VANITY: Help! Downloaded "search.com" Adware

02-16-04 | self

[mamaduck]

My husband allowed a download of Adware, which turns out to be a program that takes over your computer and internet with popups and shorcut bars, etc. I am running into dead ends trying to find out how to get rid of this thing. Can anyone help??

search.exe, search.com are the referrences I can give you. My homepage now has a passthrough via search.com. I now have an extra toolbar on my desktop, and on my internet page. AND lots and lots of popups.

It originally came with some extra folders in my favorites file (including adult sites). These seem to have deleted and stayed deleted. I have deleted cookies, and my history, and my temporary internet files. Changed my home page address. And this things just keeps coming back!

From what I have found out it seems to be an internet tracking software as well.

[countrydummy]

I have this same trojan! Except mine is called Stubby.A....it is doing the same things you have described.
I thought I had got rid of it, may have, but got it again yesterday!

So that is why I sent you that link above, that tells you how to fix all variances of this trojan!

Good Luck!

[JoJo Gunn]

By the way, here's a thread worth reading and bookmarking! Seems in the last 6 months or so there's been a lot of scumbags pretending to be spyware killers that install more of the same!

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157084

[justlurking]

Yes, Ad-aware from Lavasoft.com will get rid of it for free.

No, it's at lavasoft.de.

[sl-17b]

I have had the dsame thing happen before and run both Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy one after the other about every week and they wil clean your system right up.
Simply using the Add/Remove utility in the control panel will not do it since the program on your computer probably won't show up in there and will reload itself after the next time you turn on your computer.
I had that happen to me and at the time thought the only way to fix it was to format my hard drive. Since I have been using Ad-Aware and Spybot I have not had a problem.

[Bogey78O]

Spybot also has an immunize option which prevents future downloads.

[Bogey78O]

You click the "unsubscribe me" link often?

[RadioAstronomer]

also AnalogX Script Defender is a great program:

http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm

[js1138]

I'm curious about immunization. Does it involve running a service?

Spyware Blaster does not need to run continuously. It kills spyware in the registry without uninstalling it. That makes it a snap to restore a function disabled by mistake.

It also disables many of the functions that display the come-ons, so that your kids will probably never be tempted by offers of free stuff.

[js1138]

So if there is a legitimate script, how do you know?

[Bogey78O]

It keeps a log that is updeated of certain adware scripts. If one tries to install iteself it knows.

Adware programs work almost exactly like anti-virus software for good reason.

[js1138]

Adware programs work almost exactly like anti-virus software for good reason.

Spyware Blaster is an exception. I suggest you look into it. I've put it on a number of machines. The popups offering to install stuff have ceased to exist. And there's nothing running in the background.

I would, however appreciate the opinion of any gurus that might be lurking.

[RadioAstronomer]

I have run this peice of software for a while now. I have yet to run into a problem with it installed.

[HAL9000]

This was posted last week - Spyware cures may cause more harm than good

[LynnHam]

SPY- BOT

http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10194058.html?tag=txt

[js1138]

May I consider you a guru? I'm pretty much self-taught in the IT world. I find that most documentation is intended for things that arise only in a parallel universe. I find that many things recommended by enthusiasts have hidden flaws. Authors spam the user reviews at Amazon and Cnet. The IBM drives I bought for all my family members seveeral years ago are now the subject of a class-action suit. If anything can go wrong, I already have three copies.

[Focault's Pendulum]

I have run this peice of software for a while now. I have yet to run into a problem with it installed.

I tried to install it....but I ran out of drywall screws....maybe I'll just side mount it with Liquid Nails.

[mamaduck]

*sigh* I wish it had been that easy. :-)

[mamaduck]

Thanks, dummy, I think you are not!

[mamaduck]

Yes, the original solicitation was to *prevent* pop ups, yeah, right!

[RadioAstronomer]

May I consider you a guru? I'm pretty much self-taught in the IT world.

Sigh. I am most likely not any further along in IT than you are. I build a lot of computers, however, when it comes to software and networking, I am purely at the amateur level.

I find that most documentation is intended for things that arise only in a parallel universe.

LOL! Indeed!

Authors spam the user reviews at Amazon and Cnet.

For reviews and product information, I like "tomshardware", "anandtech", "overclockersclub", "futuremark", etc.

You have freepmail.