Thanks Jim! I have been wrestling with this on and off for the past few
days. Your suggestions helped me clean my PC of this Adware/Spyware.

Thanks!


Jim Byrd wrote:
>
> Hi Paul - If you go to this page at Jim Eshelman's site, here:
> http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm and wait a little bit (be patient), an analysis
> of a number of possible parasites on your machine will be made to help you
> identify and remove them. NOTE: You will need to disable Ad Blocking in
> Zone Alarm 3.x, if present or any other Ad Blocking software which
> interferes with Java Scripting for this scan to work. You should get a
> message between the two lines of **** giving the results of the scan.
>
> From your description it's difficult to be sure just what might be left, and
> therefore to prescribe any specific actions. Do the following:
> Download HijackThis, free, here:
> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/hijackthis.zip
>
> Unzip it to any convenient folder, start it then press Scan. Click on
> SaveLog when it's finished which will create hijackthis.log. Now click the
> Config button, then Misc Tools and click on Generate StartupList.log which
> will create Startuplist.txt
>
> Go to Spyware and Hijackware Removal Support, here:
> http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/in...74&act=SF&f=11
>
> Sign in, then copy and paste both files into a message asking for
> assistance, Someone will answer with detailed instructions for the removal
> of your parasite(s).
>
> In addition to the above, if you don't already have them here are some
> things which will help you defense your systems:
>
> The best way to start is to get Ad-Aware 6.0, Build 181 or later, here:
> http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/. Update and run this regularly
> to get rid of most "spyware/hijackware" on your machine. If it has to fix
> things, be sure to re-boot and rerun AdAware again and repeat this cycle
> until you get a clean scan. The reason is that it may have to remove things
> which are currently "in use" before it can then clean up others.
>
> Another excellent program for this purpose is SpyBot Search and Destroy
> available here: http://security.kolla.de/ SpyBot Support Forum here:
> http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-b.../ikonboard.cgi. I recommend
> using both normally. After fixing things with SpyBot S&D, be sure to re-boot
> and rerun SpyBot again and repeat this cycle until you get a clean "no red"
> scan. The reason is that SpyBot sometimes has to remove things which are
> currently "in use" before it can then clean up others.
>
> Lastly, you might want to consider installing the SpywareBlaster and
> SpywareGuard here to help prevent this kind of thing from happening in the
> future:
>
> http://www.wilderssecurity.com/spywareblaster.html (Prevents malware Active
> X installs) (BTW, SpyWare Blaster is not memory resident ... no CPU or
> memory load - but keep it updated) The latest version as of this writing
> will prevent installation or prevent the malware from running if it is
> already installed (currently 822 baddies), and it provides information and
> fixit-links for a variety of parasites.
> http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareguard.html (Monitors for attempts to
> install malware) Both Very Highly Recommended.
>
> --
> Please respond in the same thread.
> Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP
>
> In news:3F7906AC.78BC@earthlink.net,
> Paul B. <billingsleyNOSPAM@earthlink.net> typed:
> > In Windows ME, these two "things" appear when I do CTRL-ALT-DEL and
> > view the "Close Window"...
> > Vrvqa
> > Jsrz
> > Then when I try to "End Task" on one of these, and again do
> > CTRL-ALT-DEL, this one shows up...
> > Czo6whmn
> > Again, when I "End Task" on that one, it turns into these two...
> > Pgowp
> > Jfso2e5d
> > and then this one shows up...
> > Dwpo
> >
> > I mistakingly downloaded Grokster and got zapped with piles of Adware.
> > I ran Ad-aware and Spybot (both) and they removed most of that trash.
> > However, there still are problems with my system (such as can't open
> > Windows Explorer properly) and othe irritating things.
> >
> > Anyone know how to remove them? Which files to delete?
> > Thanks for any help.