Date: 02/11/05 (Security)    Keywords: spyware

As many as 65 percent of businesses are ready to write checks for anti-spyware products.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Study%3A+Anti-spyware+market+to+boom+in+2005/2100-1009_22-5572950.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 02/15/05 (Security)    Keywords: spyware, microsoft

Bill Gates says Microsoft won't charge customers for its spyware and pop-up killer.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Windows+anti-spyware+to+come+free+of+charge/2100-1009_22-5577202.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 02/16/05 (Security)    Keywords: security, spyware, microsoft

As security firms brush off Microsoft's anti-spyware plans, analysts point out that over time, it could become a bigger threat.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Long+fuse+for+Microsoft%27s+security+challenge/2100-1009_22-5579418.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 02/18/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, virus, antivirus, spyware

Software giant should focus on securing Windows, not on entering anti-spyware and antivirus market, an analyst says.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Gartner+takes+Microsoft+to+task/2100-1009_22-5582742.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 02/24/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, web, spyware, microsoft

A Dutch Web site has accepted an apology from Microsoft after it was blacklisted by the software giant's anti-spyware tool.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Microsoft+says+sorry+for+AntiSpyware+error/2100-1009_22-5589000.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 02/25/05 (Security)    Keywords: spyware

In the depths of its licensing agreement, Redmond promises a wee bit of compensation if its anti-spyware tool messes up your hard drive.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Microsoft+offers+%245+windfall+for+errant+software/2100-1009_22-5590042.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 03/02/05 (Security)    Keywords: software, security, virus, spyware

Software that combs through files for viruses, worms and spyware brings the security company a U.S. patent.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Detection+tool+lands+Symantec+a+patent/2100-1009_22-5596656.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 03/04/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: virus, spyware, yahoo, google

hey everyone... here's my problem, i hope someone can help.

i was on a couple sites looking for info on programs to download to convert a video file so i could burn it to a dvd and watch it on my tv (cause whatever file i have it as doesn't work). anyway, while i was on this site, a couple of those activex things popped up and i (stupidly) accepted them. then i got all this crap on my computer. most of it called "azesearch". so, i disabled the add ons that it installed on my tool bar. then i scanned my computer with ad-adware, which got rid of 44 files. i did a search for any file with "azesearch" in it. deleted around 8 of those. and now.. well, everything seems to be working okay, EXCEPT yahoo search or google search (there could be more not working but thats the only two ive noticed so far). the google search wont even work past the homepage (i get 'page cannot be displayed), also the same when i try to activate my gmail invite. the yahoo search page looks different. i mean, if you glance at it, it looks the same, but most of the links dont work. it has a "popular searches" column on the right which is all porn related. and if i search for something, it gives me a bunch of random non-related results, mostly about spyware, virus protection, or other "free sony vaio!" type of scams.

so, does anyone know what the problem could be or how to fix it? any help would be greatly appreciated.

btw, if this should be posted in a different community, please let me know. thanks again.

slt

EDIT: i use windows xp and IE if that helps.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/344595.html

Date: 03/05/05 (Computer Geeks)    Keywords: software, browser, spyware, microsoft

I know you guys get request like this all the time, but any help is appreciated. My computer is really driving me nuts.

So, over the past week it seems I've gotten some nasty, impossible to remove spyware, causing a multitude of pop-ups on my computer. I always use Mozilla Firefox, but the other memebers of the house still use Explorer, so I know that's probably part of the problem.

I've used Spyware Doctor, Ad-Adware and Scan Spyware, but none of them seem to be able to delete something called EliteBar, which I've read causes obnoxious pop-ups amongst other things. They are all able to detect it and try to delete it, but when I restart my computer, it's back. Under the cut is my Hijack This log. I'm not very computer literate, so clear, step-by-step instructions would be great, but any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.


Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 1:03:58 PM, on 3/5/05
Platform: Windows 98 SE (Win9x 4.10.2222A)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\CREATIVE\LAUNCHER\CTLAUNCHER.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\CREATIVE\SHAREDLL\CTNOTIFY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\CREATIVE\SBPCI512\AUDIOHQ\AHQTB.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\BROADJUMP\CLIENT FOUNDATION\CFD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\HP\HP SOFTWARE UPDATE\HPWUSCHD2.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\HP\HPCORETECH\HPCMPMGR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\QTTASK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSCHECKBOP32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSNAVC32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ELITENWP32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\MS03201593286.EXE
C:\MEMOREX\TRAVELDRIVE2B\SHWICON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\HPO1_QCX.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\HHSCON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSMONNT.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\HP\DIGITAL IMAGING\BIN\HPQTRA08.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\OLYMPUS\CAMEDIA MASTER 4.2\CM_CAMERA.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\CREATIVE\SHAREDLL\MEDIADET.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\HP\DIGITAL IMAGING\BIN\HPQGALRY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\HPZIPM12.EXE
C:\HIJACK THIS\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\WINDOWS\about.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by BellSouth
O2 - BHO: PCTools Browser Monitor - {B56A7D7D-6927-48C8-A975-17DF180C71AC} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\TOOLS\IESDPB.DLL
O2 - BHO: PCTools Site Guard - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\TOOLS\IESDSG.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Creative Launcher] C:\Program Files\Creative\Launcher\CTLauncher.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Disc Detector] C:\Program Files\Creative\ShareDLL\CtNotify.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AudioHQ] C:\Program Files\Creative\SBPCI512\AudioHQ\AHQTB.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BJCFD] C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\CFD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StillImageMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Component Manager] "C:\PROGRAM FILES\HP\HPCORETECH\HPCMPMGR.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\QTTASK.EXE" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [4YK6Y0N4] \Progra~1\4YK6Y0N4\4YK6Y0N4.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemCheck] C:\WINDOWS\SYSCHECKBOP32
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [App32dll] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSNAVC32.EXE lee0105
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [antiware] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ELITENWP32.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ms03201593286] C:\WINDOWS\ms03201593286.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Kernel32] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Kernel.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShowIcon_Memorex_USB Product Driver v2.13r002] C:\Memorex\TravelDrive2B\shwicon.exe -t"Memorex\USB Product Driver v2.13r002"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [o66f36Q] HPO1_QCX.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SchedulingAgent] mstask.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ZxppRWcpP] HHSCON.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Spyware Doctor] "C:\PROGRAM FILES\SPYWARE DOCTOR\SWDOCTOR.EXE" /Q
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpyWareWall] C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~2\SpyWareWall.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SYSMONNT] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSMONNT
O4 - Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O4 - Startup: FOLDER.HTT
O4 - Startup: HP Image Zone Fast Start.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqthb08.exe
O4 - Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Startup: CAMEDIA Master.lnk = C:\Program Files\OLYMPUS\CAMEDIA Master 4.2\CM_camera.exe
O4 - Global Startup: FOLDER.HTT
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AIM Search - res://C:\PROGRAM FILES\AIM TOOLBAR\AIMBAR.DLL/aimsearch.htm
O9 - Extra button: Spyware Doctor - {2D663D1A-8670-49D9-A1A5-4C56B4E14E84} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\TOOLS\IESDPB.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\AIM\AIM.EXE
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug - {AF6CABAB-61F9-4f12-A198-B7D41EF1CB52} - C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe (file missing) (HKCU)
O16 - DPF: {F7A05BAC-9778-410A-9CDE-BFBD4D5D2B7F} (iPIX Media Send Class) - http://216.249.24.60/code/iPIX-ImageWell-ipix.cab

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computergeeks/622256.html

Date: 03/06/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: virus, web, spyware, microsoft

Okay I have to type this quick because i only have about 5 minutes until my internet goes out again.

So here's the deal:

I'm using Comcast and windows xp on a newer Dell computer (4600 series I believe)
Connection is fine. I can view webpages for about 10-12 minutes before every single website decides "this page cannot be displayed". I can log on to AIM just fine, and download music from limewire. But it will not display webpages ten minutes after I start my computer. I have read other inquiries about this problem on other pages and no one had responded so I really don't know what to do at this point. Here is what I have tried so far:

*Scanned for viruses and spyware with Spybot Search & destroy, AVG, and Ad-Aware 6
*Followed microsoft troubleshooting
*"repaired" the connection
*Downloaded Mozilla's foxfire, thinking it may just be interent explorer. Problem did not change.
*Downloaded TweakDUN from Majorgeeks.com

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?! I'm so frustrated right now!!!

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/347092.html

Date: 03/13/05 (Mozilla)    Keywords: spyware

I've been using Firefox for a while now without any trouble. Then last night I go to open it up and I get an error.










