My internet connection appears to have been taken over by a company which
appears to be saying that if I buy its product I can have my pc back!! Or
maybe I'm wrong - I'm a bit of a dumbhead in this dept...

Here are the symptoms:

Constant pop-up messages inform me I have been infected by spyware and I am
advised to 'click here' to protect the pc, and when I do so I am connected
via internet explorer to Spy Axe free download but in order to register and
use I must pay. If I type in another web address I get a message saying
adware has prevented my connection and I am urged to use Spy Axe to solve
the problem. Toolbars in explorer are also changed - Both google and yahoo
have disappeared.


Also I am told I am and by a virusiworm_attck_v122.. I am advised to 'click
here' I am connected to 'Spy Trooper' ...and the rest you know from above.

Any suggestions as to what to do?

Hmm, If you cant connect to any site, Your pretty much screwed. You
arent 'taken over' You just have bad 'spyware' problems. Funny that an
Anti-Spyware program uses Spyware to get you to buy its product -.-; If
you can, get on Download.com and get Ad-Aware, and Spybot S&D, download
them both (Ad-Aware is Free, But has a message urging you to buy the
Special Member Edition, or someting like that, You dont have to, and
Spybot is free) If you cant get to it on your computer, get on someone
elses, and download them to a disk. Run them both, and youll find the
Spyware.

Any questions, Email me or Post here, and Ill check up on it.
Good Luck

Here's what I suggest:

1. Stop clicking and start cleaning. If you suspect there's a virus or
spyware on your computer, you need to stop clicking on what they want
you to do. It will get worse before it gets better.

2. Make sure you have the latest virus signature, do a full scan and
clean.

3. Make sure you have the latest Spyware signature, do a full scan and
clean.

4. Make sure you have a second form of Spyware software downloaded,
make sure you have the latest Spyware signature, do a full scan and
clean.

This should usually take care of it. BTW, make sure you don't delete
any Windows DLL files from your Spyware program. You might cause your
Operation System to fail.

Hope this helps!

-itsecgirl

From: "stephen cass" <s.p.cass@ntlworld.com>

| My internet connection appears to have been taken over by a company which
| appears to be saying that if I buy its product I can have my pc back!! Or
| maybe I'm wrong - I'm a bit of a dumbhead in this dept...
|
| Here are the symptoms:
|
| Constant pop-up messages inform me I have been infected by spyware and I am
| advised to 'click here' to protect the pc, and when I do so I am connected
| via internet explorer to Spy Axe free download but in order to register and
| use I must pay. If I type in another web address I get a message saying
| adware has prevented my connection and I am urged to use Spy Axe to solve
| the problem. Toolbars in explorer are also changed - Both google and yahoo
| have disappeared.
|
| Also I am told I am and by a virusiworm_attck_v122.. I am advised to 'click
| here' I am connected to 'Spy Trooper' ...and the rest you know from above.
|
| Any suggestions as to what to do?
|

Go through *ALL* of the following utilities !


* Download noahdfear's SmitFraud and SpyAxe removal tool -- SmitRem.exe
http://noahdfear.geekstogo.com/click...click.php?id=1

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic36868.html

After you use that tool, go through the following.

For non-viral malware...

Please download, install and update the following software...

* Ad-aware SE v1.06
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

* SpyBot Search and Destroy v1.4
http://security.kolla.de/

After the software is updated, I suggest scanning the system in Safe Mode.

I also suggest downloading, installing and updating BHODemon for any Browser Helper Objects
that may be on the PC.

* BHODemon
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

For viral malware...

* Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *



--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

"stephen cass" <s.p.cass@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:%jWlf.17841$GC1.14288@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
I would look in the registry. Search it for spy axe or trooper. Search for
redirect too. Also look in
HKLM
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
Run
Delete any strange keys.

David H. Lipman wrote:
David,

Does BHO demon show anything different than SPYBOT in advanced mode
under the tools menu "BHOs"? What additional capability BHO demon
provides that Spybot can't do. Not questioning methods, good advice,
but I am curious what BHO demon provides.

Winged

HI Stephen!

I had the same problem to with this Spy Axe thing.
I frend of mine send me this link and i followed all the instructions.
And guess what, It works. All the Spy Axe was removed!!

http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-spyaxe.html

Good Luck!!

From: "Winged" <Winged@nofollow.com>


| David,
|
| Does BHO demon show anything different than SPYBOT in advanced mode
| under the tools menu "BHOs"? What additional capability BHO demon
| provides that Spybot can't do. Not questioning methods, good advice,
| but I am curious what BHO demon provides.
|
| Winged

Ad-aware SE and and SpyBot S&D work by signatures. BHODemon just shows all Browser Helper
Objects found on the PC. You can disable or remove those that are unidentified or unknown.

