OT...computer problem??? OT

[Reg Evans]

Help !!! I'm worried that maybe my computer has gotten a virus.

In the last 24 hours this pop up comes on my screen every 5 minutes like clock work and stops all other functions unless I click on the red X

My Gateway computer is 5 years old or less and I'm running Windows XP.

I'm a computer dunce.

Then after a few minutes this screen pops up.

Notice how the word unauthorized is misspelled in the first image.

I've run an older version of Norton anti virus and scanned with Lavasoft Ad-Adware and another scan with Spybot Search and Destroy. All 3 scans found a few things and removed them but this keeps happening.

Is it time to dump my whole system???????

[Merle Coggins]

I got that same thing a couple months ago. Did it set 3 icons on your Desktop? If so, DON'T click on them!!! If you hover your curser over them it should show you the link info. Go to your favorite search engine and type in the name of the program that you see in the icon links. (I don't remember what the name was anymore.) I was able to find a link to a removal tool that was able to get rid of it. It was a nasty bug and drove me crazy for a couple of days until I got rid of it. It kept trying to download some file and install it.

Good luck

Merle

[Norm's Coupe]

Reg, I would just close that out when that happens. Then get off the internet and run a full scan of your system with your Norton program. If you haven't already done so, I would also run a live update through the Norton program on your computer. (you'd have to be online for that). While in the Norton program also check and make sure you have the box checked for live updates every time you go online. That way your computer will automatically update everytime Norton updates. Yes, that slows down the computer a little, but you don't have to keep getting live updates yourself. You'll always be up to date. You should also run a virus check about once a week. If you have the one button checkup just hit that once a week.

[Brad Lustig]

Download Hijack This from http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php and run it. If you'll send me the report I'll help you find it. Or you can go through Castle Cops and look for the culprit yourself. www.castlecops.com Your antivirus is probably being blocked from updating correctly.

[oldmopar]

as Norm and Merle said do not click on it. It is a trick to get you to install their program which I think maybe spyware.

Agree 100% with Norm Nortons in my experience is the way to go.

Ed

[Reg Evans]

as Norm and Merle said do not click on it. It is a trick to get you to install their program which I think maybe spyware.

Agree 100% with Norm Nortons in my experience is the way to go.

Ed

OK....I did update Norton this morning. I just ran "HiJack This" and it found nothing. Should I run "CastleCops"

[Brad Lustig]

HiJackThis is a user intensive program. It doesn't "find" anything, you have to look for it. CastleCops is just the site that has the info on how to decipher the output file of Hijackthis

[BobT-47P15]

Looks like some of those advertising things that crop up from time to time from some other website you have visited. Yes, they want to ultimately sell you their program. I have messed with similar things. Some will run thru

the stuff on your computer, say there are some potential problems, but will

not go further til you purchase their item. If it keeps cropping up, then they

must have placed a cookie or something into your computer. That's one of

the sneaky things I dislike about the internet. But if you delete all your cookies, then it takes away your recognition by other things like this forum, ebay and other places you frequent. You have to put all your info in again to get those places back to working right. Not an expert by any means, but

have discovered a few things on the ol compooter.

[Merle Coggins]

I believe I used SDFix to get rid of the Malware. I believe I downloaded it from this link. http://downloads.andymanchesta.com/RemovalTools/SDFix.exe

You'll have to download it and save it to your desktop, or wherever. Then reboot your computer into Safe Mode (as the Administrator) by continuously tapping the F8 key on startup. Then, while in Safe Mode, run the SDFix program and clean out the Malware.

[Norm's Coupe]

Reg, you should check the box in Norton that allows Norton to run all the time for updates. Just in the past week I've had the little box in the corner pop up telling me it's blocked some type of worm several times. Also a couple of viruses have tried to come through and the box has popped up telling me it was blocked. With the live update running all the time and downloading new virus, worm and trojan definitions it keeps your computer current as they first come out. Not many days go by where I don't see Norton adding new definitions while I'm on the internet.

Also if you can, you should set your browser preferences so they don't allow pop ups to pop up. Firefox does a good job of blocking those.

[BobT-47P15]

There are a few things you need popups working for, but you should be

able to turn off the popup blocker when required.

[Norm's Coupe]

Bob, in Firefox it will block the pop up. Then at the bottom of the tool bar you'll see a note telling you it's blocked. It also gives you the option of opening the pop up if you want to. It doesn't block things like password boxes, etc. though, just images.

[Merle Coggins]

Norm, what he has is considered Malware or Spyware/Addware. Norton won't necessarily take care of it. I have the latest version of Symantic (Norton), which updates and runs on a regular basis, and it would find and quarintine something, but wouldn't get rid of the whole thing. I had to use SDFix to clean it out.

[Reg Evans]

Thanks for all your help guys. I tried a few tricks suggested by you guys and it's still popping up. I GIVE!!!!!! I barely know how to operate this thing and am gonna call someone. I think I have other problems too. Lately it's taking a long time to restart and keeps working on something for long periods of time after I've fired it up.

[Norm's Coupe]

Merle, my Norton is the latest version too. Had to renew my subscription about a week or so ago. I also noticed that Reg is using MS Explorer (or looks like it). I rarely use that myself. I stay with Firefox because I think it's better at blocking the pop ups to begin with. I haven't seen that pop up come on my screen. Then too, I don't surf the web either.