Infected?

[Juke_spin]

Well, I was googling for "teapot repair"* and got a porn link and, oops clicked on a pic. Now I've got a blinking "?" in the tray (real ?) in the lowest right hand corner of my screen and can't seem to get rid of it.

Seemingly assiciated with the blinking "?" is a little recurring poping sound and a tendency for my PC to open Explorer (I run Mozilla Firefox) to tell me I need to download a virus protection program. I don't want to do this as whenever I've tried installing AVG Free it slows my system down and finds nothing with its scans.

Other than these annoyances, my system in not slowed down at all.

What can/should I do to get rid of the new, unwanted additions?

*After having repaired a Yixing teapot w epoxy. It holds so far but I was/am concerned about possible toxins in tea brewed in it from the epoxy. Google found NOTHING.

[adi chicago]

never ever click on a porn link....sexual transmissible diseases can occur.lol
i hope the virus will not damage your hardware.

[chasb]

Possibly you inadvertently downloaded some type of program from the site. You need to figure out the name of the program. Go to your control panel, then click on add/delete programs. If you see the program, you can delete it. Any shortcut on your desktop must also be deleted seperately.

btw- stop surfin those porn sites.

[Juke_spin]

Possibly you inadvertently downloaded some type of program from the site. You need to figure out the name of the program. Go to your control panel, then click on add/delete programs. If you see the program, you can delete it. Any shortcut on your desktop must also be deleted seperately.

btw- stop surfin those porn sites.
Fxck, chasb, I really was googling for "teapot repair" and got the link to a pornsite; try it and see. I did screw up by clicking on one of the links and now I'm paying for it.

When the blinker opens Explorer it offers me various virus protection programs w free scans but my firewall blocks downloading them, while allowing the download of AVG Free?

adi, thanks for the advice.:rolleyes:

[Andy]

check download.com and download Spybot Search and Destroy. Run that, reboot, run again, reboot, repeat until it stops finding things.

[Juke_spin]

check download.com and download Spybot Search and Destroy. Run that, reboot, run again, reboot, repeat until it stops finding things.

Andy, I had already run Spybot before I posted seeking help here. I've run it again twice and after the Immunization the program displayed "All detected bad items were already blocked", twice.

[mr_coffee]

Juke_spin,

I'm not sure if this works or not for spyware/mal-ware but for viruses I know it doens't work, but you can try to system restore to a day before you downloaded that program, it may work, probalby not though worth a try maybe!

Also try
Ad-Aware

its like SpyBot

[sjean423]

I ten to run both as well (ad aware and spybot) b/c they will sometimes miss something, and the other one will catch it.

[Andy]

Wow, spybot didnt get it. I guess it's time to start looking for fishy things in add/remove programs and then checking suspect processes you can kill. Maybe purge IE's cashe and cookies too. It's hiding there somewhere!

[Juke_spin]

Cory and sjean, thanks. I'm running Ad-Aware now, after doing the update thing.

[Juke_spin]

Wow, spybot didnt get it. I guess it's time to start looking for fishy things in add/remove programs and then checking suspect processes you can kill. Maybe purge IE's cashe and cookies too. It's hiding there somewhere!
Before doing anything else I checked the add/remove and purged a suspect program but the problems persist. I may try Cory's suggestion and do a System Restore to yesterday's config - see how that works.

[Juke_spin]

I ran Ad-Aware and removed what it found but still have the problem.

How do I do a System Restore?

[rollin64]

I ran Ad-Aware and removed what it found but still have the problem.

How do I do a System Restore?

if you have XP. clik start, all programs, accessories, system tools, system restore. clik on a date thats before the date you we're searchin for porn. :p

[Patonb]

Also try HouseCall from Trendmicro.com It's free and very effective. BUT slow 2+hrs.

I like to use it as a ultimate catch-all.

[Foolish Old]

Run Ad-aware a few times. If you see that any programs that you removed keep reinstalling, Google them for program specific advice. You also might try running Ad-aware in safe mode.

[DA]

Well, I was googling for "teapot repair"* and got a porn link and, oops clicked on a pic. Now I've got a blinking "?" in the tray (real ?) in the lowest right hand corner of my screen and can't seem to get rid of it.

