I'm having this terribly anoying pop-up problem. On my taskbar there's a bubble coming up with a yellow triangle with a " ! " sign. It says "Security Alert: Spyware Detected" and that if i click the bubble it will get rid of unwanted spyware (that is if i download and pay for a anti-virus program). I ran a couple of tests with the free "Panda online scan" and it found the file mssearch.exe ... Is it safe to delete this file? I saw a post where a guy said he got problems for doing this, anyone know how to get my bubble away? =)

Do not delete mssearch.exe!! If it is Mssearch.exe you can delete that, as Mssearch.exe is the spyware you want to get rid of.

My bad, it's called mssearchnet.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\mssearchnet.exe

Go here;

http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

Look at the right hand side of the page a nd select download standalone cwhredder. Then run it to get rid of your problem.

I tryed that but my problem is still here.

Do you have Spyware Detector listed in add/remove programs? If you do, remove it.

It is spyaxe/spyfalcon, you will need to run SmitRem to get rid of it.

Please download smitRem.zip and save it to your desktop from this link http://noahdfear.geekstogo.com/smitRem.exe

Open the file and it will extract itself to a new folder called SmitRem.

Reboot into safe mode by following the directions Safe Mode.

Open the smitRem folder, then double click the RunThis.bat file to start the tool. Follow the prompts on screen. Your desktop and icons will disappear and then reappear again, this is normal.
Wait for the tool to complete and Disk Cleanup to finish, this may take a while; please be patient.

Next go to Start > Control Panel > click Display > Desktop > Customize Desktop > Web > Uncheck "Security Info" if present.

Please download
http://www.atribune.org/content/view/19/2/ by Atribune.
Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.

Please post a HT log so we can make sure your computer is clean.You can download Hijack This at this link http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/ then place it into a folder of it's on, such as C:\HJT, so that back up copies can be made and not clutter your desktop or other folders and the backup copies of deleted items can be easily located if needed.

Once saved double click HijackThis.exe, and press "Scan". When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log" button.
Press that, save the log, Ctrl-A to Select All, and copy its contents into the text editor at this forum.

Do not fix anything yet unless you know what you are doing. This is a powerful tool that can crash the computer if used improperly.

The mssearchnet.exe file is a part of widely spread parasites like SpyFalcon, SpywareStrike or SpyAxe. You have to delete this file! Use the Pocket KillBox tool to do this (download this tool here). However, this file is not the only one that parasites install. If you have this executable, you most probably have other malicious files. So, please follow Jabuck's advice and post your HJT log for analysis.

ive deleted the mssearchnet.exe and nvctrl.exe files from my pc. however, whenever i open my IE i'm still directed to the "about:blank" page and there is a flashing icon on my toolbar.

it is flashing between a picture of a green man on a wheelchair and a red circle with a line diagonally through it.

i dont understand the problem because i have already deleted the two files, and there is no SpywareDetector in my Add/Remove Programs list.

please help