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Explorer opens undesired sites at startup

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by tqvt5wg

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Opening IE (v. 6, patched using Windows Update), after 10 to 30 seconds open also one or two new IE windows showing undesired sites (games, dating, ecc). Closing the window(s) nothing more undesired happens until next IE close/open cycle.
I used several softwares trying to fix the problem (PestPatrol, Spybot S&D).
Suggestions?

9 replies

by g...

Think you are on the right way. I had the same problem once but the spyware was aware of what spybot S&D was doing and there was a program copying itself in windows/system32. The solution I used was a hand to hand fight. Meaning trying to kill the process of the spyware running spybot+antivirus and try to remove manualy the files the programs didn't as cookies etc... The worst was to find the program (windows/system32) that copies all the time.

Just have to say good luck

P.S: may want to try ad-aware as well.

by softcorp.us

Hello...

I appears clear that your PC is infected with adware/spyware.

STOP THE SPYWARE/ADWARE PROBLEM

To stop the spyware/adware problem, I recommend and use the Firefox browser. I switched to Firefox from IE full-time months ago due to this threat. Firefox does not have the vulnerabilities that IE has (ActiveX, et al) and is very compatible with websites that are compatible with IE.

http://www.getfirefox.com

Did this help with your problem?

-----Steve Jackson

CEO/CSA
Software Corporation (Softcorp)
http://www.softcorp.us/probono
Advanced pro bono tools and utilities free for personal use

P.S. Since you're new to TR, be sure to rate the answers you receive and close your question when you're done.

by tqvt5wg

Unfortunately I'm working in a Windows environment with a mandatory "standard" workstation configuration. I cannot switch to another browser.
Anyway, at home I'm using Netscape!

by softcorp.us

Hello...

The IE vulnerability to spyware and adware is a chronic illness. You cannot cure it. You can only medicate the symptoms. You can spend a lot of your time and effort running spyware and adware scanners. Sometimes you'll have to reinstall the operating system to get rid of it.

What is the end result? Your PCs will continue to be vulnerable to the same infections.

That is precisely why I left IE. All of the systems in my company use Firefox and we don't have a spyware or adware problem. Period.

Note: We don't use Outlook for the same reason. No virus problem either.

I feel your pain. When your management gets tired of the problem, hopefully they will choose a real solution so you can work on something else. My answer provided the best one currently available.

Best of luck to you.

-----Steve Jackson

CEO/CSA
Software Corporation (Softcorp)
http://www.softcorp.us/probono
Advanced pro bono tools and utilities free for personal use

by ozi eagle

Hi,

You have obviously aquired some spyware, of a particularly pernicious variety.

I have found a program called Adware Away finds and kills spyware the others don't (for instance the about: blank hijacker).

It is available from www.adawareaway.com for five days free trial, then you will need to purchase it.

I have had bad experiences using it on W98 machines, like it somehow kills them (probably Billy left some spyware in it that is needed to run)

Good luck

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