Hi. I am having a problem with my computer and it is VERY serious. We own a business and really rely on this computer working properly all the time. I dont know if it is a virus or what, but I get tons of pop ups. All kinds of advertisements. Even my 2 pop up blockers wont stop these things. I get so many all at once that it makes my computer freeze up. Right now I have some news audio playing and there is no media player open. I cant make it stop. I opened the task manager and the only thing it shows running is Yahoo Answers. I really need to be able to fix this problem. It would be horrible if I had to take this thing and get Windows reloaded right now. I have LOTS of customer info and our business software on here. How can I fix this? I am desperate. Please help.
2007-03-27 16:54:44 · 15 answers · asked by I know, I know!!!! 6 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Ray provided most of the links I would have suggested, so I'll go a slightly different direction.
I'd suggest getting an external HDD, back up all critical and high value data.
Completely wipe your pc, install a small (40GB or so) HDD to hold your operating system. Install your OS to that new HDD, then all of your applications onto your other hard drive.
Install a good antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall, and do daily backups of your data to the external HDD, and don't leave it connected between backups.
Several people have suggested different av software, some pointing out the free versions. Those will work, but I'd personally recommend against using them for your business. They are given away to home users usually, and most are stepped on a bit.
If you're in the US, any business expense is tax deductable, including your software and licensing for it. I'd spend a bit and buy the full version of whichever you decided to go with.
My personal preference is Avast Pro, which I've been using for a good bit with good results. Partner that with a good firewall, I still like Sygate's best, and a good set of anti-spyware like Ad Aware Pro, and Spybot S&D and you've got a good basis to back your security policies on.
Some practises that I'd suggest implementing are NO personal use of business machines, individual user accounts, and log checks. It's a bit time consuming sometimes, but you might even be able to save a bit of time and get a local networking shop to monitor for you for a really reasonable price, which again if your'e in the US you get to write off.
2007-03-27 20:30:44 · answer #1 · answered by pmccann1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lady, have you setup your Firewall on your Router? Are you using a Fire Wall and anti virus program on your computer?
These things you MUST do!
You must create BACK UPS of your data files at least on the hour! NO EXCUSES! Imagine your position if you lost two hours worth of transaction and inventory data! How would you recoup that information!
You should have a second computer set up just like the one you are using. The only thing that should be missing is your data files.
By having Removable drive bays in the front of both computers, you could hot swap your data files and keep running! The Hot swap is less than 2 minutes.
One computer should be off line until you need it. You need to identify where your customer data is, your inventory data, and your productivity data. This data you should copy to a DVD or to another hard drive. That becomes your back up!
Too, you do not want to connect your work computer directly to the Internet! You should have a small system that connects directly to your router, and it should have fire walls and anti virus! Your work computer connects directly to the computer connected to the router! This hides your IP address.
Lady, you need network help!
Clean out garbage: START - My Computer - Click on the C drive. Open the folder Documents and settings. On the menu Bar go to TOOLS, Folder Options - View
Check show hidden files, check show system files, click on YES, Apply, OK
Open the folder COOKIES delete all files.
Open the folder RECENT. Delete all entries
Open the folder local Settings
Open the folder TEMP, delete ALL entries
Open the folder Temporary Internet Files, Delete all entries.
Go back to the MENU TOOLS TAB
Set the Views back to their original settings.
Review how you set the settings to show hidden files.
Empty the recycle bin. Use the software DISKEEPER, latest version to defrag you hard drive! You should do this at least once a week!
Last, you would be way ahead and in a much better position if you have hard drives just for you customer data, not writing to the same drive as your operating system or your stores software is on!.
2007-03-28 03:22:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have lots of customer data stored on the PC you should be doing regular backups. If you don't, you almost deserve to lose it.
However, you need a decent anti-virus program and a decent anti-spyware program. AVG provide both of these for free (see link below). After installation (of any anti-virus, -spyware software) do a full scan with the highest security settings you can. There is also a commercial version with more stuff.
Get a decent firewall. Windows XP has one built in but it's not very good. ZoneAlarm is a good free one. You can also pay for a commercial version with more bells and whistles.
Stop using Internet Explorer, it is highly insecure and most malicious sites on the Internet are written to take advantage of its security holes. I recommend Firefox.
Lastly, if all or part of your livelihood depends on the PC and the data on it, become more aware of what you are doing. Ideally you should use separate PCs for business and private use - but this is not always an option.
PS. DO BACKUPS!
2007-03-28 00:07:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Popup blockers, such as the Yahoo and Google toolbars, will only stop web based popup advertising. They can help somewhat but will do nothing to stop popups on a computer that is badly infected with trojan downloaders that are contacting other computers to download and deliver the pop up ads.