Seemingly assiciated with the blinking "?" is a little recurring poping sound and a tendency for my PC to open Explorer (I run Mozilla Firefox) to tell me I need to download a virus protection program. I don't want to do this as whenever I've tried installing AVG Free it slows my system down and finds nothing with its scans.

Other than these annoyances, my system in not slowed down at all.

What can/should I do to get rid of the new, unwanted additions?

*After having repaired a Yixing teapot w epoxy. It holds so far but I was/am concerned about possible toxins in tea brewed in it from the epoxy. Google found NOTHING.
I must say I am impress with Norton 360. You are allowed to put it on 3 pc's. I put it on my old pc, 466 mhz 192 ram, it works fine. Even sped the old girl up. Norton in the past was a systems hog, this one is pretty good.

[betheny]

Sorry to hear about your cyber-std.

I went to urban dictionary.com and figured out why you got a cyber-std by searching for "teapot".

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=teapot

See the 2nd definition for clarity. What will these kids think of next?

[rollin64]

Sorry to hear about your cyber-std.

I went to urban dictionary.com and figured out why you got a cyber-std by searching for "teapot".

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=teapot

See the 2nd definition for clarity. What will these kids think of next?

haha, thats a new one on me. sheesh i'm feelin older everyday. i used to know all the slang. this explains yer porn link though.

i have heard it's a good idea to turn off system restore when runnin virus scan though, cause critters hide in there and can't be detected. the downside....you lose all your restore points.

[Rbrauer]

You can always open your task manager, processes tab.
Click on User Name to re-arrange things in groups. Look under you rname/user name and see what process are running. If it's unfamilia stuff
Google it.

You can also do start/run MSCONFIG, go to the Startup tab and review
what starts automatically. Again if you see things unfamiliar,Google it
for info.

[wheelman21]

Go to http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/?id=H2-HHO_Links-SS and download the free SpySweeper. Also checkout http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129785-page,1/article.html Follow those steps and according to them your system should be clean. Good luck.

[Juke_spin]

if you have XP. clik start, all programs, accessories, system tools, system restore. clik on a date thats before the date you we're searchin for porn. :p
Thanks, rollin, I did a system restore to day before yesterday and the "blinker" is gone and all's well.

Thanks all, for the insights and ideas.

Betheny, I have got to use the new "teapot" definition/knowledge the link supplied in R&S somehow; this needs spreading.:D Now that's something you'd think would be featureed in a porn flick but, old man that I am, I never seen or heard of it. Then again, porn for the most part is so unimaginative it's not that big a surprise my not having ever seen that done in pic, video, movie, etc..

[Juke_spin]

Also try HouseCall from Trendmicro.com It's free and very effective. BUT slow 2+hrs.

I like to use it as a ultimate catch-all.

Patonb, I tried to use the free scan offered by Trendmicro but I will not activate the scan. Then I tired turning off my personal edition of Kerio Firewall and clicking the "Start Free Scan" for Housecall but same deal.

Any idea(s) what's wrong? At any rate as the "blinker" is gone, I'm sanguine. Thanks.

[RehabRhino]

"Teapot Porn!"
Whatever next?:zombie:

[Juke_spin]

"Teapot Porn!"
Whatever next?:zombie:

Did you check the 2nd definition in the Urban Dictionary?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=teapot

[Juke_spin]

Also try HouseCall from Trendmicro.com It's free and very effective. BUT slow 2+hrs.

I like to use it as a ultimate catch-all.

Patonb, I tried Trendmirco's so-called free HouseCall scan and they wanted me to pay for a version before they'ed immunize against the items they'ed pulled after I stopped the scan almost 2 hrs through. Dissapointing, but thanks anyway.

[Patonb]

Patonb, I tried Trendmirco's so-called free HouseCall scan and they wanted me to pay for a version before they'ed immunize against the items they'ed pulled after I stopped the scan almost 2 hrs through. Dissapointing, but thanks anyway.

Odd... I scanned last week and didn't need to pay... I think, scan and removal is free, but to keep from getting it again you gotta buy a active program..

