Ive been getting a lot of popups lately and its very annoying. I got "Popup Block" for free and only works on some of the popups. What can I do to totally get rid these popups?

Three things you might do

1. Try the free IE browser test:

http://www.jasonstoolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

2 Read this list of PU killers and their reviews:

http://www.popup-killer-review.com/index.htm

3. go here

www.grc.com

and do the diagnostics, port scans etc.,

Thresher

That is the first symtom of the most recent home page hijacker. It starts with popups that bypass your blocker. Then it changes your home page to a search page, 3 or 4 times over. And if that isn't enough it adds it's own pop that states: YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN INFECTED WITH SPYWARE! I kept up with it to that point, on the last popup I formatted. This bug came out on April 14th, 2004.

Simple use a Netscape or Mozilla browser instead of IE , built in popup stopper .

1. Empty Internet Temporary Files, cookies, and history files in Internet Explorer

Select Tools>Internet Options>

2. Install, update, and run anti-trackware software

Download Adaware by Lavasoftusa.com or
Click Star>Run>www.adaware.notlong.com

3. Install, update, and run antivirus software

For first time Trenmicro antivirus program user:
Find free online virus scan at, http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

For subsequent Trend Micro users, either purchase or download free antivirus software updates:

001. For free automatic removal of malware after initial free online scan, use Trend Micro System Cleaner (working well for me and recommended if you want automatic removal of the latest malware free).

002. Free update of this automatic removal software is available for both the matching scan engine and virus pattern file; both should be updated at the same time.

Free Sysclean Package: http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp
Free Matching update of latest virus pattern file: http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

NOTE: For XP/ME systems, run antivirus with System Restore disabled and in Safe mode.

4. Check msconfig Startup for malware

5. Check Task Manager for memory-resident malware. Note: Task Manager running on Windows 95/98/ME may not show certain processes. If you are not sure about your task programs, you could use a third party process viewer to identify suspecious or unknown files. I use Process Explorer, a freeware from Sysinternals.com, http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml to help me identify program company names on unknown files or processes.

6. Check and review Add/Remove for malware installed without authorization and remove these unidentified programs.

Start>Settings>Control Panel>Double-click Add/Remove icon

7. Check and remove executalbe files with unusual names and icons from Windows system folder.

Reference Response #3
http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/11772.html

Unfortunately this bug gets buy all this. It is a bridge trojan and it slips right by all the AV's.

Without the detected malware file and the exact message provided by the antivirus scan, it's difficult to provide the proper resolution. However, as long as a malware file is identified by the antivirus and not removed automatically, it can be removed manually. So, identify the malware files first by updating and running antivirus.

Response #3 at the above link also addresses generally how to remove a trojan manually.

The resolution will be different depending on issues specific to your OS, the type of trojoan, known issues relating to your antivirus and why the trojan can't be removed automatically (scan in Safe mode, temp file, IE temp file, etc), here are the general steps:

1. Terminate malware files from memory in Task Manager (some issues with 95/98/ME)
2. Remove the malware file(s) from the registry

This cannot slip by a startup scanner. Nor can it avoid detection from a registry tool.

How to Avoid infections

J.
j e r u v y a t y a h o o d o t c o m

Some interest read from the computercop link; however, it seems like way too many software to track of to keep one's software running. I don't download software as advised by some of the respondents unless it's necessary.

So far, I run one free antivirus and one free anti-trackware, and anything not identified or removed by the current versions of Adaware from Lavasoftusa and Sysclean from TrendMicro, I search, identify, and remove the malware manually described above to keep my computer out of trouble. For example, I removed the actulice popup not detected by antivirus manually. I keep up with Windows OS updates from Microsoft and don't seem to have any computer or Internet problems so far.

What other issues need to be addressed, and do I still have a need for any of these programs?