I have no trouble opening IE (which I am now begrudgingly using), but I still can't open Firefox even after running Spyware Doctor and Ad-Aware. However, on both programs it gets stuck at a certain file. Ad-Aware freezes up and won't go past it and Spyware Doctor stops scanning at that point. However, with Spyware Doctor I was able to delete all of the infected files up until that point. I've tried to manually delete the file that Ad-Aware got hung up on, but I can't because it's "in use" even after closing out of every running program in Windows. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/mozilla/261241.html

Date: 03/13/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: virus, spyware

Its a Novatech 1.4GHz (or something around that) and before i installed a bunch of updates, it was crashing ALL the time. It was crashing like once every 15 minutes, and you had to do a hard boot, because everything completely locked up.

A month or so ago i installed a bunch of updates, and it sudenly was working fine!

Then a few days back i installed SP2 and it allllll went really really really slow. It takes forever to boot, to load programs, to do anything.

It has no viruses that Avast can find, it has no spyware that Spybot can find, and im not really sure if there is a solution.

Thanks for any help, -Mark

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/351683.html

Date: 03/14/05 (Security)    Keywords: spyware

Bot nets, or networks of compromised PCs, are increasingly being used for identity theft and installing spyware, a new report says.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Zombie+PCs+being+sent+to+steal+IDs/2100-1009_22-5616202.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 03/15/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: software, virus, spyware

my girlfriend's cousin has a dell dimension 4600c that has been eaten alive by spyware and trojans and everything. she had a dsl connection without any kind of firewall and stuff and no spyware blockers, and norton virus scan (so may as well be no virus scan). i am trying to figure out how to do an image restore, but she can't find the CD that would have that on it. pretty much every computer i have ever had has come with a cd that will let you restore to the factory settings and erase everything else, but dell is weird and likes to do things their own way so i don't know if that will work or not.

if anyone knows anything about dell or has any advice for me.  kinda don't wanna wipe the whole drive because i don't wanna spend like 7 hours trying to get the computer back running and then put all the software she needs on there. bleah!!!!!!!!!! help!

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/354604.html

Date: 03/15/05 (Mozilla)    Keywords: spyware

Got into a bit of a silly situation at with the client I'm working with. I installed Firefox on my workstation since they apparently do nothing with their IE setup to prevent spyware and stuff.

But right away I got a warning that I was now exceeding my storage limit for my user profile.

It turns out that they somehow backup the data in my user directory on NT in \winnt\profiles\myuserid, and because of that they've set a limit that it must not exceed 10 mb... weird corporate rule, but being a consultant mine is not to reason why in this case :-)

So, is there any way to change where Firefox looks for all the stuff like application data? I tried to look at the settings, but couldn't find any. I just want to point it somewhere else on the disk - I don't care if I should loose my setup or bookmarks - I'm only at this client for a number of months, I just want a less annoying browsing experience :-)

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/mozilla/261811.html

Date: 03/17/05 (IT Professionals)    Keywords: software, web, spyware, microsoft, google

Here's a challenge for you.

reviews.cnet.com may or may not have a section dedicated solely to reviewing spyware removal software. It seems that they would, but I can't find it. Can you? If so, what steps did you take to find it?

Many people can find the webpages they need instantly. I, on the other hand, find most sites hard to navigate. If I need something on Microsoft.com, for instance, I don't click around their site's built in navigation. I'll use google's site:microsoft.com functionality. If that fails, I'll try to look around their site. Worst case scenario, I ask someone else to look it up. Anyone else here do the same?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/itprofessionals/7551.html

Date: 03/23/05 (Microsoft Windows)    Keywords: web, spyware

Recently I've been having some problems with my computer which is running Windows 2000 Pro and has a AMD Thoroughbred CPU. Some things I did before I started having problems: I recently took out the RAM and then put it back in (long story) but the computer seems to recognize that okay. I also recently tried to add to it a DVD burner, but for some reason I was having problems with the computer recognizing it. Power was going to it just fine but it wasn't being recognized by PnP. I haven't installed the drivers yet, but I'm not sure that's the problem. Regardless, that's something to tackle another day. I also got a "new" monitor which works just beautifully. Unfortunately, I'm not home right now so I can't give the specs on all of those.

Anyway, the problem is that the video card wasn't working at all although it had been working quite well in the past. It is Geforce 4 MX 440 I believe. If I recall, it stopped working before I tried it with the new monitor. Regardless, it doesn't work with either of them. So I uninstalled it and was going to try to reinstall the drivers to see if that would fix the problem. But InstallShield stopped working. I believe I got error -1607: Unable to Install InstallShield Scripting Run Time. So I went to their website and was going to install the updates and see if that worked. But the Windows Installer said that it didn't work (I'm sorry, I don't remember the exact error).

