My Computer's Gone Berserk!

   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #1  

Bird

Rest in Peace
Joined
Mar 20, 2000
Messages
40,896
Location
Corinth, Texas
My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

I'm not sure what's happened, but Saturday, my computer started doing many weird things. An unbelievable number of pop-ups (I've always gotten some on some web sites, but now I get them on any and all web sites, and even get some when, as far as I know, my browser is closed). I got an extra toolbar at the top of the page (finally got it eliminated), and I found that a couple of new software programs had come from who knows where and got installed (I got rid of a couple of them). And one of the pop-ups is from Enigma Software.

That web site says:

"If you are seeing new toolbars in your browser , excessive popups, or your homepage has been switched, chances are that you are infected with an internet parasite. This is Serious. Why, because programs like this are more than a simple annoyance. Your privacy is being invaded. Spyware has the ability to install more software in your machine without your consent. What you are doing on your computer is being watched right now. There are companies that know you are looking at this page. They know what you typed to your family, friends and co-workers. They know what you are emailing to people. They watch your IMs. Hackers are watching to capture your credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information."

They are offering a free download to scan and stop that. Does anyone know if it's any good and/or if there are better ones. I thought my firewall was supposed to stop such shenanigans, but it apparently has not.
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #2  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

Bird,
I have used Lavasoft Ad-aware 6 to get rid of the programs that are loaded with out my knowledge. It works really well and you would not believe how many could be on your computer if you haven't ever ran a program like this.
This download is free.
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #3  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

I believe that what you're experiencing is a pain to remove because most of the virus scan software doesn't recognize them as malicious. I'm interested to see what someone on this board recommends.

On a friends recommendation, I occasionally remove all "cookies" from my computer. These are the little shortcuts that get inserted into your computer when you log onto websites. (Such as when you check the "remember me on this computer" box on the TBN log in). I believe the problem you're having is similar to the cookies. You might update your virus definitions, remove all cookies and do a virus scan.
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk!
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

My Norton Anti-Virus is kept up-to-date, I've downloaded all of Microsoft's "critical" updates for Windows XP, I've cleared the Internet Cache, I've dumped all the cookies, and I went to the "Add/Remove Programs" function in the Control Panel and uninstalled a couple of new programs that I didn't recognize. Still haven't completely solved the problem. At least my brower (IE 6) isn't crashing quite so many times each day, but it still happens. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #5  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

Bird, the two Jerry's agree. You need Lavasoft Ad-Aware 6. Download the free version, run it, and watch it count up the 'bugs'. Then, do a right-click to select them all and continue. This will help emensely. My sister-in-laws computer was running like yours until I installed Ad-Aware and removed over 500 spyware bugs in one sitting. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Go get'em Bird ! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Ad-Aware
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #6  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

I just did it and came up with 184 "bugs" on my machine. Makes you wonder doesn't it? Thanks for the information folks.
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #7  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

Bird

I also run lavasoft. Worth your while to download and install.

RonL
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #8  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

Uh Oh /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif , I'm afraid there may be trouble. Several hours have passed and we have heard no reply from Bird /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif .

I once calculated that Bird must average 2.85 posts per hour to amass the total posts he has accummulated in the last 3 1/2 years. This, of course, assumes that he does not sleep. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (4.28 post per hour if he sleeps 8 hrs per day)

Now, with this information, we must assume that the same bugs that got into Birds computer have now gotten to him as well. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Quick!, the closest TBN member to Texas should immediately track down Bird and make sure he is debugged. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #9  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

<font color="blue"> Uh Oh , I'm afraid there may be trouble. Several hours have passed and we have heard no reply from Bird . </font>

Maybe Bird has decided to fix the problem. I think it took me a couple or three hours to install Linux, myself.

;-)
Paul
 
   / My Computer's Gone Berserk! #10  
Re: My Computer\'s Gone Berserk!

Bird after you install and run Ad-aware 6 here is what I have run then and it works pretty well. http://www.panicware.com/tellafriend.html It stops most of them just about all, but not quite, but it does a pretty good job and its free also.
 

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