«

I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't be
restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different restore
point/dates without success.

Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate any
good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
doing a clean reinstall at this point.

Thanks

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
> directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
> click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
> I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
> restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't be
> restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different restore
> point/dates without success.
>
> Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate any
> good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
> doing a clean reinstall at this point.

Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:

Spybot S&D
SuperAntispyware
AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
AVG AntiRootkit

On Jul 21, 11:20 am, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news: ups.com...
>
> > I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
> > directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
> > click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
> > I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
> > restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't be
> > restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different restore
> > point/dates without success.
>
> > Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate any
> > good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
> > doing a clean reinstall at this point.
>
> Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
> program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:
>
> Spybot S&D
> SuperAntispyware
> AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
> AVG AntiRootkit

There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it looks
very rough and not what one would expect from a legit corporation with
good web design. Here's the url for spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/
Can you vouch for this "safe networking" site?

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> On Jul 21, 11:20 am, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news: ups.com...
>>
>> > I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
>> > directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
>> > click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
>> > I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
>> > restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't be
>> > restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different restore
>> > point/dates without success.
>>
>> > Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate any
>> > good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
>> > doing a clean reinstall at this point.
>>
>> Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
>> program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:
>>
>> Spybot S&D
>> SuperAntispyware
>> AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
>> AVG AntiRootkit
>
> There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
> program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
> spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it looks
> very rough and not what one would expect from a legit corporation with
> good web design. Here's the url for spybot
> http://www.safer-networking.org/
> Can you vouch for this "safe networking" site?
>
It`s Legitimate !.
I use it, a so do many other people.

bw..

wrote:
> On Jul 21, 11:20 am, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news: ups.com...
>>
>>> I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
>>> directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
>>> click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
>>> I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
>>> restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't be
>>> restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different restore
>>> point/dates without success.
>>> Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate any
>>> good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
>>> doing a clean reinstall at this point.
>> Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
>> program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:
>>
>> Spybot S&D
>> SuperAntispyware
>> AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
>> AVG AntiRootkit
>
> There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
> program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
> spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it looks
> very rough and not what one would expect from a legit corporation with
> good web design. Here's the url for spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/
> Can you vouch for this "safe networking" site?

It's been a well-respected program and website for a long time. But you
are correct to be suspicious, there are antispyware programs out there
that do nothing but part you from your money.

On Jul 21, 11:45 am, Rôgêr <ab...@your.isp.com> wrote:
> 335pla...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Jul 21, 11:20 am, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news: roups.com...
>
> >>> I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
> >>> directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
> >>> click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
> >>> I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
> >>> restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't be
> >>> restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different restore
> >>> point/dates without success.
> >>> Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate any
> >>> good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
> >>> doing a clean reinstall at this point.
> >> Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
> >> program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:
>
> >> Spybot S&D
> >> SuperAntispyware
> >> AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
> >> AVG AntiRootkit
>
> > There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
> > program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
> > spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it looks
> > very rough and not what one would expect from a legit corporation with
> > good web design. Here's the url for spybothttp://www.safer-networking.org/
> > Can you vouch for this "safe networking" site?
>
> It's been a well-respected program and website for a long time. But you
> are correct to be suspicious, there are antispyware programs out there
> that do nothing but part you from your money.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks. I downloaded and ran the Spybot S&D program and it did find
several threats. I deleted them and now I'm not being redirected to
those annoying advertising websites. That's great! Thanks! I was
wondering if removing the threats is actually all there is to it or if
these annoying bugs have a way of replicating.

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> On Jul 21, 11:20 am, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news: ups.com...
>>
>> > I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
>> > directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
>> > click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
>> > I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
>> > restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't
>> > be
>> > restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different
>> > restore
>> > point/dates without success.
>>
>> > Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate
>> > any
>> > good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
>> > doing a clean reinstall at this point.
>>
>> Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
>> program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:
>>
>> Spybot S&D
>> SuperAntispyware
>> AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
>> AVG AntiRootkit
>
> There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
> program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
> spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it looks
> very rough and not what one would expect from a legit corporation with
> good web design. Here's the url for spybot
> http://www.safer-networking.org/
> Can you vouch for this "safe networking" site?

Yep, that's the correct URL. How does glitz and fluff on a web site
equate to how robust and potent is the software? Lavasoft is a company
that is making a buck off the plight of users afflicted with malware.
They have money to blow on web designers and marketing people. Spybot
S&D is free, so just where do you think their budgeting comes from for
web design? I wasn't aware that you only wanted commercialware
solutions. After all, you said that you were using AVG anti-virus and
it's a good bet that you didn't pay for it (but Grisoft also has
commercialware so they have monies to blow on glitzy web sites).

