Help me with a rogue site - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

greytone · 08-25-2003, 05:10 PM

I am going to state the obvious even though the next few sentances should make it abundantly clear. I am a computer moron. I am lucky to make it to the TFP.

A few months ago I had a problem when I tried to log onto an important web site that I use to access secure information from home. Whenever I would try to go to that site (either by favorite list or by typing the site into the address bar) the page would go to a "search page" called "Internet optimizer." I used Norton to clear all web history and that solved the problem.

Now it is happening again with several other sites on my favorite list. I can not log onto those sites. This time Norton did not solve the problem. The site shows up and the top of the page says that X site can not be found. It then offers other sites that with similar keywords.

Any ideas that I might be able to understand.

Nefir · 08-25-2003, 05:26 PM

Ok it sounds to me like you've got a sneaky spyware program acting as a proxy, and sending you to their pages when you browse. Basically all your browsing goes through them. (that, or it just messes with your search pages.. either way, its gotta go)

Phase 1: Anti-Virus, just incase
-A good free online virus scanner is Trend Micro PCCillin Housecall. Give it a whirl before you do anything else, as there may be things more serious on your machine than spyware.

Phase 2: Clean out the spyware.
-Download AdAware
-Download Spybot Search and Destroy

Both are excellent utilities for cleaning up the scum of the software world off your system. Run SS&D first, then AdAware to pick up what SS&D missed.

Phase 3: Reconfigure your browser
-If you are using MSIE, click Tools -> Internet Options -> Connection -> Lan Settings. Check your Proxy settings. Make sure its not pointing to IP 127.0.0.1 or localhost.

Phase 4: Get smart. Get firewall.
-Download your choice of firewall, if you don't got one already. You mention Norton... if you have their firewall, great.. make sure its configured properly and is actually working. Otherwise, I reccommend Kerio Personal Firewall - only make sure you get version 2.1.4, not their newest bloated version, 2.1.5.

Hope this helps

mew · 08-25-2003, 05:55 PM

damn spyware Rawr! I dont even know how i got GATOR and other crappy stuff on my puter. It slows me down for sure. could I have gotten it from Kazaa? Im in the same boat as greytone..I didnt even know about posting and threads till a friend showed me this site.

irieemon · 08-25-2003, 06:56 PM

I would like to visit the gator offices as ask those fucking programmers why they feel the need to create such trash on the internet for a buck. Why the hell cant they just focus on creating something actually worthwhile than some crap ass software who's main goal is to piss off the user, suck up bandwidth, and violate every privacy policy known to man.

djtestudo · 08-25-2003, 08:56 PM

Get Kazaa Lite. Same program, no spyware.

And use Spybot S&D. I've found it even better then Ad-aware.

I've had these types of problems, as my mom and sister like to download "super" versians of free games onto our computer, so I clean it up every so often.

08-25-2003, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	Help me with a rogue site I am going to state the obvious even though the next few sentances should make it abundantly clear. I am a computer moron. I am lucky to make it to the TFP. A few months ago I had a problem when I tried to log onto an important web site that I use to access secure information from home. Whenever I would try to go to that site (either by favorite list or by typing the site into the address bar) the page would go to a "search page" called "Internet optimizer." I used Norton to clear all web history and that solved the problem. Now it is happening again with several other sites on my favorite list. I can not log onto those sites. This time Norton did not solve the problem. The site shows up and the top of the page says that X site can not be found. It then offers other sites that with similar keywords. Any ideas that I might be able to understand. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

08-25-2003, 05:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nefir Junkie Location: Louisville, KY	Ok it sounds to me like you've got a sneaky spyware program acting as a proxy, and sending you to their pages when you browse. Basically all your browsing goes through them. (that, or it just messes with your search pages.. either way, its gotta go) Phase 1: Anti-Virus, just incase -A good free online virus scanner is Trend Micro PCCillin Housecall. Give it a whirl before you do anything else, as there may be things more serious on your machine than spyware. Phase 2: Clean out the spyware. -Download AdAware -Download Spybot Search and Destroy Both are excellent utilities for cleaning up the scum of the software world off your system. Run SS&D first, then AdAware to pick up what SS&D missed. Phase 3: Reconfigure your browser -If you are using MSIE, click Tools -> Internet Options -> Connection -> Lan Settings. Check your Proxy settings. Make sure its not pointing to IP 127.0.0.1 or localhost. Phase 4: Get smart. Get firewall. -Download your choice of firewall, if you don't got one already. You mention Norton... if you have their firewall, great.. make sure its configured properly and is actually working. Otherwise, I reccommend Kerio Personal Firewall - only make sure you get version 2.1.4, not their newest bloated version, 2.1.5. Hope this helps __________________ You do not use a Macintosh, instead you use a Tandy Kompressor break your glowstick, Kompressor eat your candy Kompressor open jaws, Kompressor release ants Kompressor watch you scream, Because Kompressor does not dance

08-25-2003, 08:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	Get Kazaa Lite. Same program, no spyware. And use Spybot S&D. I've found it even better then Ad-aware. I've had these types of problems, as my mom and sister like to download "super" versians of free games onto our computer, so I clean it up every so often. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

08-25-2003, 05:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
mew Psycho Location: Canada	damn spyware Rawr! I dont even know how i got GATOR and other crappy stuff on my puter. It slows me down for sure. could I have gotten it from Kazaa? Im in the same boat as greytone..I didnt even know about posting and threads till a friend showed me this site.

08-25-2003, 06:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
irieemon Crazy Location: Right where I want to be.	I would like to visit the gator offices as ask those fucking programmers why they feel the need to create such trash on the internet for a buck. Why the hell cant they just focus on creating something actually worthwhile than some crap ass software who's main goal is to piss off the user, suck up bandwidth, and violate every privacy policy known to man.