Spyware Problem

[JWest]

I believe I have undetectable spyware embedded somewhere in my hard drive. I have downloaded and run several spyware/adware programs with no results. I have even used AOL's spyware detector program also with no results. I still hear the sound of a camera "click" like it's taking a picture of my desktop. My firewall records no outgoing information, but I'm using ZoneAlarm and I'm not sure it detects/stops everything. The click occurres randomly, sometimes only once, sometimes several times over a long period but only when I'm connected to the internet.

 

[gsaldivar]

Run a check for spyware using THESE tools...

Post your results back to this thread.

Welcome to Anandtech. :beer:

 

[L1FE]

I think it's kind of funny that a spyware program would make "camera" noises pretending to "take pictures" of your desktop. I mean, if I was a spyware writer, I'm sure I'd like to tell users that they have me installed.

All kidding aside please list what software you have used. Actually if I may be so bold to suggest, but these noises only occur at random times if AIM aka AOL Instant Messenger is logged in? For the longest time I thought I was getting ads from spyware/adware programs, but instead it was AIM installing viewpoint media player and delivering ads in its AIM client. I'm not sure what will happen if you use their actual ISP, but I'm pretty sure this might be your problem. Mine was harder to find because I had deadaim blocking all images and couldn't tell there was an ad running at the top of my aim list.

 

[SuperG03]

Originally posted by: JWest
I believe I have undetectable spyware embedded somewhere in my hard drive. I have downloaded and run several spyware/adware programs with no results. I have even used AOL's spyware detector program also with no results. I still hear the sound of a camera "click" like it's taking a picture of my desktop. My firewall records no outgoing information, but I'm using ZoneAlarm and I'm not sure it detects/stops everything. The click occurres randomly, sometimes only once, sometimes several times over a long period but only when I'm connected to the internet.

Can you look at your task manager and see what all is running. Maybe there is a process in there that is causing that noise. There is a program that when you run it, it lists all running services/processes, and then gives you a text file to cut and paste, to get help, but I can't remember the name. If there are some you are not sure about, post them in here. We will try to help out. Good Luck.

 

[omarBMX]

The click you hear is IE going to diff websites. When you hit back or forward in IE, you can here these clicks.

 

[beansbaxter]

If you think you have spyware, run Lavasoft's Adaware...

The clicks are prolly either the buttons you click on Explorer, or when your going to and from another web page(s).

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: omarBMX
The click you hear is IE going to diff websites. When you hit back or forward in IE, you can here these clicks.

It's probably the page-load "click" sound that IE makes. If AIM is open, it displays an ad window, which is an embedded version of IE, I believe. So naturally, when it changes the ads, it will make that same page-load "click" sound. At least that's my theory on what's happening here.

 

[boshuter]

The clicking sound could be something running java script..... some web pages will do that even when you aren't switching pages.

BTW: AIM (or anything else to do with AOL) is not much better than a virus anyway