Problem with adware/spyware popups.

ddeder

Golden Member
Jul 5, 2001
1,018
0
0
A client called me and told me his computer was all gummed up and he was getting an extraordinary amount of popups. I stopped by and installed Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy and downloaded all updates for each. I then scanned the computer with each application and removed everything that was identified as adware/spyware. I ran several scans until each scan came back and told me no problems were found. I also ran a full anti-virus scan and it came back clean. I then installed the Google toolbar and activated it's popup blocker. When I left, the computer seemed to be operating at it's normal speed and the popups seemed to be gone. I told the client to leave his computer on overnight and let me know in the morning if there were any popups on the screen. Well, he just called and told me there were 61 popups this morning that had to be closed. Apparently Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy missed something. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what else I can use to possibly identify what is causing these popups?
 

Peebly

Senior member
Apr 18, 2001
384
0
0
What OS is the individual running....what kind of popups? XP has a lame Messenger pop up that can be disabled in Administrative Tools....that is the only thing I could think of at the moment.


P.S....If that is the issue and you fix it for your client, I will settle on 15% profit.....cheers ;)
 

Peebly

Senior member
Apr 18, 2001
384
0
0
Well just to be sure as well, go to Administrative Tools, Services, then Messenger and make sure that is disabled as well.
 

Snaggle

Junior Member
Mar 13, 2004
18
0
0
Hi,I had this same problem,adaware and spybot were not catching all the spyware on my pcs.NoAdware caught a lot more,is easy to use(three clicks) and faster than spybot and adaware scanning;but is not free :(
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
3
81
Install SpySweeper, update the definitions (under options), then reboot and run in safe mode.

If your client has broadband be sure some sort of firewall is utilized. As others have mentioned be sure to disable the Messenger service
 

ddeder

Golden Member
Jul 5, 2001
1,018
0
0
Thanks for all the replys. That spysweeper program looks sweet! I will try it on Monday on the computer in question to see if it catches anything new.
 

Snaggle

Junior Member
Mar 13, 2004
18
0
0
Pc world gave spy sweeper the lowest rating of any malware killers in stabilty,detection and removal...so use either noadware or smasher by popupstop.com...seriously no one knows about noadware but it has and good.Spyhunter is also suppose to be good.
 

HKSturboKID

Golden Member
Oct 20, 2000
1,816
0
0
Also, c heck to see what runs at startup. You can use AIDA tool to check and trace what programs run at startup you don't recognize or what I usually do is go into registry.

LocalMachine/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run

see whats running that you don't recognize and kill it.

Be very careful if you don't what you are doing in the registry cause you can do some serious damage.
 

ddeder

Golden Member
Jul 5, 2001
1,018
0
0
Funny... You say PC World gave SpySweeper it's lowest rating. It looks like PC Magazine gives it it's highest rating. Who do you trust - PC World or PC Magazine? Chances are their ratings are biased by who advertises (or does not advertise) with them...
 

ddeder

Golden Member
Jul 5, 2001
1,018
0
0
Thanks for all the replys. Pest Patrol was the only software that identified the problem. Purity Scan was causing it.
 

Tango57

Senior member
Feb 22, 2004
311
0
0
Originally posted by: Snaggle
how does one post an url here without using html?

when you open up the reply screen, click the blue http link button. enter your url links there and it will display the link properly in the forum.