Unfortunately, the author had a devasting fire and is not updating the software at this
time.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

traveler 66 wrote:
SNIP

be careful with some of the other spy remove
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

--
the alt.privacy.spyware FAQ:
http://shplink.com/misc/FAQ.htm

"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in
news:4Zgmf.6$qF6.3@trnddc01:



Then you may wish to use "Hijack This" from Meijin, It makes little
attempt to prevent false positives, and it doesn't remove anything but only
reports, so you must know what you are doing - but it is thorough!

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Regards,

From: "nemo_outis" <abc@xyz.com>


| Then you may wish to use "Hijack This" from Meijin, It makes little
| attempt to prevent false positives, and it doesn't remove anything but only
| reports, so you must know what you are doing - but it is thorough!
|
| http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
|
| Regards,

HJT this does much, much more. BHODemon only does Browser Helper Objects.
Use of HJT can be intimidating for the newbie and if the user checks the wrong items for
reomval the user can have disasterous effects.

I like HJT but I'll tell 'ya... I am tired of newbies posting HJT logs all over the place.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in
news:S8smf.1461$Ea6.537@trnddc08:



Yep, it's a powerful tool, and, just like a chainsaw, you can cut your leg
off if you don't know what you're doing. But, I think it's worthwhile for
even a newbie to invest the time to master it. Besides, the discipline
acquired will pay off when he tries to learn Ethereal :-)

Regards,

From: "nemo_outis" <abc@xyz.com>


| Yep, it's a powerful tool, and, just like a chainsaw, you can cut your leg
| off if you don't know what you're doing. But, I think it's worthwhile for
| even a newbie to invest the time to master it. Besides, the discipline
| acquired will pay off when he tries to learn Ethereal :-)
|
| Regards,
|

I think the investement of time would be better served in learning and practicing Safe Hex
so the user isn't infected in the first place.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in
news:K1Cmf.3351$hB6.2617@trnddc05:


Well, we're rapidly converging on the observation that computers, which
supposedly save time in accomplishing tasks, are instead a black hole for
time and energy. One spends a great deal of one's time fiddling with this
parameter or that, with utilities, with configuring and reconfiguring
software, with updates to the OS, drivers, and apps, defragging, virus and
trojan checking, eliminating spyware, tuning firewall rules, hunting down
strange and obscure interactions, and on and on. Not to mention assembling
the kit, comparing this virus checker to that, researching bugs and
security threats, and posting to newsgroups like this. It's surprising any
work gets done!

So, yes, I suppose it would be very nice indeed if one could skip all or
most of this. For instance, as you say, it would be lovely if prevention
were enough. However, while I agree that prevention should be the
mainstay, it is, in the current state of affairs, not enough. No, in
addition to preventative measures, we are almost always compelled to resort
to mitigative measures to deal with the shit that inevitably gets through
ourdefenses.

And so, unless one has mountains of money to spend on third parties to
maintain a system, one must learn how to do these things oneself. And, as
Aristotle pointed out, there is no royal road to learning. And so I
counselled the poster to learn how to use the heavy-duty tools and not
merely gutted ones.

Regards,

On 10 Dec 2005, in the Usenet newsgroup alt.computer.security, in article
<Xns972860E15C30Babcxyzcom@204.153.244.170>, nemo_outis wrote:

Agreed

Congratulations. You've just figured out that they lied to you
when they told you even an untrained monkey on crack can use a
computer. Yes, there's a lot to learn

Up-thread, you compare an application to a chainsaw. Thing is, most
people do learn not to hold the thing by the end with the chain, and
not to many people use a chainsaw to drive nails, mix paint, or clean
the dishes. Yet the same people do insist on using one application
as a new reader, email tool, web browser, word processor, database tool,
spreadsheet reader, and every thing else, and can't see why that one
tool doesn't do everything perfectly.

The "average user" ??? Since when? Most are struggling with the concept
of single verses double click - and you expect them to be twisting knobs?

the price of progress

Why are they installing the virus/trojan/spyware in the first place?
Could it be because they don't know how to operate a push-button
telephone, much less a computer? Could it be that the only tool they
"know" how to use is set to do all these things for them, so they
won't have to learn? Or do they believe that the "mal-ware fairy" installs
all this crap while they aren't looking? It's interesting that the third
party tools are able to reduce this risk, and are still usable by a garden
slug that has been snorting mushroom fungi all day.

Most users (and virtually all home users) shouldn't be doing this, as
it really is beyond their skill set. Leave this to the "professionals"
at CompUSA (or where ever the user buys this crap).

Ignoring magazines (which are only there to sell the latest crap to the
sheep - remember, you are the product the magazine is selling to the
advertisers), how many "technical" books do you have on computers?
Most users don't have any, because they don't feel a need to know anything.
After all, you just pick up the chain saw, and yank this cord....

What defenses?

No one expects to have to maintain their own car - but the various states
and insurance companies have managed to require that drivers have some
training and pass tests before being turned loose onto the roads? Aren't
you glad the national authorities that license pilots have substantially
more stringent training and testing requirements?

-------------------
I seriously wonder, at times. It's either that or redefine "computer"
to be something worthwhile investing time configuring and taking pride
in the running thereof, rather than some tarted-up Etch-A-Sketch used
for propagating your shopping-lists via the latest email virus.
-------------------

Tell that to the computer industry. "No, No, No - any sheep can operate
one of our computers" - you see the results.

