Precision Pop has infected my computer! How do I remove it??

[Skiguy411]

Somehow the program precision pop has infected my computer and I cant get rid of it! Every 5 min or so an ad pops up (even if IE isnt open) saying its brought to you by precision pop. Ive tried spy bot search and destroy but it hasn't found it. I have also searched for "precision pop" on my computer and it cant find it.

How can I remove it!!??

 

[TechnoKid]

AdAware.
Spybot Search and Destroy
then run CWShredder

 

[VictorLazlo]

Check for ADW_RULEDOR.C Precision pop is one of the many pieces of adware installed by this virus.

 

[emb09]

double click 'my computer'.

right-click c:

left-click 'format'

follow instructions.

Good luck.

j/k

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: emb09
double click 'my computer'.

right-click c:

left-click 'format'

follow instructions.

Good luck.

j/k

It won't let you do that to your system disk. You're going to have to boot into dos and run FDISK, then Zero your hdd. That's the only way to truly know it's gone.

 

[Skiguy411]

Originally posted by: VictorLazlo
Check for ADW_RULEDOR.C Precision pop is one of the many pieces of adware installed by this virus.

Searched for it (including hidden files) and it didnt find it

Originally posted by: XZeroII

Originally posted by: emb09
double click 'my computer'.

right-click c:

left-click 'format'

follow instructions.

Good luck.

j/k

It won't let you do that to your system disk. You're going to have to boot into dos and run FDISK, then Zero your hdd. That's the only way to truly know it's gone.

Dont want to take everything off my computer......

 

[Skiguy411]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
AdAware.
Spybot Search and Destroy
then run CWShredder

All 3 couldnt find it

 

[DrPizza]

I just posted a thread yesterday... it seems a new round of more sophisticated spyware is coming out.
(kinda like drug-resistant bacteria)

I had spyware that wouldn't allow spybot to delete it... nor would it allow spybot to start when the computer booted up. I thought I won after 2 hours of trying to eliminate the spyware, but a couple hours later, I discovered that it was back. Another 1 1/2 hour round of cursing ensued, trying the usual spybot, adaware fixes, reboot upon reboot, disconnecting from the internet so whatever was reloading all the software couldn't, etc. I'm not sure what file it attached itself to, but it appeared that the spyware was acting like...
a.. vir.. us

SH!T THAT's IT!! That's why I couldn't get rid of it! My kids must have a virus that wasn't detected with their virus software... I didn't think to make sure it was updated. (I didn't even think to check for a virus as the reason for popup upon popup, regardless of netscape or IE being open)

 

[Skiguy411]

I tried my using norton antivirus 2004 and it found some objects. I deleted them, but it still didnt remove this stupid program

Its slowing my computer wayyyy down

Has this not happend to anyone else?

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

Try Hijack This! Be careful what you delete with it though, you could kill something important accidentally.

 

[Skiguy411]

Originally posted by: TheBoyBlunder
Try Hijack This! Be careful what you delete with it though, you could kill something important accidentally.

Yes! that found it. It got rid of my popups.


However, I have found another problem.

My computer has been running awfully slow lately, so I decided to monitor it using the process viewer (when you push ctr alt delete). "msmsges.exe" will start using 99% of my cpu randomly. I end the task and everything is fine and wonderful. However, 5 min. later, it will pop back up and start using my CPU. I have tried disabling it through msconfig without success.

How can I end this task and keep it from popping back up?

 

[Bryophyte]

One thing that seems to really reduce the amount of spyware I get is google toolbar's popup stopper. Keeps some of the crap from loading in the first place. Zonealarm helps a bit too.

 

[Skiguy411]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
One thing that seems to really reduce the amount of spyware I get is google toolbar's popup stopper. Keeps some of the crap from loading in the first place. Zonealarm helps a bit too.

Got the googletool bar. Works great (2495 blocked)


This stupid msn messenger keeps using my CPU though....pretty much to a point to where it locks up!

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: Skiguy411

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
One thing that seems to really reduce the amount of spyware I get is google toolbar's popup stopper. Keeps some of the crap from loading in the first place. Zonealarm helps a bit too.

Got the googletool bar. Works great (2495 blocked)


This stupid msn messenger keeps using my CPU though....pretty much to a point to where it locks up!

MS Messenger, or that messenger service (netsend)? Netsend can be disabled easily.

One thing I saw here that I never would have guessed was such a massive resource hog was "smooth scrolling" for the mouse. Something was bogging my system down, using almost 100% of the resources, and someone suggested it might be that. I opened up my resource meters, scrolled, and BAM, off the charts. Shut off the smooth scrolling and never had it happen again.