Maximum PC

Some how, some time, without any p2p clients installed over my fresh winME reformat, an annoying application I believe to be some sort of spyware has worked its way into my system tray and despite all my efforts, running Spybot, Ad-Ware, and Popup Stopper I haven't had any luck eradicating this thing.

The suspicious program that shows up in when I press "control,alt,delete" is named "Netyl" and each time I open Interenet Explorer 6 it directs me to some phony search home page filled with pop up ads and links to adult content. Even worse, every time I log in or restart the computer, the same porno links apear in my favorites folder without my even clicking a single thing - and without Popup blocker running, I'm unable to search Google without the fake search page popping up with what I think are fake search results. I can delete the favorites, and change the home page all I like but they always return back to the spyware crap each time I log in. Frustrating. And completely inapropriate for my family.

How might I go about getting rid of this Netyl program and any other junk that might be hiding in my computer? Any help you guys could provide would be appreciated.

Try this http://www.computercops.biz/postp220467.html

Oh, I'm going to go way out on a limb here - is IE is your normal browser?

i really dont know what spybot S&D and adaware can do. seems that they only clean up some cookies and maybe a couple of registry keys... when the computer is actually hit by a nasty spyware, they are just useless.

I had that kind of problem a month ago, and non of the fancy programs helped at all, incluidng some well famed antivirus program.

I ended up using what's called CWSShredder, and it solved the problem instantly.

do you have a firewall installed? if not, check out www.majorgeeks.com and download zonealarm firewall. works pretty good for a software firewall. another good firewall is kerio but i cant tell you anything about it since ive never used it before. ive only used zonealarm and im happy with it.

you will need to click on the categories to the left. each category has programs dealing with that category. good luck

keymaker

I would strongly encourage you to try Firefox.

After installing CWSShredder as Gadget mentioned (and IE6 is my regular browser) I ran the fix over a couple times but on both ocasions it claimed my system was completely clean. This obviously isn't the case, as this bogus search/home page and favorites links as well as chronic popups continue to show up. I had a Comcast technition take a look at my system while he was replacing my modem and even he couldn't get rid of the applications.

Another issue, and what I think is the cause of the search and home page problem is a few programs called Search Extender, Home Search Assistent, and Shopping Wizard; which without my consent, installed themselves and wont allow me to untinstall them through the add/remove programs window. It gives me an error messege claiming it couldn't find some files with a funky URL for a name. Using the windows search doesn't help either, and for some reason it can't find any of the programs I've mentioned - Netyl, Search Extender, Home Search Assistent, and Shopping Wizard.

I suspect they're all hidden in my computer's registry somewhere, but dont have the slightest idea as to how I would get rid of them without crippling my computer permanantly. I plan to do some extensive research of my own today to better educate myself on the issue and any additional help with this matter that you guys could give me would be awsome.

Thanks again.

Manta posted a link to a MS security page, something like 'Download.ject' (iirc). You'll want to take a look there, and also check to see if CERT has posted a technical document on it yet.

Shredder
cwsshredder will remove coolweb search or coolwww. It could be a trojan. I had one on a friends computer called downloader.agent.bf ( identified by AVG) missed by Norton. There are some trojan finders that you can download. Some for free and some for around $30. See majorgeeks. I never did find a way to get rid of mine. I had to reload. Adaware and spybot will find some spyware and are pretty good. I also use spysweeper. I think you can download a free trial.

The folding sig should show the rank within the team instead of, or in addition to, the persons overall rank. And whomever tried putting the image in the subject line is creative...

Gadget


The folding sig should show the rank within the team instead of, or in addition to, the persons overall rank. And whomever tried putting the image in the subject line is creative...

sigs have been disabled.

sorry about the subject. I'm still getting used to this new forum format. The maximumpc comport was the only forum I participated in. How do you make the repley show the other persons post in the white box??

Use the "quote" button above and to the right of the post.

Has anyone run accross the downloader.agent.bf trojan and successfully saved their install? If so how.

I have actually had Ad-Aware eliminate some annoying spyware and fix computers with major problems. I do not like spybot S&D, but I do like ad-aware and spy sweeper.

It might not be spyware, but it could be a virus. Try using www.pestpatrol.com to scan your computer. It will let you know of some applications that Ad-aware and others might not know about.

Try scanning using Housecall (housecall.trendmicro.com), get rid of NAV and McAfee AV. Get AVG Free at www.grisoft.com, it is the one I use and is really good. You can also try scanning with the free service at Panda Software. And try Spy Sweeper at www.webroot.com

See if any of these reveal anything.

well the best way to kill any spyware that will not go away is:
1) figured out where the executable is located on the harddrive.

2) reboot into safe mode

3) delete that file.

4) and it should be gone

Assumes that a second exe doesn't check for the presence of the first and just replaces it!