Before downloading any anti-malware product, you might want to visit:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
On Jul 21, 11:45 am, Rôgêr <ab...@your.isp.com> wrote:
> 335pla...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Jul 21, 11:20 am, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news: roups.com...
>
> >>> I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
> >>> directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
> >>> click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is
> >>> clean.
> >>> I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
> >>> restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't
> >>> be
> >>> restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different
> >>> restore
> >>> point/dates without success.
> >>> Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate
> >>> any
> >>> good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
> >>> doing a clean reinstall at this point.
> >> Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
> >> program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:
>
> >> Spybot S&D
> >> SuperAntispyware
> >> AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
> >> AVG AntiRootkit
>
> > There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
> > program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
> > spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it
> > looks
> > very rough and not what one would expect from a legit corporation
> > with
> > good web design. Here's the url for
> > spybothttp://www.safer-networking.org/
> > Can you vouch for this "safe networking" site?
>
> It's been a well-respected program and website for a long time. But
> you
> are correct to be suspicious, there are antispyware programs out there
> that do nothing but part you from your money.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks. I downloaded and ran the Spybot S&D program and it did find
several threats. I deleted them and now I'm not being redirected to
those annoying advertising websites. That's great! Thanks! I was
wondering if removing the threats is actually all there is to it or if
these annoying bugs have a way of replicating.

--- REPLY SEPARATOR ---
(only required because poster used quoted-printable format)
Don't use quoted-printable format when posting to Usenet. It
incorporates line wrapping that, to honor that format, means the post
cannot be quoted correctly (unless the respondent's NNTP client chops up
the message). Also, there are still some NNTP clients that can't read
quoted-printable posts (e.g., web browser interfaces or console-mode
clients where the 1-line paragraph is displayed as 1-line which requires
scrolling to the right to read the paragraph, or is truncated because
there is no scrolling).

If you revisit the web sites from which you got infected, and depending
on your browser's security setup, then you can get re-infected. Don't
go there, or up the security settings of your browser, or use a virtual
machine in which to browse (VMWare Server and Virtual PC are free but
you have to install another instance of the OS whereas with Sandboxie
the VM runs in the OS you already have but after the 30-day trial you
get irritated with prompts from Sandboxie to buy it although it
continues to remain fully functional; VMWare and VPC are free but
Sandboxie degrades into nagware).

On Jul 21, 12:25 pm, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news: ups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 21, 11:20 am, "Vanguard" <vanguar...@comcast.net> wrote:
> >> <335pla...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news: roups.com...
>
> >> > I have XP (sp2). I recently began having a problem where I get
> >> > directed to advertising websites instead of the actual url that I
> >> > click on. I ran AVG and Adaware and both say the computer is clean.
> >> > I've also tried to do a system restore but after going through the
> >> > restore process Windows gives a message saying the computer can't
> >> > be
> >> > restored to the date I selected . I've tried three different
> >> > restore
> >> > point/dates without success.
>
> >> > Am I dealing with a a virus or spyware here? I would appreciate
> >> > any
> >> > good ideas you can offer for how to fix this. I'm pretty close to
> >> > doing a clean reinstall at this point.
>
> >> Detection requires a layered approach. Besides just an anti-virus
> >> program and one anti-malware program (Ad-Aware), also try:
>
> >> Spybot S&D
> >> SuperAntispyware
> >> AVG AntiSpyware (used to be ewido)
> >> AVG AntiRootkit
>
> > There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
> > program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
> > spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it looks
> > very rough and not what one would expect from a legit corporation with
> > good web design. Here's the url for spybot
> >http://www.safer-networking.org/
> > Can you vouch for this "safe networking" site?
>
> Yep, that's the correct URL. How does glitz and fluff on a web site
> equate to how robust and potent is the software? Lavasoft is a company
> that is making a buck off the plight of users afflicted with malware.
> They have money to blow on web designers and marketing people. Spybot
> S&D is free, so just where do you think their budgeting comes from for
> web design? I wasn't aware that you only wanted commercialware
> solutions. After all, you said that you were using AVG anti-virus and
> it's a good bet that you didn't pay for it (but Grisoft also has
> commercialware so they have monies to blow on glitzy web sites).
>
> Before downloading any anti-malware product, you might want to visit:
>
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I was concerned about some companies that are jumpimg on the antivirus
bandwagon who might in fact have less than honest intentions. There
are hundreds of products out there and it's difficult to verify which
ones are the most safe and reliable. You are correct though, slcik
web design is not an indication of a product's effectiveness. AVG came
with my computer when I purchased it so I'm accustomed to using it. Ad-
Aware is currently in use in my corporate workplace and was recommded
to me by the tech people there. Anyway, the spybot s&d seems to have
gotten good results, so thanks again.

wrote:

>>> There appears to be quite a few questionable spyware and malware
>>> program websites out there. I've heard that some of these are just
>>> spyware themselves. I just looked at the Spybot S&D site and it
>>> looks very rough and not what one would expect from a legit
>>> corporation with good web design. Here's the url for
>>> spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/ Can you vouch for this "safe
>>> networking" site?

As the others said, SpybotS&D is a well-respected program. Here is the
informative list of quite a many that are not:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

> Thanks. I downloaded and ran the Spybot S&D program and it did find
> several threats. I deleted them and now I'm not being redirected to
> those annoying advertising websites. That's great! Thanks! I was
> wondering if removing the threats is actually all there is to it or
> if these annoying bugs have a way of replicating.

All there is to it? That totally depends on the threat. It is always
possible that your 'threat-remover' did not find everything, and it will
reinstall itself the next time you connect online. Who knows? If you got
one infection, chances are that you may get another one in the near
future.

Practice Safe Hex.

--
-bts
-Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck