Pop Up Frustration 1

[Hainley]

The past several mornings, I have come into the den to find about 25 to 30 pop up boxes on my desktop. This is frustration to the Nth degree.

I am running Windows 98SE, and have a Comcast cable connection. I thought I had this resolved until this morning. I have turned off all of the java options in IE6. For a few days, I had no problems. The other evening, my wife went in and used Netscape to access the internet. Now the popups are back. Keep in mind that these popups are coming onto my desktop even without having IE or Netscape open.

Can anyone tell me what, or how, in Win98SE will stop these popups?

Thanks!

 

[jrbarnett]

Hi,

As you are on a broadband connection, I would recommend installing a personal firewall software package. Products such as ZoneAlarm, McAfee, Norton Personal Firewall, Sygate and Kerio will all do the job. If this is a personal rather than work computer, many of the packages are free.

This will stop these incoming messages, as well as other attempts to probe your PC.

John

 

[jujet84]

Gotta ask, what do you use for a firewall and also a virus control

 

[TekTippy4U]

I bet your wife used Netscape because she couldn't view/download web pages with Java disabled......

Definitly empty your Temporary Internet Files Folder.....choose edit>select all...then File>delete

Being you have a high-speed connection....When you log-off the web, are you totally disconnecting....or just signing off?....

A firewall is a "must" in the future and like they say above,..It's free......software is good, hardware(router) is better..

You should take a look at your cookies...Both Netscape and IE...(you might have two different folders)
IE....should be C:\Windows\cookies or
Windows\local settings\?.....
I use Win98 no "SE" so I'm not sure
Netscape should be beneath the main Netscape Folder...
C:\Program Files\Netscape\?\?

You really don't want to delete the ones that pertain to Important sites you visit with passwords(such as MSN, AOL, Comcast, Bank, Phone,......any Password/Personal Info necessary site you use often).......
If you do delete them "all"......at best your looking at reentering all that personal info crud.....at worst.....you'll be in hell trying to figure out why you can't connect anymore using, oh say, MSN 8......

I prompt most eveything pertaining to Java which is fairly safe...compared to ActiveX which I mostly(95%-99%) Block.....and it is a pain alot to keep denying/accepting
Cookies/ActiveX/Java.....but it's worth it "to me"

These silly corrupt boxes....have let fun and interactivity become breeding grounds for all sorts of horrific nightmares....from worms/viruses, to Identity theft and worse....

So here's the scoop.....If you like the multi-media interactive, web movie/video interactive nonsense aspect....for yourself/wife/kids........Get a firewall and virus software( if you don't have already).......

Otherwise.....for me......
Shockwave Flash?........GONE FOR GOOD!!!
But that's "JUST ME".....Good luck

 

[Hainley]

Thanks for the information..however...I have been using Nortion AV and NPF (Firewall) for the last year. Have not had these issues until about four days ago. I set the firewall today to HIGH security...thought it looked better...came back from dinner and had 18 popup windows.

When logging off, we are not shutting down the computer, just logging off the internet.

My guess is that somewhere, somehow I need to blow up any Active X controls?

Thanks for the input guys (and gals)

 

[jrbarnett]

Jujet,

I use AVG 6 Free edition antivirus and Kerio Personal Firewall on Win2000 SP3.

Judging by what you say is happenning, I would run a spyware checker over your PC (good ones are Spybot and Ad-Aware).

John

 

[TekTippy4U]

Here's SpyBot's site.......

http://spybot.eon.net.au/

It's free......donations accepted

 

[Hainley]

DL'ed and installed Ad-Aware...it found 37 instances. So far things seem to be good...only did it this morning, so time will tell.

On a more important note, how did these things get there in the first place? There really should be a law against this.

Cheers!

 

[sagar11]

do you have Kazaa Media Desktop? Grokster ? or any P2P programs to download mp3s? if so.. they are causing some of these pop-ups..also.. why dont you try MSCONFIG.. ?

 

[greyted]

Hainley,
Download the "Hijack This" programme from here.

http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/

Unzip and double-click HijackThis.exe.
Hit "Scan".

When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log" button.
Save the log.

Most of what it lists will be harmless or even essential, don't fix anything yet.

Post the log in this thread, someone will check it for you.

http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/index.php?s=19460c6210e7ab26d4010077ca34ef79&act=SF&f=11

HTH




Ted

"The difference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: If Gladstone fell into the Thames, it would be a misfortune. But if someone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity."
Benjamin Disraeli.