multiple problems
 

yes, multiple problems:

1. my homepage keeps getting changed to "about:blank"
2. a popup to a casino site is tied into this, everytime i open ie this popup appears.
3. after a while of using my computer, the desktop is no longer clickable. meaning i cannot click on any icons, but i get the generic right-click menu (sort icons, etc.).

4. possibly not associated with the previous problems: i cannot open windows media player. there are no error messages, running processes, or any indication taht the program opened except a system noise (the chime you get with an error message). the program is still installed and all associations with it are still intact (i.e. file extension associations).

I really hate to bother you guys with this, but i thought you might like a puzzle that's causing much frustration. regarding the spyware symtoms of problems 1 through 3, i have used adaware and three other minor spyware removal programs. i also have a popup blocker that has been unable to defeat the casino site popup also. hope you guys can help me!

Well, #1 and #2... no offense, but JESUS CHRIST READ HERE.

Sorry, it slipped out. You have spyware. Read that thread to find out how to get rid of it.


#3, the right clicking thing, I got that a while ago in an old Win98 install. I never figured out exactly what the problem was, but I fixed it by just right clicking once. After I right clicked once, I could left click normally again.

#4... I can't tell you what that is offhand. Did you update WMP lately? It's possible that a new version just crashes you, in which case the only recourse is to roll it back to an older version. It also could be a virus or spyware. After you read that other thread, let us know if you still have the problem.


Sorry, I just get a little tired of reading this every couple of days. The stickies are there for a reason. Because people ask the same question over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over... you get the point.

thanks, but you obviously didn't read the whole post. your solution doesn't work, but thank you. For number four, i have taken out the latest update and it didn't work.

Next time you decide to judge a post, please make sure you've read the whole thing. i know something like this gets posted everyday, i've searched and read the posts and used them. they didn't help me, so i made a post.

Same problem here,
Here is my post from a couple of days ago:


I've had some kind of spyware added to my computor.

It changed my home page, in the address bar all it says is "about:blank"


At the top of the page all it says is "Search For"

I ran Ad Aware and in the object details it says


Vendor: CoolWebSearch
ObjectType: RegValue
Location: SOFTWARE/microsoft/internet explorer/main/
Comment: HOMEOldSP



I cant find anything in the add/remove progams
Any idea what I can do to get rid of it?

I've solved the windows media player by reinstalling it. now for a hunt and destroy of this spyware that eludes adaware.

on to spyware, i may have solved it. not quite sure, only time will tell. i did this wubbawubba:
went to oz.msie.tv
clicked the link that said uninstall software
hopefully that worked.

this is some aggressive stuff, i'm wondering if it's legal.

Thanks jarsh, I will try that out.

I'd love to get ahold of these mother f'ers that make this crap!

You have to download something to uninstall it?
That is scary to me considering how difficult it has been to remove so far.

Has it worked for you?
How did you find oz.msie.tv?

i clicked on one of the links on the search page that was hijacking the homepage url. brought me to a search page on that domain so i just went to the domain. it's worked so far, i've ran spyware s&d and adaware and nothing new has come up. no virus activity, no new pop ups so far either

That is a Spyware/Trojan. I had it, tried to delete it from my registry files, and it would just come right back. Bottom line, REFORMAT AND REINSTALL. Supposidly this is some Russian software virus you can pick up on less that reputable porn sites.
Thankfully I only surf less than reputable sites from work, so only that system got hosed. My lesson? Get your porn fix from TFP!!!

hahaah! i do, but i like to explore :P. damn, i don't have any copies of windows xp...oh well, looks like i'm screwed!

Jarsh.
Check out newegg.com. They keep running specials on XP for like $80 or something. I have bought over 5 copies of XP this year alone.. <--- Has buddy at MS, so they cost me $20 plus $7 shipping! :)

I read it. You did not mention using all of the mentioned software on the sticky, nor that you had used the sticky'd thread. You will also note that their second choice is spybot S & D. From their Website

Have you tried this: http://www.safer-networking.org/files/delcwssk.zip (CWS.SmartKiller)
Which is made just for that. Give it a Whirl and see how it works.

It wont let me open up the page.