I have been hijacked

Wintermute · 07-15-2004, 07:04 PM

Help! My computer has been hijacked by adware and spyware! It is to the point that, even when at the google page and not just searching with the toolbar, it sends me to a different place. The thing is, I can't uninstall this. Normally I would just remove it with the add/remove programs list, but I have experience with this particular type of malware. This specific one, actually. It's called "Internet Optimizer," and it's a browser hijacker. It keeps giving me popups, it slows my internet way down, occasionally makes IE freeze up. But the worst part is, and I know this is true because it broke my other computer twice, when you uninstall it, it screws up your computer. What I think it does is it places a "logoff" shortcut in my startup directory, because after uninstalling it on the other computer, after the first and second times, it did this. Pretty much the only way we found to fix this was to have the C drive formatted. (Luckily for us, the drive came partitioned, and all the cool stuff, games and music, etc., was on the larger partition.)

What I really need is some sort of antispyware program. Now, before you direct me to Adaware, I have something else to explain. This internet optimizer (what an ironic name, it does just eh opposite of that) comes as part of this other malware program, called CWS. I don't know what it stands for. What CWS does, among other things, is block certain websites, such as www.lavasoftusa.com or www.grisoft.com, two websites TechTV told me have good anti-adware/spyware programs. So what I need is another, less well known but still good program, that is free. Cause this computer is mine, and my dad told me if it gets Effed up I am on my own, so I can't really pay for anything. I have Norton something or other, but that doesn't handle spyware and adware.

So, that's my problem. Any suggestions?

Hamelin · 07-15-2004, 07:33 PM

Well, you should be able to download Ad-Aware off of www.download.com

And, I'm thinking you might have Coolwebsearch stuck on your comp... and if you do I really really feel sorry for you. It's a nasty piece of malware, there's literally thousands of varients of it, and there isn't a safe spyware program out there that can get rid of it all.

Iced Earth · 07-15-2004, 07:44 PM

Try spybot it is another very good spyware remover.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Dragonsbane · 07-15-2004, 07:49 PM

my mom's computer has been having trouble with Internet Optimizer for years......what kind of sick bastard makes those sort of things?

Krylo · 07-15-2004, 07:58 PM

Well, if you want a quick solution, that won't last for long, go find all the executeables for these things with your internet unplugged, and delete them. It takes a bit, but it'll keep them from opening on you.

Now you should have JUST enough time to download some spybot slayers without your computer being destroyed.

You can also hit ctrl-alt-delete while your computer is starting up and close them as they're opening (the only time most of them show up in the close program dialogue), and grab your spy bot stuff after that. It's a little harder, though.

God I hate spyware. I managed to go years without it... then I go to one webpage (letssingit.com) and spyware attacks my computer like a crackwhore after dirty cock.

Otaku Son · 07-15-2004, 08:08 PM

How many times must I tell you people: reformat!

Stover · 07-15-2004, 08:16 PM

No, what you do is:

1) Shut the computer down
2) Insert a boot disk into the A drive
3) Reboot
4) Format

Seriuosly, it sounds like game over to me. You got zerg rushed and AWPed at the same time, and there is likely nothing that you can do about it. Just bite the bullet and concede.

Your first order of buissness upon reinstalling XP is to get Mozillla or Mozilla Firefox, both avialable at www.mozilla.org. Then, go download Spybot- Search and Destroy. And sometime within the first 10 minutes of being operational, install Norton AntiVirus.

07-15-2004, 08:18 PM

Adaware and Spybot. Then stop using IE because it fucking sucks. Go get mozilla and never worry about it again.

Wintermute · 07-15-2004, 08:20 PM

I don't wanna reformat, though, cause I just got this computer literally like 3 days ago. I already have Norton antivirus. Thanks for the download.com hint, I hadn't though of that. That'll be my first course of action. And I think you're right, I might have that coolwebsearch business. I know that the major malware program on here right now was abbreviated "CWS," so that might be it.

I'll say it as a friend of mine said it: "what the fuck kind of assbath makes that? Probably some 40-year-old virgin living in his parents' basement, trying to ruin everybody's fun.

Krylo · 07-15-2004, 08:27 PM

Here's a slightly less extreme measure. Download Mozilla using explorer, then close out explorer, restart, stay offline, and install Mozilla. THEN use Mozilla to download adaware and spybot.

Also, do like I said if you have spyware you need closed out.

You could also restart in safe mode after uninstalling the thing, and then reworking your autoexec.bat or startup (probably the former) to remove whatever evil the program puts in it. Be sure to look up directions first, however, because failure will mean reformatting.

Also, reformats are the absolute last of the last options. It's like pulling the plug on a family member. Don't do it unless there's absolutely no other option.

