I haven't researched it but it sounds like some sort of trojan adware/virus.

You could check the major AV sites to see if they have a cure, or try running programs such as Spybot or Windows Defender.

Another thing to check is whether the trojan has infected the entire computer or just the one user profile.

A drastic solution would be a complete reinstall of XP.

if on windows XP, install IE7 (free from MS) and Defender (free from MS) and run scan.... remove malicious software .... ensure IE is set to block pop-ups (tools-> internet options -> privacy, tick 'turn on popup blocker')....
If on windows 2000, you have little defence ....
(Not promoting MS, I just know their packages better) ...

I'm not familiar with this one but . . .

I'd use the Firefox browser rather than IE. http://www.firefox.com It's a bit less vulnerable than IE.

I'd immediately install Spywareblaster and keep it regularly updated. This will block malicious sites in both IE and Firefox. http://www.spywareblaster.com will get you there.

I'd also install and use Spybot. http://www.spybot.com

Finally, install and use AdAware. http://www.lavasoft.com

All of the above are free (although some offer enhanced paid versions as well).

All are excellent software products.

Good luck.

MM

MM,

I mention IE cos if MS broke it, I expect MS to fix it ...

Heard lots about Firefox, never installed it, does it differ much from IE?
Have heard it is more compatible with the HTTP DOM than IE as MS often go off on their own path adding classes and event procedures and expect the world to follow (typical MS) ....

One of my developers prefers it and uses it as a benchmark for both MS and non-IE browsers, comments/pros/cons most welcome ....

thanks

MM

I understand your reasons for suggesting Firefox. I'm not sure whether you meant to, but your post implies that it it would help solve the problem in this case.

From the description given, this could well be a trojan or virus and while running Firefox might have prevented infection, the most that it will do now is hide the symptoms.

I agree with your other suggestions although I think Windows Defender should also be included.

Thanks a lot, guys.
My own research on this shows it to be a very invasive bit of malware that resists all attempts to destroy it and even when one is succesful in finding it and removing it, reports suggest it hijacks the startup so that when the computer is restarted, it installs itself again.
Sounds very nasty from what I read and a complete reformatting might end up as the only answer, so beware out ther!!
Thanks again,
Alan

I've seen such viruses before. They tend to be in two be made up of two or three seperate parts each one of which is capable of recreating the others. I would expect them to be trigered by a registry entry at startup. There are a few standard places where those reside, and a lot more potential places. You need to delete all of the files and the registry entries to ge rid of it.

I don't want to frighten you too much, but the last time that I encounterd something like this, it also acted as a password sniffer. I found textfiles on everyones computer with logon url's, names and passwords which the virus would email to someone.

Get your friend to search for all files on his computer, containing a commonly used logon name. If that is what is happening, that might flush out where it is storing the stolen info. In any case, change ALL PASSWORDS.

A good first line of deffence against such an attack is to use an exernal firewall to block all outgoing SMTP port 25 traffic. Which will prevent the email being sent. You will have to allow por 25 traffic to your ISP's mail server or better still use a secure mail server. This will not stop ID theft, but it makes things harder for the low life.

Another question, guys (Jeez, what would we all do without you?)

I have finally arranged things so I can dump AOL as my ISP.
From Friday I will be with Sky. They have sent me the activation date, my username and passwords and the router and installation software to set it up.
The question is, can I install the router and software, plug it in to my existing ADSL line and carry on as normal as from now, using the line that on Friday will switch from AOL to Sky, because the problems I have with AOL are terrible?
Thanks,
Alan

hewittalan6

Just in case there are any other problems for you in the doing of this, then Here's a Link

PS. Love your stuff lots. :-)

Awww, shucks............

Thanks for the moral support ;-)

I was terrified of the link, expecting a bunch of moaners telling me how bad Sky are, but the general consensus is they are better than AOL. Not hard. I have a crippled homing pigeon with no sense of direction that is more reliable than AOL broadband.
I've only gone to Sky because an acquaintance of mine is responsible for creating the networks O2 use and he said Sky had by far and away the best infrastructure. He also said Vodafone had the best mobile broadband network so I doubt his self confidence but value his honesty.
Okay, I'm a yorkshireman, so cost was an implication.
Thanks for your help everyone.

Some more help required please about our Lexmark X4550 printer we have the wi-fi side of the printer working and thanks to you folks for your advice but another bit of information would be most welcome and that is would it be possible to run the printer via a usb cable to a differant pc that we use as a back at the same time.So that the laptop runs it with wi-fi and the back up pc runs it by usb cable.

Mega.........

Mega - working on the KISS principle I'd say just plug it in and off you go.

MB

I guess the only way to find out is to try it but I suspect it will not work.

In any case, why bother? If your printer is already connected to the network, then both computers should be able to use it via the network.

Find out what is really running on your computer! This link is to an excellent web site facility and tool and I personally recommend it.

http://www.fileresearchcenter.com/

Identify what is running on your computer. Then it shows you the list and provides for each thing found, free information about safe and unsafe files, processes, services, spyware, adware, malware, trojans, and other programs that may be on your computer.

You can also enter the name of the File, Process, Service, or DLL and locate in FileResearch Center's database. If the item is NOT listed, you can report the file so they can analyze it.

I also use 'SuperAntiSpyeware Free Edition' from this particular web site to look for Spyware, Adware and Malware, Trojans, Worms and other Parasites or harmful software on my machine.

anyone know of a way of getting FREE access to internet using Wifi with Ipod or Moblie devices while out and about, is there any free ISP or services?

I am thinking of something along the lines of opensource

RG

Once you're on, try this...

funny (not)

I've been saving a new Excel file (.xls) to my CD drive so I can keep 2 pc's in sync.with a price list. When I amended some stuff on the PC last night & tried to save it to disk it wouldn't let me because there was a file already there with that name. It wouldn't let me overwrite it or delete it either. The file is read only and when I try to click on the properties to amend it, the boxes stay greyed out!
Why did it save the file originally as a read only and how do I change it now it's like that please? Thanks in advance.

Edit: The disk is RW

Bolshi

I suspect that although you are using a RW disk, it is seen as RO by the Windows file system as the disk is only writable with a CD burning program.

You can't write to a CD from Excel, so you need to load the file from your CD, and Save As... to your hard disk and then copy the file to the CD.

An easier way would be to use a USB flash drive.

Thanks O.