Gator....GAIN......Please Die.

[edro]

WTF is up with Gator SPYWARE? I have Adaware installed and everytime I run it (every week or so) it keeps finding Gator or now called GAIN. What the hell?!?!? I never install it knowingly. Isn't it illegal for them to install that crap on my machine without my permission? I am sure I am getting it through another website or an affiliate, but I wish I knew which site is was!

Anyone have any input on this craptastic spyware company?

 

[ElFenix]

i hate that spyware crap! :|:disgust:

anyone know what the process names are?

 

[Beau]

Spyware is an invasion of privacy and a form of tresspassing, AFAIC. I'd love to have a message that is returned to all spyware companies that says something like "NO TRESSPASSING! VIOLATORS WILL BE SHOT. SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN" :disgust:

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Do you have any questionable apps installed on your computer? Its possible another app (like Kazaa, for example) keeps reinstalling it.

 

[KeyserSoze]

What sux is "technically" they do have a right to be on your computer. Cuz whenever you install some freeware/shareware apps, if you actually take the time to read the "Licensing" (Which I never do), it says something about them having the right to install third party programs. Hell NO I don't agree with it. So everytime I download a program, I ALWAYS run Ad-Aware. I really HATE those damn cookies, those blow.





KeyserSoze

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Do you have any questionable apps installed on your computer? Its possible another app (like Kazaa, for example) keeps reinstalling it.

Seems like I got it from ICQ once.

 

[MichaelD]

I have GAIN (formerly Gator) on my PC. I can't get rid of the $#%^#! thing. It's under Programs...you'll see the folder. Conveniently, it has an uninstall utility...that doesn't work. If you go to Control Panel\Remove Programs, it's not even listed!

I don't Kazaa, ICQ, PDQ, ASAP or any other of that stuff. I have Cookies disabled....how the hell did it get on my PC? AFAIK, the only way to get rid of it is to wipe-->reload. :Q

 

[wnied]

AFAIK, the only way to get rid of it is to wipe-->reload.

Uhhh, no you can use Lavasofts AD-AWARE

Just install and run ad-aware and it eliminates any spyware safely.
~wnied~

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

There's a link to a program that will remove it completely, I don't remember where I originally saw it, though.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: wnied
AFAIK, the only way to get rid of it is to wipe-->reload.

Uhhh, no you can use Lavasofts AD-AWARE

Just install and run ad-aware and it eliminates any spyware safely.
~wnied~

I love you.

Not in the biblical sense, of course.

Thanks much.

 

[MrBond]

I've seen several websites where it pops up a security window asking to install a program (usually it's something like an auto-updating clock) and it says "certificate signed by 'The Gator Corporation'". If you just click "yes" it downloads and installs gator. Just like comet cursor, it gets those people who just click "yes" on everything they see.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: MrBond
I've seen several websites where it pops up a security window asking to install a program (usually it's something like an auto-updating clock) and it says "certificate signed by 'The Gator Corporation'". If you just click "yes" it downloads and installs gator. Just like comet cursor, it gets those people who just click "yes" on everything they see.

See, I KNOW this. That's why I never click or download on any of that stuff. I have DLd AdAware and emailed to myself at home. I will run it as soon as I get home.

 

[MaxDepth]

Edro13: what is your operating system?

You need to check your browser certificates. Gator has been known to piggyback on some websites. When you click on a site for the first time, I certificate should pop up, asking if you want to download this security feature. If you check the title it'll say, Gator or GAIN in the title. But sometimes we click too fast to to something and we mistakenly click on the "accept" without knowing it.

Once that certificate has been accepted, it'll constantly reload itself, unless specifically blocked by a firewall. I have hardware and software firewalls operating on my Internet system. You need to revoke the certificates if you find them.

The software programs that I do not allow Internet client or server access are:
CME II Client Application
Gator Client Application
Gator SilentSetup Applet
setup_wm.exe
Cyberkit

These are spywares that could find a way on to my system without alerting the antivirus. So by bottling them up on my side, I can then run a weekly AV and Ad-aware check instead of a daily one. (except for days of unusually heavy I-traffic)

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Edro13: what is your operating system?

