?

Now how did this happen in the first place, so that I can avoid it happening agian?

Thanks again for everything!

[Truth]

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
Okay thanks for all your help AAOT.

I did what you posted and it seems to have worked. I am not getting those pop ups anymore. When I ran Ad-Aware after I deleted everything it came up and said nothign detected. I still cannot get my toolbar changed back to the way I like it. Any suggestions on that one?

Now how did this happen in the first place, so that I can avoid it happening agian?

Thanks again for everything!


As far as removing the Links thing, Try Right Clicking on the Links Bar and Then Clicking "Links"



As far as how this happened.... It could of been different things.... Did you install Kazaa Lite Lately? (While some are saying they got it from there, I as well as most don't believe Kazaa Lite would come with any spyware) It most likely came from a website... Most of the time with these browser hijackers when you go to a site infected with them, a little box will pop up asking if you want to install some new toolbar or whatever... Its happened to me many times... Some of these can be pretty bad including things called "Dialers" Once on your computer they use your internet connection to dial out long distance costing you lots of money... and sadly most of this spyware and dialers and stuff is legal... And Most Anti Virus Software doesn't detect them (Though they might detect some of the very worst of it,)




As far as avoiding it, what id suggest you do is just once a week, Open Up Ad-aware, Update it like you did before, then do a scan, Just once a week to make sure you have none on your system, as far as actully stopping it from getting onto your system, There are programs that do that but they cost (Such as Ad-aware Plus)


So Id Just recommend doing a scan once a week...... And if you ever get infected again, Then we can just remove it again :)


If though it just finds things called "Tracking Cookies" Then just delete those... Those can't harm your computer in anyway. and are very common on the net...


Take Care, Good Luck!