STORM2K

I've been doing some off-internet stuff in the last few minutes(Notepad) and at least three times I've seen the internet address bar(what comes up when you start typing an address that matches what your typing) on the screen but the browser is NOT open. I ran the spyware checker earlier and it found a hijacker(ISTToolbar or something like that) but it had no way to get rid of it. I'd appreciate any help that's not too complicated.

When you run the spwware program turn off system restore and then get rid of the problem then turn it back on

Try Microsoft Beta1 AntiSpyware...it gets rid of ISTbar, Comet Systems, 180Solutions, DyFuCa, and a host of other malignancies.

Rainband wrote:When you run the spwware program turn off system restore and then get rid of the problem then turn it back on

How do you do that???

streetsoldier wrote:Try Microsoft Beta1 AntiSpyware...it gets rid of ISTbar, Comet Systems, 180Solutions, DyFuCa, and a host of other malignancies.

Thanks. This Yahoo one tells you it's there but can't delete it.

Edit: Well... it got rid of it that time!!! Now let's see if it's better. It's been shaky all day(but not that bad, it was just putting programs on the computer that no one installed).

My PC gave me a MAJOR headache yesterday. My homepage was changed, all kinds of strange toolbares were in my browser and I was getting random popups without even openning my Browser! April babysits and left Kazaa resurrected running and left the PC for a minute in front of the computer because-well, he seems to love computers...---the 1 yr old --almost terrible 2 but still one decided to go mousehappy and managed to install 122 instances of various spyware onto the PC according to spybot. I was getting about 2-3 popups/minute-maybe even more and April actually clicked one of them because it popped up and said "your computer may be infected with malicious spyware" adding even more spyware before I got home.
A few were real pains as I had to run Hijack this in safe mode and Let it fix them to get rid of them as Spybot nor adaware couldnt get rid of them-even in safe mode- and I could not shut them down manually via CTRL ALT DELETE--they wouldnt go away.

These are particullarly nasty only deletable by hijack this in safe mode
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Media Access] C:\Program Files\Media Access\MediaAccK.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SurfSideKick 3] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\Ssk.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsA.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [checkrun] C:\windows\system32\eliteppo32.exe (questionable but I got rid of it cause I searched and a similar file was found as spyware via google search)

It is apparent to me that spybot and adaware are not the cure all so The best thing to do (after running these programs still having problems) IMHO is look at your task manager and check any unusual running via google search sites will usually tell ya what the program is. It took me hours to stop the popups last night but finally got them all around midnite and put a password lock on the computer after 3 minutes idle time LOL. One forum that I found kept finding tips hits from google when looking for a questionable running exe. I feel it is ok to post this forum as it looks really helpful as a PC help form but mods, of course feel free to correct this post if it is not acceptable. Here is the link http://www.geekstogo.com/ . They actually consider Aurora, another popup I kept getting...which brought on more popups, a virus! Hijack this seems to be a must have program for a lot of help to see rules are installed on your PC as far as startup, whats running, internet info, etc... You can get it here and read reviews... http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10227353.html

Hope this helps...

BTW, While windowsxp user is locked waiting for password, why would you still come back to applications open like calculator and help and other varios programs when they weren't open before but baby was allowed to play at PC while PC was locked?

That can really be a pain, and we had it happen on one of our computers about 7 months back. We used PepperFix, which did an awesome job. We currently run Ad Aware and Spybot on a regular basis, and Pepperfix if needed. Ad Aware and Spybot do a beautiful job, but Pepperfix is designed specifically for the hijacks.