You need to check your browser certificates. Gator has been known to piggyback on some websites. When you click on a site for the first time, I certificate should pop up, asking if you want to download this security feature. If you check the title it'll say, Gator or GAIN in the title. But sometimes we click too fast to to something and we mistakenly click on the "accept" without knowing it.

Once that certificate has been accepted, it'll constantly reload itself, unless specifically blocked by a firewall. I have hardware and software firewalls operating on my Internet system. You need to revoke the certificates if you find them.

The software programs that I do not allow Internet client or server access are:
CME II Client Application
Gator Client Application
Gator SilentSetup Applet
setup_wm.exe
Cyberkit

These are spywares that could find a way on to my system without alerting the antivirus. So by bottling them up on my side, I can then run a weekly AV and Ad-aware check instead of a daily one. (except for days of unusually heavy I-traffic)

I like your ideas/methods. I have BlackIce...maybe i should try installing it? I've found (until now, that is) the combination of:

1. My router/firewall
2. NAV once a week/scanning all downloaded files
3. Me not being stupid and clicking away on everything in sight

Will keep me virus-free...unfortunatley, it hasn't kept GAIN off my rig. :| I'm nuking that puppy tonight!!!! Mwuahahahah!+

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Beau6183
Spyware is an invasion of privacy and a form of tresspassing, AFAIC. I'd love to have a message that is returned to all spyware companies that says something like "NO TRESSPASSING! VIOLATORS WILL BE SHOT. SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN" :disgust:

you mean somethin like This

 

[Wooster]

Try Ad-Aware Plus. It's worth the money. It will automatically monitoring in the background with all spyware and bad cookie install.

If you are running p2p software like Grokster, Kazaa, etc. Remember not to remove Cyberdoor (something like that), otherwise your software will not work. Better off, get the lite version of these software. They don't have spyware attach. The only thing I am not sure of is are legal or not?

Good luck.

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: TheEvil1

Originally posted by: Beau6183
Spyware is an invasion of privacy and a form of tresspassing, AFAIC. I'd love to have a message that is returned to all spyware companies that says something like "NO TRESSPASSING! VIOLATORS WILL BE SHOT. SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN" :disgust:

you mean somethin like This

Exactly. Now if you can just figure out a way for that to be displayed on all the computers at Gator whenever they try to install something on my 'puter....

 

[woodly6]

The DivX codec now installs GAIN on your machine....I think they are the 5.01 and up free DivX codecs.

edit1: Its the Free DivX Pro install http://www.divx.com/divx/

 

[GoingUp]

I hate that damn program!

 

[deerslayer]

I've had the Gator one several times :|

I ran adaware on one of my friend's computers. 215 or so components found :Q

It had gotten so bad that her cable internet was slower than my dial up! She thought I was a god for fixing it, LOL.

 

[kami]

The creators of spyware and their families should be thrown in prison.

 

[spidey]

Ad-Aware is one of the greatest progs every.

Will have to think about Ad-Aware plus, but it sucks having to pay to keep that crap away when it shouldn't be there in the first place.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: kami
The creators of spyware and their families should be thrown in prison.

with the terrorists

 

[LuDaCriS66]

anyone know what the deal is with Adaware? They haven't updated in months.. or maybe that's just me.. I haven't seen news of them releasing a new signature file in a while.

Or does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative spyware scanner?

 

[MichaelD]

I just wanted to report back to say that Ad Aware rocks!!! I DL'd v.5.83 from the link that wnied provided (thanks man!) and installed it. It runs quickly, smoothly and w/o any problems. ON my main rig (gaming/surfing/email/work) it found 40 components and registry entries related to GAIN/GATOR :|

And it removed every last one! I ran it again and got a "Congratulations! No Spyware found!" message. Reading another post above, now I know where I got it. I Dl'd and installed the latest DIVX. Hey, we ALL need DIVX, right? So that's where I got it from..

Happy to also report that the only thing it found was GAIN/GATOR...I guess I do keep a semi-clean shop after all