A few months back my pc began behaving badly. Pop ups every second; **** sites appearing on desk top; search sites appearing out of the blue, especially when trying to follow a link; loss of control of mouse; page unavailable and a load of other crap.

I eventually got someone to sort it out and things were fine for a few weeks and than it all went awol again...only worse this time. We lost many programmes, the worse being media player(the pc is connected to hifi and music is always on) whenever tried to open it told low memory; could log on to hotmail/Yahoo, but not read any mail; could open only some websites (usually only through favourites) but then could not post or open links; printer and webcam disapeared completely; continual crashing- an error report would pop up and then would crash. (especially if using internet explorer ); finding programmeswe had not downloaded and unable to remove them...and then some.

Meanwhile zonealarm which was added was informing me every second(literally) that some one was attempting to access my pc. And the virus scan(or whatever) was finding shit every time (and it was scanned at one point every couple of hours) Oh and I couldn't access windows updates and when I did, couldn't access links.

So got someone again to look into it and they were baffled, they adviced that I backup files and start again...but then we couldn't back up files couldn't copy anything. Lost all files, pictures, videos, music, documents-Everything, felt like being robbed and having no insurance.

We did try to download most of stuff on to old pc, but it we couldn't network(I should have done that from time)

Anyway pc removed of all history is like new, speed is at level when first bought(oh at this point I should mention windows XP) We all spent first few days trying to find sites that we used regularly(the person who shall remain nameless who was assigned to writing down addresses did so then threw the paper away) And searching for advice on how to stop this happening again.

A week later shit starts again, pc starts freezing/crashing and zonealarm are working overtime, so I did a systemrestore, to the point before we had all added our favourite sites and things seemed ok. But then last few days starting to get a lot of pop ups again, one a game actually starts to download if you are not quick enough to stop it. And only I am having trouble getting onto some sites and posting on them or following links when I do, so far the kids have not experienced this problem.

Could someone tell me what happened, how I stop it and what is the best protection . Oh and how do I get my printer back... I have a Lexmark X74 but even with the disk it won't reconnect, I have had to put on old printer(the kids are not impressed-but hey I am saving a fortune in ink and paper)

Technoir could do with your expertise right now

But before you all start with the advice, please keep it basic, I am not computer literate

Ijexa

good to see you around (familiar name and all that) Okay bro, I am going to take your word and download this .

Interstingly spybot is one of the popups I keep getting!

And I did have Ad-ware untill I restored (got to the point where I thought some of my safegaurds were actually part of the problem-call me paranoid)

And my problem with zonealarm was I wasn't always sure what needed access and what didn't-computer illiteracy-and I had the free download version, being the source of the problem. I currently have it running unseen(cause I couldn't take anymore of those alert pop ups-but it was interesting to see how many attempts to connect with my pc were made-every few seconds. However it seems that it isn't working toits fullness.

Thanks again for your assistance, like i said, I feel like I have been mugged again, only this time I have no insurance(or atleast the articles stolen are more of a sentimental value)

Here's a joke I just checked out one of the ad-ware sites and it was stating how ones pc ends up with spy ware, giving a list of reasons, one of which is if your pc is on more than 4 hours...

Please...our (it is a family thing) pc is rarely even switched off. From first thing in the morning (6.30am) till last thing at night-and some nights it never gets switched off at all and it can end up being on for 2-3 days-such is its use, in this household.(the main source of arguments in this house are over who's turn it is to use the pc)

You all probably noticed that my main usage is early hours of the morning-when everyone else is in bed and I don't have one of the kids/neigbours/friends standing over my shoulder, asking have I finnished yet!

Another reason is the use of music download sites, such as Kazaa, again even my 6 year old is downloading music( I just listen to what they share-got to say my kids have good taste in music-obviously inluenced by their mother)

And as for free screensavers, I have had to demand that the kids stop downloading these, they used to change them for fun and its like theywere trying to out do one another, on a weekly basis, on the most unusual screensaver.

It is funny because I allow my children complete access to this pc (it is situated in what should be my diningroom), even the local kids get to come in and use it. And yet when they stay or visit friends houses they are aware of the fact that their friends are not allowed open access to the pc-due to it being an expensive product. Infact many of their friends have little, if any access at all. Which bemuses my children. My daughter recently announced that she no longer wanted to vist a paticular friends, house since they were not allowed to "play with the pc" I am begining to wonder if it is time I adopted the same attitude, to both my kids and neighbours(some of whom even get a key to my home when I am at work to use my pc)-it could account for the **** sites!!!

The advice from Ijexa is pretty much the same I would give.

It's cleans up 95% of the crap that attacks your comp, but you'll find that when you reboot your machine that 5% reactivates the hijacking software that redownloads the spyware you removed.

These guys are getting real smart... So I use a little file called hijackthis.exe this is a stand alone program, but can be found with most good spyware remover programs.

anyway, after you have removed your spywares... run the hijackthis program, before you reboot. Follow instructions then run spyware remover again, run the hijackthis softwareonce more then reboot.

You can find the program here http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe

Hope this helps.

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Here is another alternative:

Buy an external USB hard drive... you can get them as big as you want 120gig or more...

Make sure all your documents and Music files and whatever else is important data to you is stored on this drive. The reason I say USB external is if you want to change your machine or hook it up to another machine (friends machine blah blah) then it's a matter of plug and go.

