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Tech Question (ADWARE)
ME

Posted on 11/30/2004 8:04:57 AM PST by MJY1288

I need help getting rid of an adware file that hijacks my browser and changes my "Home" page "About:blank"

The Adware file is something called CWS/hijack.html and the CWS stands for Cool Web Site. I have tried everything and it just won't go away. Any help would be greatly appreciated


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: adware; internetsecurity; spyware
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To: FrankRepublican

CWShredder, there is a link to the download in post #2


61 posted on 11/30/2004 9:21:33 AM PST by MJY1288 (HOUSE CLEANING AT THE STATE DEPT. AND CIA IS IMMINENT)
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To: goldstategop

Thanks for all your help


62 posted on 11/30/2004 9:22:48 AM PST by MJY1288 (HOUSE CLEANING AT THE STATE DEPT. AND CIA IS IMMINENT)
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To: MJY1288

You're welcome.


63 posted on 11/30/2004 9:25:12 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Recovering Hermit

What is that shredder thing?


64 posted on 11/30/2004 9:30:13 AM PST by Howlin (W, Still the President)
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To: MJY1288
Last resort- Get a removable hard drive (about $50 for 80gb). Back up your hard disk. Remove the drive, then re-load XP or Windows 2000/ME/98 (this takes about an hour but is mostly "hands off"). If you need any of the old files you can copy them from the removable drive. You have to re-load drivers and utilities also (e.g. printers, cameras, sound cards, dvd players). But any and all spyware and adware will be gone. You can re-format your internal hard disk (losing all old data) or just re-load the OS (which has worked every time for me).
65 posted on 11/30/2004 9:37:27 AM PST by brookwood
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To: Howlin

It's a small program that eliminates that particular malicious Ad-Ware. It worked great for me :-)


66 posted on 11/30/2004 9:50:02 AM PST by MJY1288 (HOUSE CLEANING AT THE STATE DEPT. AND CIA IS IMMINENT)
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To: Howlin; All
It scans and removes various Cool Web Search components from your system.

It's a quickie fix for this particular piece of malware.

I typically use SpyBot Search & Destroy for protecting my computers...and occasionally AdAware.

Sonmetimes both!

67 posted on 11/30/2004 9:52:04 AM PST by Recovering Hermit
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To: mlbford2; Mr. K

"just restore your computer to factory condition and start from scratch"

Really the only solution. Also, get a VIrus checker b(McAfee and/or NAV) and firewall to prevent this crap from working it's way into your system.

I just got finished vaporizing my daughters computer and completely rebuilding it for exactly the same adware reason. Now, with the Virus protection and firewall, I've seen no probs.


68 posted on 11/30/2004 9:57:28 AM PST by roaddog727 (The marginal propensity to save is 1 minus the marginal propensity to consume.)
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To: Recovering Hermit

Do you just run it? I scanned and that's all it did. No place to remove anything.


69 posted on 11/30/2004 10:42:37 AM PST by Howlin (W, Still the President)
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To: MJY1288; All
Help for viruses and malware:
 
 Ad-Aware ... Spybot ... Peper Uninstaller ... HijackThis... CWShredder ... Spyware Blaster ... IE Spyad ... Free online Virus scan ... AVG AntiVirus ... LSPfix ... How to Show Hidden Files ... How to boot into Safe Mode ... How did I get infected in the first place?


Things you need--(all FREE)
Anti-Virus
AVG Anti-Virus version 7 (free) release available...
 Avast
Firewall
Kerio(Direct Download) Zone Alarm
 If are using zone alarm it may slow your PC. Try Outpost Firewall http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost or Sygate Firewall http://www.sygate.com/ both have FREE and Pro versions and are heads above ZA.
Misc.
IE Spyads SpywareBlaster Spyware Guard
Windows Update- you must keep updated, it is the start of a secure system-
get all CRITICAL Updates

Things you want(Still Free)
 
 Get Firefox I use Firefox PR1 and IMHO, beats the sox off MS Explorer. Life is good with tabs. Click the link and give it a try.

Ad-Aware
Spybot S&D
SpywareBlaster
MS MVP Hosts file
Mike Lin's Homepage and get the Startup Control Panel and Startup Monitor tools.
 
The best forum for malware removal:
 http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?s=262d844129208feb8b0cf5b0186a32f6&act=SC&c=4
SWI Forums--

70 posted on 11/30/2004 10:47:46 AM PST by backhoe
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To: Howlin
Hit the "Fix" button to get a running status.

If you don't have any of the variations, it will indicate "not present".

You probably have a clean machine!

71 posted on 11/30/2004 11:20:42 AM PST by Recovering Hermit
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To: Recovering Hermit

Well, DUH.......thanks for not pointing out what a dolt I am for not seeing the FIX.........LOL. Very kind of you! :-)

I am CLEAN!


72 posted on 11/30/2004 11:24:14 AM PST by Howlin (W, Still the President)
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To: backhoe

Wow, you use all that??


73 posted on 11/30/2004 11:25:27 AM PST by Howlin (W, Still the President)
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To: Howlin
I am CLEAN!

Excellent!

74 posted on 11/30/2004 11:27:34 AM PST by Recovering Hermit
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To: Howlin
Wow, you use all that??

No, just bits & pieces- AVG, Ad-aware & spybot, mainly. The digital modem here has a rudimentary firewall that helps filter out a lot of the garbage, and I quit using IE in June, after a nasty highjacker, and switched to Firefox.

I tried to convert to Linux, but the distaff side of the family put the Kibosh on that, so we keep Win2000 patches up to date. Damned vandals!

75 posted on 11/30/2004 11:39:52 AM PST by backhoe
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To: All
Windows is only inexpensive if you don't value your time.
76 posted on 11/30/2004 12:24:30 PM PST by zeugma (Come to the Dark Side...... We have cookies!)
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To: GSWarrior

"I use a product called SpySweeper "

Well I downloaded the trial version into Windows 2000 and it
screwed up my system even after I had removed it. Basically it trashed my login directory so my desktop disappeared.
They claim the problem exists in the trial version but they lost me at that point. I sure was not going to pay to find out.

I use Spybot and SecureClean, seems to get about everything.


77 posted on 11/30/2004 1:49:28 PM PST by oldcomputerguy
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To: Mr. K

One of the greatest Utilities I have found...


78 posted on 11/30/2004 1:50:49 PM PST by todd1
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To: oldcomputerguy
If it doesn't work, don't use it....

I haven't had any problems with Webroot products, cross my fingers....I'm on Windows XP Home edition.

79 posted on 11/30/2004 1:54:17 PM PST by GSWarrior
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To: nina0113

" He apparently started feeling used, rightfully so IMO, and bagged it. I hope he makes a comeback as a corporation of his own, with updates.(spybot)

Where are you getting this info? As near as I can tell, his website is www.spybot.info and nothing is mentioned about stopping updates, charging etc.


80 posted on 11/30/2004 2:20:34 PM PST by oldcomputerguy
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