I run Ad-aware SE about twice a day. I run the new spybot too. Spybot finds something called Altnet but it can't remove it. It says to reboot and it will fix it. When I do that, it locks up my computer before it removes it and I have to turn off the machine. I've left it on overnight twice waiting for it to built a return? file. It never does and I have to hit the kill swith. It a 2 year? old Compac running XP with a Zone alarm firewall. I had this problem while running Norton anti virus. I get hundreds of pop up ads saying my computer is infected, but I hate pop ups so much I refuse to buy their product because of the way it is marketed. I'm about ready to chuck the whole thing. I hate to take up space for this but I hope I'm not the only one with this problem. I learned about Ad-aware and Spybot here on the Hamb. They just don't fix it. I could buy a new machine but they will just screw that one up too.
Those Pop-Ups don't scan your computer. It's just an advertisement to get people to think that they need their product. Do you have a P2P file sharing app. installed ie. Kazaa, Limewire, etc. it may have came with your download of them. Good Luck Mike
I've never dealt with Altnet, but google turned some interesting stuff up. Try reading these for information on how to fix the Altnet problem: http://whatsmyip.auditmypc.com/process/asm.asp http://www.webuser.co.uk/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=hijackthis&Number=143594&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&part= http://www.webservertalk.com/message842561.html Pop-ups: If you are using a relatively recent version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, you can do the following to reduce pop-ups: 1) Open IE 2) click on tools 3) click on pop-up blocker 4) activate the pop-up blocker If they are networking message pop-ups (netbui/smb) instead of browser pop-ups (javascript) you can reduce/eliminate them by putting a router between your broadband connection and your computer. Most of these personal routers have state tables; that is just a fancy way of saying they'll only let a computer on the internet contact you if you have tried to contact it. That stops pop-up spammers from sending something to your IP and having it appear on your screen.
What I would do if its really bad, is save EVERYTHING of importance onto CD's, then reformat the computer, which erases everything. Before you even get the internet set up, install your firewall, and you virus scanner. Then after you get the internet set up, downlead Mozilla Firefox, its a free browser that runs much cleaner than IE. Then get spybot, and use it. I get next to no spyware while using mozilla, then my little sister came on the computer for an hour, used IE, and I have about 10 spyware things. It's a little extreme, but it'll work.
get service pack 2 for windows xp, it's so good at blocking pop ups. as for the virus/spyware that is freezing your computer, i suggest you reinstall/repair windows with the option of saving your files. then, when windows xp is running good, make a restore point, and when the virus, porn, pop shit starts up again, just use the restore point.
One of the best ways to prevent pop-ups is to quit using IE - switch to Mozilla Firefox and avoid all the problems associated with Microsoft flaws. Mozilla Firefox
[ QUOTE ] get service pack 2 for windows xp, it's so good at blocking pop ups. as for the virus/spyware that is freezing your computer, i suggest you reinstall/repair windows with the option of saving your files. then, when windows xp is running good, make a restore point, and when the virus, porn, pop shit starts up again, just use the restore point. [/ QUOTE ] Do not install XP sp 2 on a laptop. For Desktops SP 2 is fine. When XP SP 2 came out there was some real compatibility issues. Not sure if MS has resolved them yet. I do agree with formatting you HD and reinstalling XP. Just to be on the safe side. If you do format and reinstall I would highly recommend using Norton Ghost to make a clean master image of your HD. And just like Dave said above switch to mozilla.....
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] get service pack 2 for windows xp, it's so good at blocking pop ups. as for the virus/spyware that is freezing your computer, i suggest you reinstall/repair windows with the option of saving your files. then, when windows xp is running good, make a restore point, and when the virus, porn, pop shit starts up again, just use the restore point. [/ QUOTE ] Do not install XP sp 2 on a laptop. For Desktops SP 2 is fine. When XP SP 2 came out there was some real compatibility issues. Not sure if MS has resolved them yet. I do agree with formatting you HD and reinstalling XP. Just to be on the safe side. If you do format and reinstall I would highly recommend using Norton Ghost to make a clean master image of your HD. And just like Dave said above switch to mozilla..... [/ QUOTE ] Everything they have said sounds like good advice. I would also install Norton Ghost and make a backup of the PC in its current state. Just in case something goes wrong, you can use the ghost image to restore it.
yeah, i know about the compatibility issues with service pack. I actually had to get a windows xp install disc that already had service pack 2 on it to make it work. also, that is great advice to use Mozilla. i also recommend Opera.. or forget windows altogether and set up a linux computer....
Don't install SP2 on a machine with spyware! It will wreck it... SP2 on a new windows installation is fine, no problems, but the shit hits the fan when it's installed over top of spyware.
I checked and the popup blocker was already turned on. Someone here must have told me before. I run Firefox on my machine at work.(I learned that here too) I don't get pop ups but the machine still slows down until I run the two programs. The junk still gets on the machine from somewhere and slows it down. If I back up my stuff, won't I just copy the junk and then install it again on the clean drive? If that SP stuff is an update from MS, I may have already screwed it up. One of the links was an administrator trying to get rid of Altnet. I have no clue what they were telling him to do. If he can't get rid of it, I have a snowballs chance... It may be time for a new machine. Thanks for the help. I'd much rather be talking about old hot rods but it's just no fun with this shit screwing it all up.
[ QUOTE ] If I back up my stuff, won't I just copy the junk and then install it again on the clean drive? [/ QUOTE ] Not necessarily, the spyware usual hides in your system files, temp internet files, or cookies. thats stuff you don't want to copy. Just copy all your pictures, documents, bookmarks, saved game files (if you play comp. games), music, etc. Then when you reformat its just like having a brand new machine.
Tommy, SpyBot will only remove what is already on the PC and what is on their list. Im wondering if you are using the Advanced mode and going thru the Settings and Tools list as well as Innoculating. It sounds like you may also have something funny in your start up list that needs removing. I used SpyBot to minimize my startups to a bare minimum. Also, if you have previously given a pgm permission to leave your PC and access the Internet then you will have a nasty time trying to prevent it from bringing something back. Get into ZA Program Control and select "Block" on just about everything for starters. Once you localize the pest there are many ways to kill it, including Regedit! Finally get Spyware Blaster, it stops a ton of stuff from even getting on your HD. I use those 3 pgms, keep all updates current, and have cleaned up several PC's and kept them clean. Right now I have XP Pro with SP2, 2000 Pro, and 3 98SE machines on the network here. Also use K9 as a SPAM blocker. Also some viruses/malware will disable or fake out Norton. Get a free copy of AVG from www.grisoft.com, disable Norton and see what it finds. If you need some walk thrus tomorrow, drop me a PM with your phone #.
[ QUOTE ] One of the best ways to prevent pop-ups is to quit using IE - switch to Mozilla Firefox and avoid all the problems associated with Microsoft flaws. [/ QUOTE ] I agree, I rarely use IE and it is usually only on the MSN site for games that Firefox seems to have a problem with. Whenever I do a scan with AdAware it stills picks up crap in the IE cache but has never picked up anything associated with Firefox. It has a built in popup stopper too.
The Jalopy Journal