Also: some of the things in the Start Menu such as the Windows Updater and the search for files don't work (at least when selected from the Start Menu). I cannot click and drag things from the Desktop to the trash (or is it recycle bin in Windows? I'm primarily a Mac user). Whenever I click on the Programs Folder, the folder is completely empty although it shows there being x amount of files at the bottom of the window. When I try to search in that folder, then files will show up in the search and I have to access them that way or through the command prompt.

When I hadn't figured out that it was my video card that was the reason my computer wouldn't start up past a certain point, my boyfriend who is much more knowledgeable about Windows than I am, ran the computer in safe mode and went through my registry and program folder and deleted some programs that he thought might be suspicious (for the record, I think we were being overly cautious--they didn't look like spyware to me, but then, I must admit that I can't remember where they came from), and I ran PCillin and AdAware on the computer.

When I finally find the Windows 2000 disk that I have I was just going to reinstall Windows, because we're both stumped, but maybe someone can give me some insight on what I should do instead? I have a feeling there's something obvious that I'm missing. Thank you very much for your help!

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/ms_windows/25354.html

Date: 03/23/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: virus, antivirus, web, spyware, microsoft

i apologize in advance because i know this will turn into a lengthy post, as i have searched high and low for the answer(s) to my problem.. and found several solutions, some of which contradict each other.. and i am at a loss.. literally. since my computer will no longer boot up.

my issue is this.. i receive this error msg when i try to start up my computer (hp,running on windows xp home edition):

1) winlogon.exe entry point not found. Procedure entry point AssocIsDangerous could not be located in dynamic link library SHLWAPI.dll. When I click on "ok" or the "x" , I get

2) Logon user interfce dll msgina.dll failed to load. This restarts computer back to the first error. I cannot get past this.


from what i have read... several ppl have had this issue after doing some sort of windows update on xp dealing with service pack 1 i think it is. however, i thought i had a virus since my computer was all sorts of acting up (saying low on memory, going reaaaally slow, and my internet explorer would not revert back to homepage and obvious adware, etc)...

so i decided to uninstall and reinstall internet explorer.. hoping it would at least help for a bit so i could run my spyware/adware programs to get rid of some of it (i have netscape as backup).. so i do that, and i go to restart my computer and this happens.. it will not even boot in safe mode.

i then go out and get norton antivirus, hoping this will get my "virus" and i create some emergency disks.. only to find there is no virus at all.. and after some more research i learn it is a microsoft problem.

i guess i will get to my real point out of all of this. has anyone else had this issue or known someone with it before? what did you/they do to fix it? i have heard of using the XP cd to boot into Recovery Mode to fix the corrupted files.. and then i've read not to go into Recovery Console at all because that will mess it up? i really do not know.

Also, my other big issue is that.. i do not have my XP nor a factory restore cd or anything. my computer came with it previously installed.. and anyone else in the house either had the same or has no idea where it is. so i'm stuck. i can make emergency boot disks from the microsoft website..however, it says at the end of the instructions that to finish the set up, i will need the cd anyway. any suggestions? thank you so much in advance!!

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/361535.html

Date: 03/29/05 (Security)    Keywords: spyware

Research firm Gartner has issued a warning to companies using Mac OS to guard against malicious code attacks and spyware.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Gartner%3A+Beware+of+Mac+OS+spyware/2100-1009_22-5644762.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 04/03/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: software, virus, antivirus, spyware

I'm using a Dell Inspiron 4000 laptop that's running Windows XP Home w/SP2, and I've been having issues with my screensaver. I didn't change my screensaver settings or anything recently, and about three days ago my screensaver stopped working. I had my screensaver set to turn on after 10 minutes, and when I noticed that it wasn't starting automatically, I changed the settings so the screensaver would turn on after one minute. I tried changing my screensaver from 3D pipes to Starfield. It still didn't work. I also have my settings such that my screen is to turn off after one hour, and it doesn't do that either. I've tried using XP's Help and Support with no luck, and I've tried Googling to no avail. I've done spyware scans and I've run my antivirus software as well, and I found nothing wrong. I just don't understand how my screensaver could just stop working when I've done nothing to change the settings. If anyone has any advice or solutions, they would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/367988.html