Popups will not stop

[Steve L]

Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! I have run
Adaware, Spybot Search and Destroy and Avast anitvirus software.
These programs always find malicious spyware but as soon as I clean it out,
they are back -- instantly. Even when there is no browser open, they will
come in. I have scrubbed IE and am using Firefox, but still no use.
The computer is on a wireless connection (if that matters).

I would appreciate any help. Thank you.

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Steve L wrote:

> Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! ...

What does it say in the title bar of these windows?

--
-bts
-Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck

[Gaz]

Steve L wrote:
> Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! I have
> run
> Adaware, Spybot Search and Destroy and Avast anitvirus software.
> These programs always find malicious spyware but as soon as I clean it
> out,
> they are back -- instantly. Even when there is no browser open, they will
> come in. I have scrubbed IE and am using Firefox, but still no use.
> The computer is on a wireless connection (if that matters).
>
> I would appreciate any help. Thank you.


Try superantispyware, and avg antispyware, there is also a nasty rootkit
that causes pop ups..

Gaz

[Steve L]

I am on another comp right now, but will post the title bar when I get a
chance.

A couple of the items that the ads/programs will not get rid of are:
Smithfraud-C and Drivecleaner2006

Do these ring a bell?

Thanks for your help.


"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:xvIui.412567$p47.40924@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Steve L wrote:
>
>> Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! ...
>
> What does it say in the title bar of these windows?
>
> --
> -bts
> -Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck

[Steve L]

I meant......

A couple of the ads/items that the anti-virus programs will not get rid of
are:
Smithfraud-C and Drivecleaner2006

Do these ring a bell?


"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:xvIui.412567$p47.40924@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Steve L wrote:
>
>> Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! ...
>
> What does it say in the title bar of these windows?
>
> --
> -bts
> -Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Steve L wrote:

> "Beauregard T. Shagnasty" wrote:
>> Steve L wrote:
>>> Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! ...
>>
>> What does it say in the title bar of these windows?
>
> I meant......
>
> A couple of the ads/items that the anti-virus programs will not get rid of
> are: Smithfraud-C and Drivecleaner2006
>
> Do these ring a bell?

Yes, but I asked about the window title in order to rule out Windows
Messenger spam, which many folks who are unfamiliar with it, simply call
"popups." Does the title say "Messenger Service" or similar?

http://www.stopmessengerspam.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u.../stopspam.mspx

...and if this is what you are getting, your firewall is broken.

--
-bts
-Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck

[Billy No Mates]

Steve L wrote:
> I am on another comp right now, but will post the title bar when I get a
> chance.
>
> A couple of the items that the ads/programs will not get rid of are:
> Smithfraud-C and Drivecleaner2006
>
> Do these ring a bell?

It is 'Smitfraud-c' and it is a virus

Google it. Lots of programmes will kill it

[Billy No Mates]

Billy No Mates wrote:
> Steve L wrote:
>> I am on another comp right now, but will post the title bar when I get
>> a chance.
>>
>> A couple of the items that the ads/programs will not get rid of are:
>> Smithfraud-C and Drivecleaner2006
>>
>> Do these ring a bell?
>
> It is 'Smitfraud-c' and it is a virus
>
> Google it. Lots of programmes will kill it

PS drivecleaner is a rogue programme that cons you into thinking that
you are infected then wants money from you to clean their own rubbish off.

[Vanguard]

"Steve L" wrote in message news:CsHui.4109$V53.2348@trnddc08...
> Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! I
> have run Adaware, Spybot Search and Destroy and Avast anitvirus
> software.
> These programs always find malicious spyware but as soon as I clean it
> out, they are back -- instantly. Even when there is no browser open,
> they will come in. I have scrubbed IE and am using Firefox, but still
> no use.
> The computer is on a wireless connection (if that matters).


If what you claim that the anti-malware products are finding are cookies
then you are being misled. Cookies are not spyware. Read the
following:

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=246
http://www.xblock.com/articles/article_show.php?id=64
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/answ...-badcookie.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie

I bet you NONE of the anti-spyware tools that you use has yet to report
the cookies (.sol files) left behind by Flash. Oooh, cookies, big deal.
Learn to manage them.

Have you checked the Processes tab in Task Manager to see if there is an
instance of iexplore.exe running when you thought you closed all windows
for it? If you are allowing scripts then a site could open a hidden
instance of IE (it has no window) and continue to run a script from
there. Scripts can include timers which will perform an action, like
opening a visible window pointing to a URL.

If you close all visible instances of iexplore.exe but there remains
hidden instances of it as seen in the Processes tab then your popup
blocker isn't doing its job. It should block both visible and hidden
instances of IE. You don't mention WHICH popup blocker you are using or
if you are even using one.

Before installing just any professed anti-malware software that you
happen across, make sure to ask about it in the virus and spyware
groups. You can also visit
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm. Don't be
installing it just because it is free.

[Rube Bumpkin]

Steve L wrote:
> Popups will not stop -- I am talking about one every few seconds! I have run
> Adaware, Spybot Search and Destroy and Avast anitvirus software.
> These programs always find malicious spyware but as soon as I clean it out,
> they are back -- instantly. Even when there is no browser open, they will
> come in. I have scrubbed IE and am using Firefox, but still no use.
> The computer is on a wireless connection (if that matters).
>
> I would appreciate any help. Thank you.
>
>

There have been a few good replies already, so I'll try to not be
repetitive.

1) read the a.p.s FAQ, there's a LOT of good stuff in there
2) Get the infected computer off the internet, turn off the wireless
3) Don't download anything without checking it out with SpywareWarrior
4) Do any downloads on the other computer you have access to
5) Download SuperAntiSpyware, the free version will do just fine. There
were others mentioned as well. David H. Lipman has a Multi_AV tool that
works, but you'll need to be on the internet to use it, AFAIK
6) Move anything you want to use to the infected computer
7) Reboot in Safe Mode
8) Run all of the tools, one after another; removing, quarantining,
and/or disinfecting as you go.
9) Let us know how it all worked out. As others have pointed out we
generally want/need more info than "I have a lot of popups" We need to
know what you tried, what the results were, what sort of popups they
are, etc.

RB