office computer problem - adult website issues
 

I have problem and need help. I've taken a new job and rec'd an old laptop. Every once in a while (3-4 times a week) - as I'm on-line, an adult website pops open and starts loading other adult websites with new windows. I have cleaned out the history and temporary internet file - (which gets rid of my cookies of sites I need). But this still happens - and it is the same website like [url]3w's then:66.230.134.150. I need to be on-line for work and this could be very embarrising if a co-worker is with me at my computer when this happens. Does anyone know where else on my computer I need clean out or what else I can do? I don't know too much about computers, so please repond as if i was a novice to the inner workings of computers - thank you very much for the answers so far

It uh, sounds like time to do two things:

1) Get your employer to load you up some quality anti-virus software. Norton has a nifty script-blocking applet.
2) Start siftin' through your registry. For best results, you should probably do it by hand. The "Find" feature is very helpful, and would most likely be good for popping the c&p'd website into.

Good luck. :p

It could be a spyware issue. Perhaps you could try one of the following programs. Both work very well.
Adaware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Spybot search and destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/

Good luck!

Definitely spyware. Good links, monkeysugar.

Oh, and remember to tell your Boss it's happening.

You don't want them thinking it's you browsing those sites (if they monitor their internet traffic) and you certainly don't want it happening in front of him or another manager.

Alternatively, you could simply wipe the system and start with a new install. That's what I would do...


Mr Mephisto

Not a bad idea, Mr Mephisto. Um, remember to be smart and back up business files if you go that route, fuzzybrownie. And yes: ALWAYS tell your boss when this sort of nonsense happens. Hell, that could be what the last owner of the computer got fired for. Managers aren't always smart enough to put that two and two together without help.

Thats the best advice right there. Make sure they know it is happening so that you dont get in trouble.

Use Adware, do a scan on the registry and when there's results. Go into the Registry and delete those who do show up. Do a keyword search as well to remove any other that may have been undetected (Adware is not always relilable). Check your C:\Program Files\ for softwares that's not suppose to be there or that has names that is smilar to what the adware detect.

1) Tell the boss
2) offer to try to fix the problem with ad aware and spybot
3) if that doesn't work, format and reinstall.

(That's what I would do...)

If you have an IT staff, call them. I see this problem all of the time. Depending on circumstances, a combination of Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy will most likey kill it, however, I recently ran into very similar problem that required more detailed work.

I DO NOT recommend you touch your registry unless you are well versed in computers. I cannot say this enough. You can really mess up Windows by deleting registry keys that the system needs. Also, please don't install anything or reimage the system without first asking about your companys IT policies. With my employer if you did anything other than call me (head help desk guy) you would be in trouble from the get-go.

If you don't have an IT staff, PM me and I'll help you. If you do, they should handle the problem easily enough.

(edited for sterness ) :D

absolutely, contact your IT staff, and make sure your manager is aware there's a problem. no reason why you should get some infected POS when just starting a new job!!!

in fact, they should have re-built that machine before handing it off to you. if there's no IT staff, then it's not hard to take care of that yourself....there's been real good advice so far, so i won't repeat it all, but spybot and ad-aware should definitely take care of that problem. it's obviously some spyware that's hijacking your stuff.

do Windows Update at least every week too, that's crucial. you should be good to go, but feel free to pm me too if you have any questions!