Try a full cleaning and dis-infection routine, if you are getting excessive popups, or are getting popups even when you are offline.
This is the one I use (it will take some time).
1. Scan for virus and remove (free online scan) with BitDefender
http://www.bitdefender.com/site/home/
2. Scan for trojans, adware and spyware and remove (free online scan) with Ewido
http://www.ewido.net/en/
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And after your computer is fully cleaned of spyware I would suggest IE-SPYAD to prevent further problems, if you are using IE browser:
"IE-SPYAD adds a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the Registry, the web sites for these companies will not be able to use cookies, ActiveX controls, Java applets, or scripting to compromise your privacy or your PC while you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your browser to push unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or auto-installing programs on your PC."
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm
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And if your popups say "Messenger Service" at the top Title Bar. Read Here:
Older versions of Windows (pre XP-SP2) can get "Messenger Service" popups which are caused by Microsoft leaving the almost never used Messenger Service enabled by default. These type of popups will have the words "Messenger Service" up top in the title bar. This was corrected in Windows XP- Service Pack 2.
Understand that the Windows Messenger Service is completely different from, and not in any way related to, "MSN Messenger", "Windows Live Messenger" "yahoo Messenger", or any other well-known instant messaging system. Therefore, disabling the Windows Messenger service will have no effect upon your use of any other instant messaging applications. They will continue to work without trouble.
To disable this service in older versions of Windows use the free, Shoot The Messenger from:
http://www.grc.com/stm/ShootTheMessenger.htm
Good luck.
2007-03-28 00:21:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to remove "spyware" once you become heavily infected like you appear to be. Programs like Ad-Aware and Spybot are free and can help, but most of the time they can't completely cure it. One you can pay for that gets rid of even more is called PestPatrol:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/
At this point, you're going to want to involve a professional since it contains customer data/software. Pay the $100-200 it's going to cost to have someone make a backup and help you reinstall what you need. I would buy a 2nd hard drive and load Windows on it. Make your old one the "slave". It will show up as a drive letter (probably D: or E:) in which you can pull information off of without all the popups locking you up.
In the future, be sure to separate private business workstations from personal use.
2007-03-28 00:01:27 · answer #5 · answered by SirCharles 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's spyware.
Download, install, and update this program.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
Turn off system restore.
Right click on MyComputer, properties, go to the System Restore Tab, check Turn off system restore on all drives.
Disconnect from the internet and run a full scan with Adaware.
Restart your computer and run another full scan.
You can now reconnect to the internet. You should run Adaware once a week. If you don't have antivirus, you should get that too. AVG is free and reliable.
2007-03-28 00:05:20 · answer #6 · answered by whatdoitypehere 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According you description,you have serious spyare problem, Your computer is infected with spywares ,Its on your computer and you need to remove it.
Anti-Virus doesnt get rid of spywares,adwares,trojans.The best way to get rid of spywares,adwares,trojans and is using a best anti-spyware to protect your computer.You must have 1 or 2 antispyware on your computer to protect your computer.Of course there are many solutions exist, all of them with their own strengths and weaknesses.So which anti-spyware is the most suited for your system? You can find out by reading in-depth reviews and comparisons of TOP 5 anti-spywares... some really great tips and links to Spyware removal programs.
Top 5 anti-spywares reviews,comparisons and download links on
http://www.************************
You can download and scan your computer for free.
Good luck!
2007-03-29 03:33:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shame on you for not having backups of critical data and for not actively searching for virus and spyware. Sounds like spyware or adware to me.
Download these immediately and run scans 1 at a time.
AVG Antivirus
Ad-Aware SE
Spybot Search & Destroy
Good Luck
2007-03-28 00:00:07 · answer #8 · answered by snvffy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i have found spybot search + destroy works really well, but by the sounds of it, you could have viruses as well, in which case i would recommend Trend Micro Pc-cillin Internet Security 2007. It costs $99, but it is well worth it, and picks up viruses that AVG, and even nortons, doesn't.
hope this helps.
ps. if system files are infected, or documents that you need to keep, then you may need to reload windows anyway.
2007-03-28 00:11:43 · answer #9 · answered by Sean W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First go to Tools>Internet Options and delete your cookies.
Then download Ad-aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
Also, it wouldn't hurt to download Search and Destroy:
http://www.spybot.info/en/
Run them on a nightly basis too.
There are others out there but some programs have a tendancy to clash with others; although you could try them.
2007-03-28 00:05:58 · answer #10 · answered by TameBeast 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