Genealogy Chat

> comment would lead one to believe that running a > spyware/adware program has fixed all their problems, > when in fact, in many cases, it hasn't. >Sigh> I didn't say that, or anything like that. Since factual statements clearly aren't of interest, I'll leave you to your diatribe. Bill

Bill: I work in the field, too, Bill and nearly is not all....usually if Adaware finds an .exe file it does not always remove it....just the junk. Many PC users who are not well versed in such things are under the impression that Adaware and like problems are or should be a complete cure, when in fact it's only part of the cure. Your comment would lead one to believe that running a spyware/adware program has fixed all their problems, when in fact, in many cases, it hasn't. Your comment would also lead one to believe I don't know what I'm talking about, when I most certainly do.....you most certainly do need to go look and make sure any .exe file that Adaware or a like program finds has been removed and if it hasn't it needs to be uninstalled. A good tech in the field would know that. Judy

> Spyware/Adware removers (like ADAWARE, SPYBOT to > name a few) only remove the generated junk that the evil > programs generate. This is something I work with prfessionally and both AdAware and SpyBot will indeed remove nearly all adware code, even if an .exe, quite succesfully. They wont fix virus problems, but that's an entirely different problem domain. Cheers, BillSydney, Australia

thanks for that info. I am also cursed with the dreaded pop up ads. They drive me to drink !!!!

Thanks very much for that Judy. Shall do it 1st thing in the morning. Regards, Glen.

Hi Glen! To attempt to get rid of your adware problem, first, update your Norton. Next, start your PC in SAFE MODE....instructions on how to do this, which is easy, can be found on the TIPS baord, thread '1 Stop Routine PC Maintenance.' Starting the PC in safe mode will turn the offending program(s) 'off' and will allow for easier removal. Something that is actually running is difficult to remove when it's in use. Scan your PC with Norton while the PC is running is SAFE MODE. Follow the prompts Norton gives to either quarantine or remove the program(s) it finds. When that is done, the next thing to do would be to run, as suggested above, a program like Microsoft's Adware program or ADAWARE. (I actually use both on my PC.) If you don't have one of these programs, they can be found on the Internet for free....you'll have to restart your PC to get out of SAFE MODE, though, in order to hook back up to the Internet. At any rate, using one of spyware/adware programs, run that, too, while in safe mode.....follow the prompts to rid the PC of whatever the spyware/adware program found. Last, but not least, you have to check your PC for any programs that are on your PC. ADAWARE and Microsoft will find and remove junk on your PC....but not the cause. The nice thing about Microsoft is that, unlike ADAWARE, it will prevent spyware/adware from entering your PC without your knowledge. Keep in mind though, often, it is the PC user that is allowing the offending programs onto their PC when they download free programs and games from the internet. If you read the fine print carefully, when installing these freebies, take note that you you are giving them permission to put these things on your PC. Most people don't read the fine print and these companies know that. There are other ways this stuff gets on your PC, too, like just visiting a site, but often the 'damage' is done the PC owner themself, unknowingly. With that said (I know, I tend to get long winded!) make sure before you delete the results from the spyware/adware scans you did using a program like ADAWARE or Microsoft's, make a note of any .exe programs that they detected. These are the programs that you will need to remove manually. I did a quick GOOGLE on ADAWARE.CDT, which was found on your PC, and the programs associated with this are as follows: blazefind(.)com clickspring(.)net flingstone(.)com mt-download(.)com my-internet(.)info searchbarcash(.)com searchmeup(.)cc searchmiracle(.)com skoobidoo(.)com slotch(.)com xxxtoolbar(.)com (The brackets ( ) aren't needed when searching your PC) So what you are going to have to do is find and remove these programs if they are indeed, on your PC. The names mentioned above and those that you notated from the ADAWARE and/or MICROSOFT scans are what we are going to look for and if found, remove. Again, keep the PC in SAFE MODE. 1. Click on START. 2. Click on CONTROL PANEL. 3. Click on ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS. 4. Scroll the list of programs for the names listed above. When you find one click on the name of the program once to highlight it. 5. Click on the REMOVE button and follow the prompts to uninstall the program. Do this for each of the .exe program file names you are looking for. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sometimes these files tend to hide themselves....they don't want you to find them and remove them. If that is the case, or you only find a few of the above mentioned file names, search for the hiding programs this way: 1. Click on START. 2. Click on SEARCH. 3. A screen will pop up. On the left find and click on ALL FILES AND FOLDERS. 4. Another screen pops up. On the left, where it says: ALL OR PART OF A FILE NAME, type in one of the program names you are searching for. For instance BLAZEFIND. 5. The second field, where it says A WORD OR PHRASE IN THE FILE can be left blank. 6. In the 3rd field, where it says LOOK IN make sure that C DRIVE is showing. If it's not, use the small 'V' at the end of the field that will allow you to scroll and click on C DRIVE. 7. Click on SEARCH. If the BLAZEFIND program is on your PC, you will be told where on your PC it is hidden. It may look something like: C/windows/system32/Blazefind This tells you that the program in hidden on your C drive, in the yellow file folder WINDOWS, inside another yellow folder named SYSTEM32.....this is called the file path. If you find it necessary to get this far (having to actually search for hidden programs) let me know and I will walk you through the manually removing these....I don't want to overwhelm you nervous system! Although annoying, once you are familiar on how to do, it's really quite easy....take a nice deep breath and just follow the above instructions one at a time.....you'll have no problems. I'm up for renewal soon and I've just not had time at home (I'm at work now!) to sit down and send payment info so should you need to contact me you I will e-mail you my direct e-mail address. Judy (No time to do spell/grammar check so forgive any errors!)

Judy My NAV picks up a threat ADWARE CDT. I cannot delete it and when I go to the Symantec site I get a whole list of things to remove from the registry but none of them are in mine. Will this cause me any problems and can you tell me how to get rid of it? Thanks, Glen.

I would still follow Frank's advise and install MS Anti-spyware. (I recommended this some time back) It is not just a remover but offers 'real time protection' which can stop these things from installing. It also has browser hi-jack restore tools. All in all great package which many are rating better than ad-aware or spybot. Although a free beta version Bill Gates has indicated that the final version will be free also. Bob

A PS Pat: If you've tried removing the nasty program without success, try starting your PC in SAFE MODE and then attempt to remove it again. Judy

Pat...you're right, no spyware/adware program remover, (at least most) will not remove the program that has installed itself on your PC. Spyware/Adware removers (like ADAWARE, SPYBOT to name a few) only remove the generated junk that the evil programs generate. They will find and advice you, though, of the .exe programs that are on your PC. Those programs need to be removed manually using your PC's ADD/REMOVE PROGRAM feature. Add SPYWAREBLASTER (a free program) to your PC to prevent these types of programs from getting on your PC in the first place.... As for Trojans, these programs are a different animal all together....Generally a spyware/adware program won't detect these as they are classified (often) as viruses. You anti-virus should be detecting and removing these type of programs. Judy

Frank I had it. I had everything. This particular piece of adware is very nasty.

hi Patricia I had 47 trojan boot and registry viruses this morning - needless to say I had to 'flatten' my pc and redo Xp!!! Think it was from my youngest son going to a gamesite link....it got thru mcafee fiewall and mcfee antivirus and webroot spysweeper!! As well as AOL not stopping my son from going there too....cant win can I lol Vikki xx

I got some ad ware from going to find some clip art. NO anti adware could remove it. It virtually destroyed my internet explorer. Had to have my pc completely cleaned and XP re-installed. This was not a virus-only ad ware. Beware.