07-15-2004, 07:04 PM	#1
Wintermute L33T AI Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The matrix. Hell, I am the matrix... Posts: 199	I have been hijacked Help! My computer has been hijacked by adware and spyware! It is to the point that, even when at the google page and not just searching with the toolbar, it sends me to a different place. The thing is, I can't uninstall this. Normally I would just remove it with the add/remove programs list, but I have experience with this particular type of malware. This specific one, actually. It's called "Internet Optimizer," and it's a browser hijacker. It keeps giving me popups, it slows my internet way down, occasionally makes IE freeze up. But the worst part is, and I know this is true because it broke my other computer twice, when you uninstall it, it screws up your computer. What I think it does is it places a "logoff" shortcut in my startup directory, because after uninstalling it on the other computer, after the first and second times, it did this. Pretty much the only way we found to fix this was to have the C drive formatted. (Luckily for us, the drive came partitioned, and all the cool stuff, games and music, etc., was on the larger partition.) What I really need is some sort of antispyware program. Now, before you direct me to Adaware, I have something else to explain. This internet optimizer (what an ironic name, it does just eh opposite of that) comes as part of this other malware program, called CWS. I don't know what it stands for. What CWS does, among other things, is block certain websites, such as www.lavasoftusa.com or www.grisoft.com, two websites TechTV told me have good anti-adware/spyware programs. So what I need is another, less well known but still good program, that is free. Cause this computer is mine, and my dad told me if it gets Effed up I am on my own, so I can't really pay for anything. I have Norton something or other, but that doesn't handle spyware and adware. So, that's my problem. Any suggestions? __________________ "I'm not Wintermute anymore." "So what are you?" "I'm the matrix." "You running the world now? You God?" -from Neuromancer, by William Gibson (read it now)

07-15-2004, 07:33 PM	#2
Hamelin OMG! Sea Monster! Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 881	Well, you should be able to download Ad-Aware off of www.download.com And, I'm thinking you might have Coolwebsearch stuck on your comp... and if you do I really really feel sorry for you. It's a nasty piece of malware, there's literally thousands of varients of it, and there isn't a safe spyware program out there that can get rid of it all. __________________ daily deviations

07-15-2004, 07:44 PM	#3
Iced Earth Troopa Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 50	Try spybot it is another very good spyware remover. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html Last edited by Iced Earth; 07-15-2004 at 07:47 PM.

07-15-2004, 07:58 PM	#5
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	Well, if you want a quick solution, that won't last for long, go find all the executeables for these things with your internet unplugged, and delete them. It takes a bit, but it'll keep them from opening on you. Now you should have JUST enough time to download some spybot slayers without your computer being destroyed. You can also hit ctrl-alt-delete while your computer is starting up and close them as they're opening (the only time most of them show up in the close program dialogue), and grab your spy bot stuff after that. It's a little harder, though. God I hate spyware. I managed to go years without it... then I go to one webpage (letssingit.com) and spyware attacks my computer like a crackwhore after dirty cock. __________________ I am very tired.

07-15-2004, 08:16 PM	#7
Stover Uncommonly common. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Level 19. Posts: 1,233	No, what you do is: 1) Shut the computer down 2) Insert a boot disk into the A drive 3) Reboot 4) Format Seriuosly, it sounds like game over to me. You got zerg rushed and AWPed at the same time, and there is likely nothing that you can do about it. Just bite the bullet and concede. Your first order of buissness upon reinstalling XP is to get Mozillla or Mozilla Firefox, both avialable at www.mozilla.org. Then, go download Spybot- Search and Destroy. And sometime within the first 10 minutes of being operational, install Norton AntiVirus. __________________ The Loop. O x Me.

07-15-2004, 08:08 PM	#6
Otaku Son Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,488	How many times must I tell you people: reformat!

07-15-2004, 08:18 PM	#8
Mr. Wind-Up Bird Guest Posts: n/a	Adaware and Spybot. Then stop using IE because it fucking sucks. Go get mozilla and never worry about it again.

07-15-2004, 08:20 PM	#9
Wintermute L33T AI Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The matrix. Hell, I am the matrix... Posts: 199	I don't wanna reformat, though, cause I just got this computer literally like 3 days ago. I already have Norton antivirus. Thanks for the download.com hint, I hadn't though of that. That'll be my first course of action. And I think you're right, I might have that coolwebsearch business. I know that the major malware program on here right now was abbreviated "CWS," so that might be it. I'll say it as a friend of mine said it: "what the fuck kind of assbath makes that? Probably some 40-year-old virgin living in his parents' basement, trying to ruin everybody's fun. __________________ "I'm not Wintermute anymore." "So what are you?" "I'm the matrix." "You running the world now? You God?" -from Neuromancer, by William Gibson (read it now)

07-15-2004, 08:27 PM	#10
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	Here's a slightly less extreme measure. Download Mozilla using explorer, then close out explorer, restart, stay offline, and install Mozilla. THEN use Mozilla to download adaware and spybot. Also, do like I said if you have spyware you need closed out. You could also restart in safe mode after uninstalling the thing, and then reworking your autoexec.bat or startup (probably the former) to remove whatever evil the program puts in it. Be sure to look up directions first, however, because failure will mean reformatting. Also, reformats are the absolute last of the last options. It's like pulling the plug on a family member. Don't do it unless there's absolutely no other option. __________________ I am very tired.