Getting rid of spyware

Marhkimov · 11-03-05, 03:35 PM

This isn't a SH3 topic per se, but spyware does hamper my ability to play the game. This lousy error pop-up crap keeps telling me that "pokapoka79.exe" has caused an error and needs to be closed. I did a search and located the file within 'C:\WINDOWS.' The problem is that I can't delete it; it is always being accessed. Using Ctrl+Alt+Del (task manager), I stop it from running but it immediately starts again. Very annoying... So I did a google search about it, and I learned that it is spyware. I would use my antivirus thing, but it is crap. Expired, out-of-date, useless, whatever... It doesn't work... I tried to update it once, and an endless stream of pop-ups viciously attacked me.

**Frikkin' Spyware... Don't computer *******s have anything better to do than to create this spyware SH*T that screws with other people's computers?!?! B*TCHASSMOTHAF*KERS!!!**

Sorry, I'm pissed. Does anyone know of a free or easy way to get rid of spyware? Maybe something that I could download? And preferably, don't link me up to anything that would give me MORE spyware...

Unlike myself, most of the people on these boards are 'tech junkies,' so hopefully someone can help me out... Thanks.

K-61 · 11-03-05, 03:41 PM

There are free antispyware programs available. Microsoft has a beta version which is free and is very good. The other well known makes are AdAware by lavasoft and Spybot Search and Destroy. You can easily Google to get the download sites.

I also use SpySweeper by Webroot, a pay program that is fully featured and well supported.

Good luck at getting rid of it. But don't be surprised if you end up reformatting your system. Some of that stuff is very nasty. It is sad to know that the major antivirus programs are insufficient to deal with this. You need a proper antispyware program as well.

Gizzmoe · 11-03-05, 03:49 PM

Yeah, download Spybot and Adaware. After you have installed them update both with the latest definition files, then boot Safe Mode and let them scan your harddisk.

wetwarev7 · 11-03-05, 03:51 PM

You can also try Pest Patrol. That's what we use at work.

Trav_R · 11-03-05, 03:55 PM

I've never run any firewall, antivirus, or antispyware programs except for the standard Windows firewall. Sometimes I get spyware, mainly when my roommates download BS programs, but that's where SpyBot comes in. I'm sure the other ones that K-61 suggested work great too, but SpyBot has always done fine for me. For the ones that it doesn't get, I just look them up on the google and find manual removal instructions. I never have popups for more than an hour or so, before they get zapped.

Oh, one more very important bit of advice for you: get Mozilla Firefox and use it instead of Internet Explorer. IE is the most BS browser around, the only reason it's popular is that it comes with Windows. Firefox is free, go to http://www.mozilla.org and check it out. You'll notice than when running Firefox, if you have spyware, your popups will *still* show up through Internet Explorer, how funny is that. POS crap that Microsoft turns out. Only problem with Firefox is that some very few web pages won't look right in Firefox, and for those just use IE and then go back to Firefox when you're done.

zoinks · 11-03-05, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trav_R

Oh, one more very important bit of advice for you: get Mozilla Firefox and use it instead of Internet Explorer.

that solved 100% of my spyware/adware problems. ie just makes me want to stab myself in the face.

wetwarev7 · 11-03-05, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoinks

ie just makes me want to stab myself in the face.

OUCH!!!

Marhkimov · 11-03-05, 04:09 PM

Right now, I'm using the AOL explorer that comes with AIM. It seemed to be working very nicely; for a long time I did not get any unwanted pop-ups, but maybe it is the source of my problem. I'll go ahead and try the mozilla firefox explorer.

Seriously, why do people make this crap?!?!

Valtonen · 11-03-05, 04:10 PM

First iÂ´ll use mozilla firefox blocks so much crap thats trying to capture your pc...
Then antispyware programs...
Also I have found that startup guard is very usefull to get rid of every programs that try to copy itself in a windows startup folder.
Check whats in your windows startup, and you may find very unpleasant programs there...

HereÂ´s link to page which has many and more explains about programs that can be in your startup:
www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=

AG124 · 11-03-05, 04:16 PM

Panda online software has an online scanner which I find to be very good as well.

The best way to keep a computer spyware clean of course, is to be careful when downloading programs and archive files and try to avoid websites which plant drive-by spyware. IE Spyads is a good program for this, and will add hundreds of websites to your restricted zone for you. I use layered protection - AVG for viruses, Adaware, Spybot, and Panda for spyware that's already there, and spywareblaster and spywareguard to prevent infections in the first place (Spybot also helps with this).

Here is a site with programs to prevent and combat spyware - and many of them are free. I have used my combination of them to keep my computer spyware-clean for at least a year and a half.

http://www.spychecker.com/

Marhkimov · 11-03-05, 04:25 PM

ALL OF YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST, YOU KNOW THAT?

