pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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OUr computer is possessed! All of a sudden we keep getting these pop ups for...lets just say...inappropriate things. My husband has tried cleaning the files, but we can't get rid of them. He has bought 2 programs and nothing is helping! What do we do????
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AllenAggie
Member
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 241
Loc: Allen TX USA
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How to clean your system:
-- Install and run Windows Defender(by Microsoft): This will clean most, if not all your problems.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
-- Install and run Spybot-S&D (Search & Destroy): This, in conjunction with Windows Defender, should get rid of all those pop-ups.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
I won't get into how these pop-ups start "all of a sudden" ;) Just be careful what links you click on and/or what file attachments you open from emails. Sometimes a friends computer could be infected -- which could send out emails to everyone in his/her contacts list with an infected file...so when you get the email...you think its legit because it came from your friend. Best thing to do in that case it to save the file and scan it for viruses before you open it.
Good luck.
Oh...one other thing. You can trigger Spybot to run before the computer boots---so it'll clean all files before they even start.
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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I'd also recommend cleaning your temp and temp internet files.
c:\documents and settings\(user name)\local settings\temp (&and temp internet files).
Just select all and delete, doesn't hurt to go into the Windows folder and delete everything in the temp folder in there either.
Once you've done the cleaning above along with the scans Aggie recommended, I'd take it a step further and go run the panda active scan online. http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan just click the scan PC now and put in an e-mail address and let it run until it's complete. Save the report it gives you in text format, post it in here if you need more help removing anything it finds.
Hope this helps a bit, there are some more steps you can take that get a bit more into the guts (registry) of Windows but this may suffice for now.
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toglancebehind
Member
Reged: 06/02/05
Posts: 28
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The best thing to do in this circumstance is to swipe the machine. I know, sounds drastic, but will be a smarter move than using different programs. The company you purchased the PC from should have discs it provided. You should only have to insert those at Boot (prior to Windows loading) and follow some instructions to fix the computer. If you have important information stored on the computer try buring a CD/DVD of your documents or use a jumpdrive.
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aaron
New Member
Reged: 12/20/05
Posts: 36
Loc: Allen, TX
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I'd guess there's about a 99% chance that it is coming from the Windows Messenger Service (not to be confused with Windows Messenger IM application). Try to disable this service. Go to start - administrative tools - services. Look for the service named 'Messenger' and disable it.
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pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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Thank you for your help! My hubby was able to get rid of the pop ups, but on the task bar we still get a virus alert.
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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Is it a pop up that comes up every so often and then goes away, if you click on it it will take you to a page for an 'anti-spyware' app to buy? If so, click the pop up once and see if it takes you to a site to buy 'Spy-Falcon'. If so then you have the spyfalcon adware, click on the link below to get directions on how to remove it. It's a persistent little bugger but can be removed.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic43659.html
Don't follow any links to buy any spyware removal apps that magically pop up online, the good apps don't spam you to get sales. You can beat these things with free apps and some elbow grease. :)
Hope this helps!
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pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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Thank you for all your help!!!!
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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Did that fix ya?
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pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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mostly...we still have a blinking bullseye in the corner where the time is. 85% has been cleaned up.
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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When you click on it what does it say?
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pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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virus alert
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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If you click on the virus alert does it take you to a website to buy software to remove the virus?
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pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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yes! It takes me to spyfalcon.
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AllenAggie
Member
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 241
Loc: Allen TX USA
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Quote:
yes! It takes me to spyfalcon.
SpyFalcon is a anti-spyware program that is known to issue fake warnings on your computer in order to manipulate you into buying its full commercial version. If you are infected with this program you may receive warnings in your task bar that appear to be from Microsoft Security Center stating that you are infected with spyware and to run its special anti-spyware tool. This tool turns out to be the commercial version of SpyFalcon. These warnings are fake and are a goad to have you buy the commercial version of this software.
It's going to take some doing, but you really need to get this off your machine.. If your not that computer savvy, I would highly recommend getting some one to help you out with this..
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic43659.html#automated
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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Yep, that's what I thought you had. Follow the link above and it will walk you through cleaning it.
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AllenAggie
Member
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 241
Loc: Allen TX USA
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Sorry Maurice. I should have let you troubleshoot this one...since you've been asking all the right questions.
pbjlili...all the credit fixing your issue should go to Maurice...and good luck getting your machine all cleaned up.
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pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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Thank you! I will have hubby take care of it this evening. I'll keep you posted. I really appreciate all the help!
~Polly
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pbjlili
Member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 89
Loc: Allen, TX
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You guys ROCK! The blinking bullseye is GONE!! 
Thank you again...so much!
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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Great, glad we could help pbj! :)
Aggie, it's a combination of all steps that cleans the problem and we all helped. The main thing is that another piece of spyware is now dead, on that machine at least. lol
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