Also set your computer to back up your computer settings and preferencesto the drive every night using the Windows Backup facility, like your Web favorites, emails directory.

Once you have done that, get a program, called Deepfreeze. Everytime you switch your computer off and on again it will take the computer back to your orginal configuration, removing everything installed on your computer since you last switched it on...

Exampleyou switch on at:

12pm, you only have Microsoft Word, Excel, Some games, your broadband and other general bits and bobs intalled on your comp to keep you sweet.

1pm you install a new game, your playing the game and all is well.

2pm you stop playing and decide to surf the internet... Bam!!!! you hit a virus, Spyware and hijacking program takes over your comp.... you are frenchconnectionuked.

2.05pm switch computer off and on again

2.06pm Back to it's orginal state no virus.. however the new game you just installed will be gone as well.

The DeepFreeze program is configurable so if you need to install a software all you will need to do isthaw your hard drive first (and i don't mean take it out the freezer) the program will take care of that.

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If all that sounds to much.....

9/10 these attack come from downloading sites like you mentioned so the best thing to do to avoid popups is pay to be registered.... ;-)

Try downloading and running this:-

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe

Its a very powerful spyware/adware removal tool, my favorite at the moment.

If you would like to know more about these nasty things that keep attacking you, his site has some great info on it.

To sum it up, Zonealarm won't stop you from getting infected with spyware, it will stop some viruses like Blaster, and maybe stop somebodygaining access to your pc,but thats about it.

Spyware installs itself when a dodgy web page (which might look honest) carries it. Most use loop holes in Internet Explorer, mainly ActiveX, to install the code on your computer. Switching to a different browser is one option. Installing Service Pack 2 for XP might also give you some more protection.

PersonallyI use the application above if I ever get infected. I have spybot running in the background which should in theory stop anything infecting me. I also run a freeware popup blocker.

I guess its sad that from when I enter my password, my computer takes nearly twice the time to load my desktop due to all the anti virus / anti spyware / popup blockers....etc loading. But I guess thats the world we live in.

Alternativly, switch to linux, its free andsecure.

Agreed...

@All

Thank You

Sometimes when your computer is very messed up you just have to start from scratch....meaning re-loading your operating system. If you are sharing your computer you might want to go with an new operating system such as Windows XP or Windows 2000 and allow your guest to log in under the guest account.

Sorry if I sound a little technical butthis is what I do for a living. If you donot know how to install an operating system you may just want to go a head and pay a computer tech or take it to your nearest computer store that offers this service. Make sure you take your copy of your own software.

If your computer is infected with adware, trojan hourses, and other viruses....and you have no computer training it can be almost impossible to fix the problems. Although virus programs workyou might have to do some manual cleaning to assist with the software. Yourvirus software maker should have a website you can go to forinstructions. Believe me when people at my company get infected most of the time I don't bother with a lot of quick fix software I just whip out the whole system and before I attach it to go out over the Internet I install all the protection software first.

If you do get a clean install of your Operating System before you connect it to the Internet:

1. Install your virus protection....I recommend Norton anti-virus....once installed download the latest virus definitions

2. Go to Microsoft's official website and install all security patches, service packs, and and any other updates for your specific operating system.

3. Install a firewall.....Zone Alarm is a good firewall. Most or your programs do not need access to the Internet such as Microsoft office except for (Outlookif you use it for email)so when it attempts to go out just say no and check the box so that it does not ask again. Programs that will need access are programs like instant messengers, your Internet connection manager, your media players, new updates for your virus definitions, windows updates, email programs......just think about it for a second before you allow anything to go out and if you do allow it to go out check the box to always allow that particular program to go out and you will find that you are prompted less. Take a moment to read the help files for Zone Alarm and take the tour that they offer when it is newly installed. Firewalls are mostly setup to block things from coming inand what it blocks from coming in you should not be concerned with so configure the programto NOT alert you about the things that it blocks from coming in.....YOU are only concerned with what is going out OK.....see trojan horses set them selves up on your computer to track you and after it is installed it will attempt to access the Internet........and that is when you block it from going out.

4. Install addware protection.....when you are installing these program make sure you are downloading them from a credible site.....I recommend http://www.download.com here you will find not only the newest program for protection but you will get recommendation's about if it is any good or not as far as ease of use is concerned. A lot of this software is beta so you might even luck up and get it for free.

5. Fight virus every day by keeping your virus definitions up to date, running your addware to clean out malicious cookies, and go to Microsoft.com and install the software to automatically send you the new security patches for your operating system.

I'm sorry if you can't install your own OS, but I would recommend a fresh start if you can afford to pay someone to do this for you. But make sure if you do pay someone to do it that they also know how to install and configure all your software afterward and get you properly connected back to the Internet.

Good luck

Moi again

from an internet cafe

Ok did all i was advised(Queen9ile, never saw your advice untill just now)

pc worked reasonably fine for a while. Went away for few days leaving sister and her deliquents at my place, come back to find cannot even get into pc...screen comes up with user accounts...when you click on any of them, even mine which doesn't have a password it sets out like it is opening up and then switches to logging off immediately...

Is it time i got a new pc? Or should i be looking at, changingISP?

Um...Have you tried going in via safe mode? (press F8 as the computer starts up and then select safe mode)

Or holding down left shift while just after you logged in.

If neither of them do anything, itsa bit tricky to diagnose the problem without getting to the desktop.

Let me know how you get on.