I'm at school right now, using a perfectly clean computer, btw...

So it will be a few hours before I can try any of these programs. But for all the help that I have recieved, I don't know what I would do without you guys. This community is just awesome!!!

AG124 · 11-03-05, 04:28 PM

As for the reasons spyware is produced - well, it's all about money. The spyware steals your personal and private information (usually internet viewing habits, but also contact information, names, and other really personal stuff sometimes) and sends it back to its server. Often this is done without any knowledge or permission by the 'user' - in court, spyware companies usually claim 'freedom of commercial expression' to get away with whatever they like and it's worked so far. And sometimes, they hijack your browser itself. When this happens, your start page will be reset to some crap, and bookmarks will appear in your favorites folder (usually porn, gambing, or photographic equipment for some reason). There was even a type of spyware about two years ago which accessed porn sites at regular intervals and then quietly deleted them from the browser's history. All of these tactics ensure that certain sites get a larger number of hits, and thus will make more revenue from ads because they can pretend that a lot of people are actually visitng their site (when in fact the logged IP addresses were hijacked and forced to visit, or the user was tricked with phoney bookmarks). Coolwebsearch is the worst.

Just be careful out there.

Here is a forum which deals with the subject, and which offers good advice on prevention, and offers free technical support. The last time I was there, which was a long time ago, it was very busy though.

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

Marhkimov · 11-03-05, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AG124

As for the reasons spyware is produced - well, it's all about money. The spyware steals your personal and private information (usually internet viewing habits, but also contact information, names, and other really personal stuff sometimes) and sends it back to its server. Often this is done without any knowledge or permission by the 'user' - in court, spyware companies usually claim 'freedom of commercial expression' to get away with whatever they like and it's worked so far. And sometimes, they hijack your browser itself. When this happens, your start page will be reset to some crap, and bookmarks will appear in your favorites folder (usually porn, gambing, or photographic equipment for some reason). There was even a type of spyware about two years ago which accessed porn sites at regular intervals and then quietly deleted them from the browser's history. All of these tactics ensure that certain sites get a larger number of hits, and thus will make more revenue from ads because they can pretend that a lot of people are actually visitng their site (when in fact the logged IP addresses were hijacked and forced to visit, or the user was tricked with phoney bookmarks). Coolwebsearch is the worst.

OMG... You practically described my system...

gdogghenrikson · 11-03-05, 04:32 PM

spybot works good

Twelvefield · 11-03-05, 04:44 PM

Spybot's "TeaTimer" function is most useful for blocking spyware on-the-fly, and it keeps your registry intact.

AdAware is superior to Spybot (in my opinion) for getting rid of spyware that gets past TeaTimer.

Using both is way better than using just one or the other, and they both have excellent freeware versions.

I also use AVG antivirus, also free, to get rid of viruses. I most highly reccomend using all three, and I used to be both a MacAffee and a Norton user -- but not any more!

11-03-05, 03:35 PM	#1
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Getting rid of spyware This isn't a SH3 topic per se, but spyware does hamper my ability to play the game. This lousy error pop-up crap keeps telling me that "pokapoka79.exe" has caused an error and needs to be closed. I did a search and located the file within 'C:\WINDOWS.' The problem is that I can't delete it; it is always being accessed. Using Ctrl+Alt+Del (task manager), I stop it from running but it immediately starts again. Very annoying... So I did a google search about it, and I learned that it is spyware. I would use my antivirus thing, but it is crap. Expired, out-of-date, useless, whatever... It doesn't work... I tried to update it once, and an endless stream of pop-ups viciously attacked me. Frikkin' Spyware... Don't computer ****s have anything better to do than to create this spyware SHT that screws with other people's computers?!?! *BTCHASSMOTHAFKERS!!!*** Sorry, I'm pissed. Does anyone know of a free or easy way to get rid of spyware? Maybe something that I could download? And preferably, don't link me up to anything that would give me MORE spyware... Unlike myself, most of the people on these boards are 'tech junkies,' so hopefully someone can help me out... Thanks. __________________ It takes two to tango

11-03-05, 03:41 PM	#2
K-61 Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 795 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	There are free antispyware programs available. Microsoft has a beta version which is free and is very good. The other well known makes are AdAware by lavasoft and Spybot Search and Destroy. You can easily Google to get the download sites. I also use SpySweeper by Webroot, a pay program that is fully featured and well supported. Good luck at getting rid of it. But don't be surprised if you end up reformatting your system. Some of that stuff is very nasty. It is sad to know that the major antivirus programs are insufficient to deal with this. You need a proper antispyware program as well. __________________

11-03-05, 03:51 PM	#4
wetwarev7 Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Deep Waters Posts: 871 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	You can also try Pest Patrol. That's what we use at work. __________________ Guess I should change my sig since SH5 has an offline mode now

