[Matt K]

um, yeah, so I have some stupid piece of software somewhere on my computer that keeps trying to open some sort of invisible internet explorer window in the bakcground of whatever I'm doing but all it really does is beeb like crazy. I can kill it in the task manager (where it's title is "connecting"), but I can't make it go away, tried spybot, adaware, nothing works.

I'll even go so far as to admit that I probably got it whilst looking at porn somewhere, but christ, anybody have a suggestion or something?


Maybe I'll jsut stop using IE...

[TheIglu]

What version of Windows are you running?

First place I would look: startup group. Go to the "Run" line in the start button and type in "msconfig" for a machine 98 or newer. go to the startup group and uncheck everything. If the problem goes away next time you start your machine, go back and start checking off what you KNOW is things that should be starting.

Also, check for things that say "shell:" in the win.ini while in the msconfig program.

Sounds stupid, but in the program group in your start menu, check to see if there is anything suspicious in your startup group.

Clear out your temp folders manually.

Set internet explorer to not accept third party software plugins.

Uninstall any program that you don't use every day. (sounds dumb, but most malicious programs are actually in the uninstall menu and people are just too god damn stubborn to admit they are causing the problem)

If this doesn't work, let me know, we will get deep into your registry to clear this fucker out. They can't hide from me forever....


And to think, I still don't have a job. GOD DAMNIT!

[TheIglu]

Or you could stop using IE and still have it popup whenever you look in your My Documents folder, use windows explorer, or virtually anything else used to view page-based info. IE is completely integrated, don't think you can just ditch it and not have any more issues. Sorry mang

[PinHead]

Try using Mozilla for an IE.

[g®eg]

time to install Lavasoft Ad-Aware

[twrayinma]

Originally posted by Matt K
but I can't make it go away, tried spybot, adaware, nothing works.

uh, greg?

[twrayinma]

ps. mozilla's great for protecting yourself from re-infection, once you manage to clear it off.

TARGETED pop-up, script & image blocking....
see the pr0n, not the ads.

[g®eg]

Originally posted by twrayinma
uh, greg?

what, you expect me to read the post?
I figured I'd be Jay for a day

[twrayinma]

Originally posted by T-595 Greg
what, you expect me to read the post?
I figured I'd be Jay for a day

Originally posted by T-595 Greg
what, you expect me to read the post?
I figured I'd be Jay for a day

[TheIglu]

Don't delete anything that says "shell" in your win.ini, there is one that you need and I don't have a 98/ME machine up right now to get the info for you. What O/S are you running? Do you have antivirus? And no, not MacAfee....

[Matt K]

I have win2k running, and my antivirus is in face mcafee. I cleared outeverything that isn't mcafee related from the startup thinhg (I can't use msconfig in win2k, bt I found a ut ility that does the same thing)

[TheIglu]

I wasn't saying McAfee was the problem, I was askin if you have decent antivirus. Apparently not.

Just to be safe, DL the free trail of Norton or the free version of AGV antivirus. Update it and run a full scan.

[Matt K]

what makes norton or AGV better? (honest question, not trying to be an ass)

I'll go find the free version of norton and see what pops up...

[TheIglu]

It isn't easy or efficient to update the antivirus definitions. When it is completely updated, it works alright, but most of the time the virus definitions lapse and make it useless to newer viruses. It also isn't as easy to get working again when something does go wrong, where Norton is easily worked through when you get an error message.

If you get really ambitious, head into the registry and look through your run and runservice line.

[zx7rou812]

Forget all that msconfig nonsense...It won't clear out most spy-ware programs...You gotta GO HERE

http://www.safer-networking.org/

D/L it. It free (well, they ask for a donation, but ), it's not share-ware BS, there is not "trial period" crap, it leaves a program running that BLOCKS all sorts of nasty-ass $hit from being downloaded INVOLUNTARILY onto your computer, and gets EVERYTHING nasty out...Get all the updates and crap too...All those POP-UPS and silent "running" programs you can't friggen find will be eliminated as well...

Cheers


Jack