A spyware company has just taken over my home websites on my computer and I would like to reset to my original settings. I also fear that my use of the internet is being intruded into by spyware devices and would like to stop these.
2006-09-04 01:14:23 · 20 answers · asked by Wirimayi D 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
you have a broswer hijack as a result of your poor security. you shouldn't download software, the origins of which you do not know or go to sites which are not well known as they can be used to hijack your computer just as has happened here.
They can be hard to remove.
You need to install run each of the following in this order:
1) CWShredder
2) Hijack This (remove R0 entries)
3) Spybot Search & Destroy
4) Ad-Aware
Spybot may ask to run a search at next boot up. Allow this as the hijacker has loaded itself into memory and this needs to be cleaned before it can reinstall itself.
2006-09-04 01:18:06 · answer #1 · answered by doyler78 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to ensure that you have both anti-virus program like McAfee or Symantec, and also anti-spyware program like Windows Defender and Ad-Aware operating. If you use a browser like Firefox you can also download extensions that help stop spyware from installing, and confiure the browser so that pop-ups are disallowed. However much spyware is also installed accidentally by clikcing on the wrong options when visting didgy websites. If any website asks you to install something, always decline. there is no good reason why they need to do so. The only things you should install into your browser are plug-ins to play media. like Flash, which you will get from the vendor's own web site. Reset the Internet Explorer home page by selecting 'Tools, Internet Options, General' and changing the home page setting.
2006-09-04 08:23:47 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lots of good advice above - you can reset your homepage simply by selecting
tools
internet options
use current
this will reset your homepage to the site that you are currently viewing
I suspect that this is all you need to do however you should run, at least ad-aware and spybot serach and destroy on a regular basis - I run monthly when I remember.
I also have zone alarm - in zone alarm you can specify which programs can and which can NOT access the internet eg. you can stop windows genuine advantage telling microsoft which websites you visit!
Another trick is to watch the connection light on your modem - if the pc is connected and idle your modem light should only blink occasionally - this is the system checking your connection. If the light is constantly flickering then this may indicate that your pc has been compramised - it may be being used by a spammer to send spam. If this is the case, run anti virus software and the spyware detection programs mentioned above.
good luck
2006-09-05 07:07:26 · answer #3 · answered by Andy S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had this a long while back ,but assuming ur runnin XP i found if u make another login, set it as an administrator and delete the original login that works, however i must admit it still leaves the spyware issue. Like all the others i can only confirm get a decent spyware proggy and clean ur system, however if u wanna be totally sure, then a system format might be worthwhile, just be careful to backup ur files that are known to be safe. hope it helps good luck :)
2006-09-04 08:22:44 · answer #4 · answered by Phantom Viper 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well some of the sites, when u click open them they ask u if u want to set this page as u r home page, u must have accepted it by mistake. try this out it may help to restore. and as i don know which browser u r using i will give u the sol for IE n Firefox.
For IE.
rite click on IE. u will get a general pop up box. the first thing u c there is changing the home page. u can type out the home page of ur convience or else u can set it to default or click on blank to set it to blank. this should help u off with ur problem.
For Firefox.
click on the tools tab n go to options u will get a popup box. then it is same as that for the internet explorer.
getting spyware n adware is often problem which i spotted when i started using net. well get ur self a free a free ad-ware soft( which u can get it from ur frens ) i prefer ad-ware se professional from lavasoft which is very good one. that should solve ur spyware problem. thanku.
2006-09-04 08:40:17 · answer #5 · answered by rutu_root2 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are lots of good free spyware removal utilities that can fix this sort of problem. It is called "browser Hijacking".You should install a program called Spybot Search and Destroy which you can get for free online (just look it up). This will help remove all spyware and reset your settings.
2006-09-04 08:24:41 · answer #6 · answered by MonsterMash 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get some spyware software like spybot (it's free). Run it regularly and get rid of your spyware.
To change it back can be difficult but try going to Tools and Internet Options. It may be you can't get rid of it until you get rid of the spyware.
2006-09-04 08:16:23 · answer #7 · answered by sarah071267 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to Windows Live Safety Centre Run the Clean up and then get a good Antivirus The German Antivir is Brill and its free
2006-09-04 08:33:39 · answer #8 · answered by beegeecee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before attempting to remove malware you must switch off System Restore as back up files will be hiding in there, and it will just restore itself. Go to Start - programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.
Run Avast and Ewido in Safe Mode. To get into Safe Mode repeatedly press the F8 key after the bios screen loads but before Windows loads. You'll know if you made it because the screen will be at 800 x 600 and your pc will be slow.
Then beef up your security. Its easier to prevent malware getting on to your sytem in the first place rather than trying to remove it.
The Windows firewall doesn't stop malware on your pc from dialling out. Either of these firewalls are free for personal use and stop unwanted incoming and outgoing traffic. You choose which programs are allowed to access the internet. They are both fairly easy to use and updated regularly.
http://www.zonelabs.com Zone Alarm firewall
http://www.kerio.com Kerio firewall
Shields Up security site, check your firewall works
https://www.grc.com
http://www.mozilla.com/ Firefox web browser
http://www.opera.com/ Opera web browser
Instal both these web browsers, turn off javascript on one and use that browser for vising unknown websites. They don't support Active X so thats one less way for problems to get on your pc.
Winpatrol is a handy utility that tracks cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com
Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
http://www.siteadvisor.com -Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.
http://www.avast.com - Avast Antivirus
http://www.ewido.net - Ewido anti trojan
Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware
http://www.lavasoft.com
Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware
http://www.safer-networking.org
http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - The Spyware Warrior site identifies fake anti spyware programs.
http://www.bitdefender.com -BitDefender can be used as a second, on demand anti virus.
http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool
Microsoft have two free online scanners that look for malware.
http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
You can also download Microsofts free Windows Defender from the official Microsoft site, and the Malicious Software Removal Tool.
Remember to update and run all of you anti malware programs at least once a week.
2006-09-04 08:19:38 · answer #9 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spyware is a virus so you need to scan your computer. A good anti-virus application is Avast. Which you can download from the internet for free.
2006-09-04 08:16:41 · answer #10 · answered by spondonboy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