11-03-05, 04:09 PM	#8
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Right now, I'm using the AOL explorer that comes with AIM. It seemed to be working very nicely; for a long time I did not get any unwanted pop-ups, but maybe it is the source of my problem. I'll go ahead and try the mozilla firefox explorer. Seriously, why do people make this crap?!?! __________________ It takes two to tango

11-03-05, 04:25 PM	#11
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	ALL OF YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST, YOU KNOW THAT? I'm at school right now, using a perfectly clean computer, btw... So it will be a few hours before I can try any of these programs. But for all the help that I have recieved, I don't know what I would do without you guys. This community is just awesome!!! __________________ It takes two to tango

11-03-05, 03:49 PM	#3
Gizzmoe Silent Hunter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 3,668 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Yeah, download Spybot and Adaware. After you have installed them update both with the latest definition files, then boot Safe Mode and let them scan your harddisk.

11-03-05, 03:55 PM	#5
Trav_R Ensign Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oklahoma, USA Posts: 227 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've never run any firewall, antivirus, or antispyware programs except for the standard Windows firewall. Sometimes I get spyware, mainly when my roommates download BS programs, but that's where SpyBot comes in. I'm sure the other ones that K-61 suggested work great too, but SpyBot has always done fine for me. For the ones that it doesn't get, I just look them up on the google and find manual removal instructions. I never have popups for more than an hour or so, before they get zapped. Oh, one more very important bit of advice for you: get Mozilla Firefox and use it instead of Internet Explorer. IE is the most BS browser around, the only reason it's popular is that it comes with Windows. Firefox is free, go to http://www.mozilla.org and check it out. You'll notice than when running Firefox, if you have spyware, your popups will still show up through Internet Explorer, how funny is that. POS crap that Microsoft turns out. Only problem with Firefox is that some very few web pages won't look right in Firefox, and for those just use IE and then go back to Firefox when you're done.

11-03-05, 04:10 PM	#9
Valtonen Watch Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: finland Posts: 16 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	First iÂ´ll use mozilla firefox blocks so much crap thats trying to capture your pc... Then antispyware programs... Also I have found that startup guard is very usefull to get rid of every programs that try to copy itself in a windows startup folder. Check whats in your windows startup, and you may find very unpleasant programs there... HereÂ´s link to page which has many and more explains about programs that can be in your startup: www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=

11-03-05, 04:16 PM	#10
AG124 Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,878 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Panda online software has an online scanner which I find to be very good as well. The best way to keep a computer spyware clean of course, is to be careful when downloading programs and archive files and try to avoid websites which plant drive-by spyware. IE Spyads is a good program for this, and will add hundreds of websites to your restricted zone for you. I use layered protection - AVG for viruses, Adaware, Spybot, and Panda for spyware that's already there, and spywareblaster and spywareguard to prevent infections in the first place (Spybot also helps with this). Here is a site with programs to prevent and combat spyware - and many of them are free. I have used my combination of them to keep my computer spyware-clean for at least a year and a half. http://www.spychecker.com/

11-03-05, 04:28 PM	#12
AG124 Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,878 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	As for the reasons spyware is produced - well, it's all about money. The spyware steals your personal and private information (usually internet viewing habits, but also contact information, names, and other really personal stuff sometimes) and sends it back to its server. Often this is done without any knowledge or permission by the 'user' - in court, spyware companies usually claim 'freedom of commercial expression' to get away with whatever they like and it's worked so far. And sometimes, they hijack your browser itself. When this happens, your start page will be reset to some crap, and bookmarks will appear in your favorites folder (usually porn, gambing, or photographic equipment for some reason). There was even a type of spyware about two years ago which accessed porn sites at regular intervals and then quietly deleted them from the browser's history. All of these tactics ensure that certain sites get a larger number of hits, and thus will make more revenue from ads because they can pretend that a lot of people are actually visitng their site (when in fact the logged IP addresses were hijacked and forced to visit, or the user was tricked with phoney bookmarks). Coolwebsearch is the worst. Just be careful out there. Here is a forum which deals with the subject, and which offers good advice on prevention, and offers free technical support. The last time I was there, which was a long time ago, it was very busy though. http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

11-03-05, 04:32 PM	#14
gdogghenrikson Grey Wolf Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 978 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	spybot works good __________________ And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown.

11-03-05, 04:44 PM	#15
Twelvefield Planesman Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 186 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Spybot's "TeaTimer" function is most useful for blocking spyware on-the-fly, and it keeps your registry intact. AdAware is superior to Spybot (in my opinion) for getting rid of spyware that gets past TeaTimer. Using both is way better than using just one or the other, and they both have excellent freeware versions. I also use AVG antivirus, also free, to get rid of viruses. I most highly reccomend using all three, and I used to be both a MacAffee and a Norton user -- but not any more!