spyware WTF???

[mike37]

:mad: who the hell are thees assholes that there only fun in life is to jack up some ones PC
my kid got this about:blank thing on his PC :mad:
AVG blocks it but the fockers tricked him a screen pops up and tels him he has a virus and to click scan button
but it wasn't are scanning software it was a trick that let the focking thing in and jacked up his browser and some other shit to :mad:
:mad: the guys that do this shit deserve to be shot in the focking head
focking ass holes :mad:
OK Im better now

[H20Advantage]

I here you. My daughter got a Trojan.Vundo virus on her computer and I had to back everything up and start from fresh again. Even the symantec fix could not seem to uninstall it.
I guess it was some type of malware/adware that slows the whole computer down. I think she downloaded somthing from MySpace.... :cry: :mad:

[Phat Matt]

Try these programs out to help protect you.
Microsoft Antispyware (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)
Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)
They are all free.

[MagicMtnDan]

I'm with Matt on his suggestions but like the last two best.
I had about:blank on a couple of our computers over the last few years and it was the most frustrating experience of my online life :mad: Good luck!

[ddevore]

Spyware is a major pain in the ass... The easiest free program that I've found is microsoft's beta version of Windows Defender, just install it and it pretty much works... It's not the most powerful spyware removal in the world, but it does a good job of removal, it's free and runs in the background like antivirus - and it's EASY as hell to install/use.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=435bfce7-da2b-4a6a-afa4-f7f14e605a0d&DisplayLang=en

[AZJD]

What anti-virus are you using? If you have Norton, update to the 2006 and it has a pretty good spyware zapper on it. Also Ad-aware and spybot are great ideas to run about once a week or so.

[SmokinLowriderSS]

About:blank is a MF'er to get rid of. Had it once, took most of a day to get it off my wife's machine (she lets the kids on it sometimes when they have hamstrung theirs so bad it needs my attention, and I am deliberately slow).
Am running Windows Defender Beta on 2 of ours (not mine) and it seems to work well, no issues, they got to be the guinea pigs for once LOL. I still keep Adaware6, Spybot S&D, and a couple others arround for good measure. No 1 anti-spyware seems to remove everything, but the 3 most comon ones seem to cover all the bases.
All running Macaffee Anit-virus, current, updated, and set to "near paranoia" setting, as is my & wife's firewalls. They watch what LEAVES the machines as well as what comes in and flag on any strangeness.

[SmokinLowriderSS]

You have GOT to keep windows itself updated with all the security patches too, otherwise you're trying to keep the wind out of a block of swiss cheese.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

[mike37]

I'm ruining AVG and it works well on virus stuff
and I have windows defender and it let this about:blank thing in
went to staples and bought spayware Doctor for 30 bucks and I think it got
things fixt will see in a day or so if the dam thing comes back
thanks for the input guys

[gqchris]

Let me know how it goes Mike, I can have you run a HiJackThis report and I can try to manually clean it if you dont have luck..I had one here like that and I changed profiles with system restore that seemed to nip it. Its a major PIA.
Chris

[OCMerrill]

You have GOT to keep windows itself updated with all the security patches too, otherwise you're trying to keep the wind out of a block of swiss cheese.
This helps a great deal.
I have tried many differen't anti spyware but I feel Webroot is the better of the best.

[Cheap Thrills]

Here Linux (www.linuxiso.org) Problem solved. :D
For the beginner Linux user I would suggest Morphix , Knoppix or Mandrake all are quite user friendly. even a couple of operating systems that boot and run directly from the CD. you can leave Windooze installed for your games and applications . boot off the Linux bootable CD OS ( Mandrake move is a good one ) and surf worry free.
C.T. :wink:

[Tom Brown]

Cool suggestion, CT. :cool:
Everyone should have a copy of the latest Knoppix kicking around so when your computer does get jacked up, you can boot from CD and carry on. At the very least, it will let you look for information about your problems.
Linux and Outboards.... the way God intended operating systems and boat engines to be. :cool:

[SmokinLowriderSS]

Ran a 30 day trial of Webroot Spysweeper, and though I liked it, I didn't see enough improvement over my standing situation to buy it. I'll say I think it's a good one tho.

[Wake Havasu]

The about Blankpage I received while running Internet Explorer was the straw that broke the camels back for me.
I then switched to Mozilla’s Firefox and have had no problems sense.
Firefox Download (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/)
If you insist on running the security weak Internet Explorer try this site to learn and help remove it:
About Blank Help here: (http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/about-blank-adware.html)
Problem is ever time you hit the site that gave you the about blannk Hijack you will get it again!
Run Firefox and never look back.

[BrendellaJet]

I recently encountered about: blank and spent 2 days trying to get rid of it. reformat and get on with life...just make sure you back your data up on a regular basis.

[mike37]

we ran the spy doctor on my kids PC and all the fockt up shit is gone
had to run it twice but the PC is ruining better than it did new
and we do run Windows updates regularly
and some how windows defender is gone now so I guess the spyware killed it

[77charger]

had that same problem too just switched to the mozilla firefox.Too many viruses these days fix it one day a new one the next.I havent done anyhting to my home pc as far as protection ran the ad aware and spy bot.I dont do bus stuff on my pc either mainly internet.
Just bought a laptop to do my photo stuff on and will keep it offline to avoid any probs.

[Tinkerer]

I was looking for new business software two weeks ago and was downloading trial versions and downloaded something that KILLED my computer inside of 5 minutes.
It wouldn't even boot up in safe mode.
Reformat and reload - waste of a whole saturday.

[BigBlockBaja]

Firefox Download (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/)
Run Firefox and never look back.
That is the best advice right there.

[mike37]

I did used firefox on may old PC and the first day i used it AVG found 3 viruses
this about:blank thing trick you into letting it in no mater what browser you use

[soupersonic]

we ran the spy doctor on my kids PC and all the fockt up shit is gone
had to run it twice but the PC is ruining better than it did new
and we do run Windows updates regularly
and some how windows defender is gone now so I guess the spyware killed it
Try Trend micro PC Cillin as an anti virus program, $30 a year or something
The spybot is good and Adaware se is good too but i heard now that its linked to google it put spyware on your comp. I still use it with no problems. Also be sure to look at the windows update programs and make sure they apply to you. Most of them you dont need. Mostly it the websites the kids visit, our kids have fooked their comp up i dunno how many times.The wife and I hardly ever have problems with our machines.