My scans are like 3 hours, so thats not too bad.

[Juke_spin]

Odd... I scanned last week and didn't need to pay... I think, scan and removal is free, but to keep from getting it again you gotta buy a active program..

My scans are like 3 hours, so thats not too bad.

I'm trying it again. Maybe if I just let it run through the whole system w/o interuption it'll allow immunization w/o purchase.http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/images/smilies/grineyes.gifhttp://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/images/smilies/imnotworthy.gifhttp://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/images/smilies/smilieinajar.gif

[Patonb]

I'm trying it again. Maybe if I just let it run through the whole system w/o interuption it'll allow immunization w/o purchase.http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/images/smilies/grineyes.gifhttp://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/images/smilies/imnotworthy.gifhttp://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/images/smilies/smilieinajar.gif

Well, you don't need to be immunized if you practice safe sex, er surfing......

[Rbrauer]

A couple things I've seen recently on some pc's is a recurance of isasss (please note 3-s's not 2) and something new from China, Iexplorer.dll.

A couple new trojans have been pushed out that attempt to launch things
that have been blocked by IE patches.

[mr_coffee]

(http://shockingcats.ytmnd.com/)

[rollin64]

is it one of those that only let ya delete a certain amount with the free version, maybe? :thinking:

[Juke_spin]

A couple things I've seen recently on some pc's is a recurance of isasss (please note 3-s's not 2) and something new from China, Iexplorer.dll.

A couple new trojans have been pushed out that attempt to launch things
that have been blocked by IE patches.
I want to make clear that my pc's system is back to smooth-normal as of the Restore. I just thought it would be a good idea to do some "housecleaning" so tried some of the suggested "free" programs.
Go to http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/?id=H2-HHO_Links-SS and download the free SpySweeper. Also checkout http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129785-page,1/article.html Follow those steps and according to them your system should be clean. Good luck.
This is the "free" cleanup that wouldn't immunize what it found w/o I paid for it; not the one Patonb suggested.

Odd... I scanned last week and didn't need to pay... I think, scan and removal is free, but to keep from getting it again you gotta buy a active program..

My scans are like 3 hours, so thats not too bad.
Yeah, sorry about that (above). When I tried running it earlier today it ran for awhile and then stalled.

It's fine; I've got rid of the "blinker", learned about "teapoting" and tried some stuff that, as luck would have it, didn't work on my PC. I still got all the help I needed in this thread...and then some.;)

[Juke_spin]

is it one of those that only let ya delete a certain amount with the free version, maybe? :thinking:
No, rollin, it's this SpySweeper, downloadable here: http://www.webroot.com/consumer/prod...2-HHO_Links-SS (http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/?id=H2-HHO_Links-SS) and it does the detection thing but won't immunize any of it w/o you buy a version. Second thought, most of these programs have a yearly fee so I guess you have to lease it.;)

[teyrn]

Try Avast? http://www.avast.com
The home version is free and the boot time av scan will catch and remove a virus before it has a chance to be loaded into memory and thus be in use by windows and be unable to remove as easily. I tend to like it better then AVG myself seems to have a little less overhead. It is a basic AV program and doesn't offer spyware protection, phishing filters, popup blockers, etc. It does integrate with email and offers email and system protection. Just a thought since every thing else is refusing to work for you.

[Juke_spin]

Try Avast? http://www.avast.com
The home version is free and the boot time av scan will catch and remove a virus before it has a chance to be loaded into memory and thus be in use by windows and be unable to remove as easily. I tend to like it better then AVG myself seems to have a little less overhead. It is a basic AV program and doesn't offer spyware protection, phishing filters, popup blockers, etc. It does integrate with email and offers email and system protection. Just a thought since every thing else is refusing to work for you.
I get popup blocking w Kerio firewall and have a few spyware programs installed.

I'll download and try Avast. Thanks for the tip.

Juke

[Juke_spin]

teyrn, I downloaded and installed the Avast antivirus software and I really like it. So unintrusive but on-guard all the same.

Thanks a lot for the recommend and link.http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/images/smilies/present.gif