OT HEEEELP MY @#*%& COMPUTER IS *$&%%&

Starhawk · #1 December 31st, 2004, 03:08 AM

Okay I went surfing the net, and next thing you know I have some damn thing called an Active X controller installing AND I CAN'T STOP IT! and now every time I log on the stupid internet the bLasted thing brings up shop at home JUNK and slows the whole dang computer down.

Anyone out there PLEASE tell me how I can find and destroy this stupid Active X controller!? My spyware and antivirus software won't track it and system restore won't delete it because it was installed

Please help (and no I don't know it's name

Slick · #2 December 31st, 2004, 03:18 AM

Well, first I'd recommend listing your computer specs and OS.

Next, if it is Windohs, run msconfig and check if it has added anything to the startup sequence. Uncheck if necessary.

However this sounds like a plugin to your browser. It might help if you mentioned what browser you are using as well.

Suicide Junkie · #3 December 31st, 2004, 03:18 AM

Ugh. You were using IE weren't you.
Active X isn't the adware, though. Its just Microsoft's nastyware doggie-door.

Grab Mozilla/Firefox or one of the other soon-to-be-suggested safe and open-source browsers.

Then try to figure out what the nasty is actually called.
You could try googling for (and posting here) a more detailed description of what you see, and see if it turns up anything.

Starhawk · #4 December 31st, 2004, 03:27 AM

My spyware killer calls it (eXact Homeshoppingbuddy) or something like that, I delete it but the dang Active X keeps re-attaching it

Okay my Windows OS is XP
My Browser is Cox HighSpeed with popupblocker enabled

Fyron · #5 December 31st, 2004, 03:51 AM

Quote:

My Browser is Cox HighSpeed with popupblocker enabled

Rebranded Internet Exploder. Get Mozilla Firefox. It is only a 4.9 MB download, so it is not too bad for dialup even... Most internet-spread malware gets into your computer through the 8 bajillion security holes in Internet Exploder (or Outlook). The AdBlock extension makes it even better.

You'll need to run some powerful anti-spyware programs. Ad-Aware is one of the best, and free for personal use. Don't bother with the "pro" Version and all that. The other of the best is Spybot Search & Destroy. It is always a tossup which actually comes out on top... Best to use both, as one will sometimes miss something that the other catches. Either of these should eliminate your problem.

A good firewall is a plus. Disable that crap that is built into XP and run Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5 (NOT the more recent 4.x Version!). It can help protect your computer.

Rathar · #6 December 31st, 2004, 05:00 AM

Try trendmicro.com, they have a very handy Online virus scanner that catches a bunch of other crap and after that your standard anti-spyware doodad tends to strip the rest.
Using two anti-spyware programs is a good idea as previously suggested!

Instar · #7 December 31st, 2004, 05:18 AM

You don't need to get Firefox. Try out Lavasoft AdAware, its decent.
IE6SP2 (XP SP2) has a built in method for preventing this kind of hijack. Forced ActiveX installation isn't cool. If you're using XP, get SP2. If not, seriously consider upgrading.
If you want to continue using IE, consider getting DropMyRights from MSDN, it uses a program to prevent IE from running as admin if you are running as admin (a serious no no)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...re11152004.asp

Atrocities · #8 December 31st, 2004, 08:33 AM

Pest Patrol works really well as well, but it might delete your MP3's if they were aquired through a RIAA trick p2p program.

Captain Kwok · #9 December 31st, 2004, 01:49 PM

Often, this sort of hijack uses a .dll file to re-install itself after it has been removed. Search for all the files on your computer that were Last modified after you started noticing this junk.

If you are using XP, then your user directory (documents and settings, your user name) has some hidden folders called local settings / application data - I believe you might find the file there.

Fyron · #10 December 31st, 2004, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Instar said:
You don't need to get Firefox. Try out Lavasoft AdAware, its decent.
IE6SP2 (XP SP2) has a built in method for preventing this kind of hijack. Forced ActiveX installation isn't cool. If you're using XP, get SP2. If not, seriously consider upgrading.
If you want to continue using IE, consider getting DropMyRights from MSDN, it uses a program to prevent IE from running as admin if you are running as admin (a serious no no)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...re11152004.asp

Yes, you most certainly do need to ditch IE. Even the IE of XP SP2 is nowhere near sufficient. It is still garbage.

Further, Windows XP is no upgrade over older Versions of Windows (expcept win95 or winME...). Do not waste your money on it. Find a copy of Windows 2000 instead, and save yourself the bloat of XP...