Old guy

From: "Moe Trin" <ibuprofin@painkiller.example.tld>


|
| Tell that to the computer industry. "No, No, No - any sheep can operate
| one of our computers" - you see the results.
|
| Old guy

I do. I have to help the newbie get dis-infected !

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

ibuprofin@painkiller.example.tld (Moe Trin) wrote in
news:slrndpp1td.61b.ibuprofin@compton.phx.az.us:


No one expects to maintain his car *today!* For, say, the first 30 or
more years after the automobile was available to the public maintaining
one's car was a necessary element of ownership (for all but the very
rich) - in fact, tinkering was half the appeal. The test for an
operator's licence required the ability to make "running repairs" - a
chauffer's licence required a considerably higher level of familiarity
and skill. (My late father's chauffer licence, granted in the late 1920s
in Montreal, involved extensive tests on mechanical aspects, not mere
operation).

Computers for the masses have only been around a little over 20 years -
it is not all that surprising that they too require significant skill
beyond mere operation if one does not wish to be a plaything of the
vicissitudes of fortune.




The gullibility of the public may explain but does not excuse the
charlatanry of the industry. However, be that as it may, if one does not
class oneself as one of the sheeple who are their prey it is necessary to
learn how to do at least "running repairs" and perhaps even acquire the
greater skills analogous to those of a chauffer in the early auto days.
Such was my advice to the poster and I stand by it.

Regards,

"nemo_outis" <abc@xyz.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9729A6092C540abcxyzcom@204.153.244.170...
As a digression on cars.. people have been tinkering with cars for a lot
more that 30 years (even if we limit the definition of "car" to something
with a four-stroke Otto cycle petrol engine, that still gives a century
until fuel injection systems were routinely fitted to typical family cars,
at least in Europe).

<Pedant>
Actually, the vast majority of computers are transparently simple to use.
It's just the general-purpose machines with complex user interfaces that get
to people ;o)
</Pedant>

Thought that might have been where you were leading with your car analogy..?

--

Hairy One Kenobi

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!

On 11 Dec 2005, in the Usenet newsgroup alt.computer.security, in article
<Xns9729A6092C540abcxyzcom@204.153.244.170>, nemo_outis wrote:

Beyond the most simple maintenance, people can't because they lack the
electronic tools to do so. There hasn't been a carburetor adjustment
possibly for several years - because "the computer" controls all that.

Up into the 1950s this was possible. In the 1960, it became much less
possible as more bells and whistles were added. By 1975, the emission
control stuff was so complicated that engine tweaks became difficult.

Most drivers today don't even know how to check the air pressure in tires
or how to check the oil level in the engine or transmission. If they are
even aware of that, they don't want to get their hands dirty doing so.

Go find the remote control for your TV, VCR, and/or DVD player. Know what
all those buttons do? Most people have learned to keep the remote out of
casual sight after the cat walked over it, and suddenly they had sub-titles
in Klingon on the bottom of the screen, and no idea how to turn them off.

The technical gadgets of today, whether they be the home computer, the
new TV, or that automated coffee pot come with a booklet of instructions
that are next to useless - after all, this should be intuitive - and a
whole string of warnings about not doing ridiculous things like putting
the TV in the bath tub under running water. The warnings are in there
because the home appliance industry doesn't have the people conditioned
in the same way as the software industry. People expect that crashes,
malware, and lack of security is inherent with software. They do not _want_
to know that such problems are preventable. But when was the last time you
more than glanced at the instruction book - or is the TV still showing
those Klingon sub-titles?

Who do you blame - the people for demanding an intuitive user interface
that "does what they want" (even though they have absolutely no idea
what that might be) that needs no training WHAT SO EVER to use? Or do
you blame industry for meeting that demand, even though they should know
better? Something as idiot resistant (I'm not going to tempt fate by
describing it as 'idiot proof') as a hammer can be used without a lot of
training. A computer is a bit more complicated. So is that chain saw
you mentioned.

Some one posted a comment that most people think themselves 'better than
average' drivers, and 'worse than average' computer users. Neither
statement can be true. The reason most think themselves as below average
computer users is that they can't believe that everyone else is as lacking
in computer skills. None the less, the computer doesn't catch fire each
time they touch it, so they see no need to obtain ANY additional knowledge
about it (or any other technical device)

Most people need the fundamentals before they try the complicated tools.

Old guy

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005, in the Usenet newsgroup alt.computer.security, in article
<fgnrp1p6jrhsvin02f7dikjkt3hs4006h4@4ax.com>, Jim Watt wrote:

and it had Lucas electrics to help.

I bought a new lawn mower this summer. Some kind of computer, probably
based on an 8031, port injection... a fr**kin' lawn mower!!! At least I
think I'm allowed to change the spark plugs.

I manage to avoid having a computer at home until 1984.

They'd never believe it.

Old guy