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Mahayana
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Flowers from Safeway,
ok the situation you are dealing with most likely isnt a virus [although it could be that as well] however, it is probably some form of Malware- which is slang for malicious software. Malware is software designed specifically to disrupt a computer system. A trojan horse or a virus "could" be classified as Malware. Some advertising software can be malicious in that it can try to re-install itself after you remove it.
For the purpose of simplicity Malware is software specifically engineered to damage your machine or interrupt the normal computing environment
Even more specifically your problem is probably due to Spyware since you mentioned the usage of Kazaa...
"Spyware is the name which was given to software that - without the user of the program knowing that the software performs this kind of action - traces the user's usage of the internet and sends this information - again without the user knowing this is happening - to a computer ("Server") designated by the developer of the Spyware software.
"By performing these actions, detailed userprofiles may be collected - without the user's knowledge and approval - which then can be used for commercial or other purposes. By gathering and sending this information both resources on the user's computer as well as bandwidth on the Internet is abusively used, not to mention the breach of privacy such a userprofile would be."
there are many programs out there that are Malware/spyware that do what was mentioned above and way way more, but to name just a [few] of the known key problem programs ...
3rdEye
7FaSSt
Absolute Keylogger
Activity Logger
Activity Monitor 2002
ACXInstall
AdBreak
Adult-Links
Alexa
Aornum
AppsTraka
Ardamax Keylogger
ASpam
AtomicLog
Aureate
BadTrans.B
BargainBuddy
BDE
Belkin PCSpy
BillByCall
BingoFunGames
BizDefender
Black Box
BonziBuddy
Boss EveryWare
BrowserAid
BrowserToolbar
Bulla
C2.lop
Call Online Two
Catch Cheat Spy
Chota
Click Till U Win
ClickTheButton
ClientMan
CnsMin
COM
Com Policy
Comet Cursor
Comload
CommonName
Computer Snooper
ComputerSpy
Conducent
Content Monitor
CoolCat
Covenanteyes
Cyber Informer
Cyber Predator
Cyber Snoop
Cydoor
Cytron
Cytron
DailyWinner
Desktop Detective 2000
Desktop Spy
DialerFactory
DialerOffline
Download Plus
DownloadReceiver
DownloadWare
E-mail Password Logger
e-Surveiller
eAnthology
EBlaster
el Espia
Email PI
Email Spy Pro
eXactSearch
ezCyberSearch
EZSearch bar
Ezula
Family Key Logger
FamilyCam
Fast Tracker
FavoriteMan
Fearless Key Spy
FlashTrack
Flyswat
Forbes
freemp3z.exe
FreeScratchAndWin
Gator
Ghost Key Logger
GhostLog
God2
GoHip
Golden Eye
Gratisware
Guardian Monitor
GURL Watcher
H@tKeysH@@k
Hacker Wacker
HaczYK
Hanuman
Hiddukel III
HighSpeed Connector
Home Keylogger
Home Keylogger
HotActionDating
HotBar
Huntbar
HXDL
I am BigBrother
i Wonder
IBS
ICU Surf
IEAccess
IEPlugin
iGetNet
Ikitek Key Logger
ILookup
IM Web Inspector
In the Know
InetSpeak
InLook Express
Invisi Eyes
Invisible Keylogger 97
IPInsight
iProtectYou
iSpy
iSpyNOW
KeenValue
key count
Key Thief
Keyboard Collector
Keyboard Guardian
Keyboard Monitor
KeyKey
KeySpy
Keystroke Monitor 2.0
Klez Worm
ksLogger
Lirva
LoadFonts
MarketScore
MasterDialer
MateWatcher Pro
Memory Meter
ModemSpy
MoneyTree
MP3.exe
My Little Spy
MySearch
n-Case
Net900
NETObserve
NetPal
NetSpy
NetTrack
NetVizor
NetworkEssentials
New.Net
NewtonKnows
NowBox
OnFlow
Online Recorder
Online-Dialer
Optix
PasTmon
PC Activity Monitor
PC Activity Monitor Net
PC Bloodhound Professional
PC Spy
PC-Parent
Permedia Ads
Power Key Logger
Power Key Logger
PowerStrip
Probot
Proclaim Dialers
RapidBlaster
Real Spy Monitor
Realtime- Spy
RedHand
Remote Control Pc 2000
Safenet
Save Keys
SaveNow
SC-Keylog
SearchAndBrowse
SearchExplorer
SearchitBar
SentryCam
Silent Spy
Snapshot Spy
Spector
Spotonbh.dll
SpyAgent
SpyAnywhere
spyAOL
SpyAssault
SpyBuddy
SpyCapture
SpyGraphica Professional
SpyTech Shadow
Spywarenuker
SSKC
StarDialer
STARR
Stealth Keyboard Interceptor
Stealth Keyboard Logger
Stop Popup Ads Now
StripPlayer
Sub Seven
SubSearch
SuperBar
Surf Control
Surf Spy
Surfmonkey
Sys Detective +
SysMon
System Spy
System Supervisor
TGDC
The Lop
TinyBar
Total Monitor
TradeExit
TSCash
TV Media Display
TypO
UCmore
Ultrasoft Key Interceptor
Unknown Dialers
Virtual Bouncer
VLoading
VX2
Wazam
WebHancer
WebMail Spy
Websense
Whazit
Whenu
Win-Spy
Windows Remote
Windows Spy
WinGuardian
WinRecon
Winvestigator
WinWhatWhere
WNAD
Wonderland
WurldMedia
X-Diver
XDialer
XLog
Xupiter
hell even some anti-spyware programs have themselves acted as spyware such as "virtual bouncer" be aware of what is on your computer, and if you do not know, download spybot/ad-ware and find out, but keep in mind before you use these programs [back up back up back up] since this is dealing with the registry of your computer you should back up any important files on your computer before running such software.
some of the symptoms of your computer having spyware would be as follows:
If you are seeing xupiter, gator, hotbar or whenu toolbar, etc and excessive popups, or your homepage has been switched- even when you switch your homepage back it defaults back to an address you do not want, you can not sign on to your internet service, your computers performance has slowed to a turtles crawl, you are probably infected with an internet parasite, known as spyware/Malware, it is not a virus per say but acts maliciously as one would. This is Serious. Why, because programs like Xupiter are more than simple annoyance. Your privacy is being invaded. Xupiter, etc has the ability to install more software in your machine without your consent, even when you uninstall these programs they will reinstall, since their files are purposely hidden throughout your computer in regular files, in your registry, system files etc... (sometimes hiding 88 separate files or more) you’ll never know where to find/eradicate all of it, even if you are a trained technician and know where to look, this would be a difficult task to accomplish… for if you leave only one file on your system once you reboot you will be back to square one. If you have spyware what you are doing on your computer could be watched right now. There are companies that know you are looking at this page. They know what you typed to your family, friends and co-workers. They know what you are emailing to people. They watch your IMs. and other communications...some Hackers are watching to capture your credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information.
Unfortunately for lop.com and many other spyware programs, their tactics have gained them the attention of Lavasoft, makers of Ad-aware http://www.lavasoft.nu/, and the makers of Spybot. http://security.kolla.de/
Spybot S&D and Ad-aware targets and removes lop.com, gator, xupiter and many other spyware software from your system.
simply use Spybot to search your computer's files and to remove all incidences of spyware. as a cross checking system, I use both spybot and then ad-aware cuz sometimes what one system wont catch the other one will.
once you have run these programs, reboot and do a scandisk of the system to check for any erros, and then a defragmentation session ... if you have such utilities as Norton Utilies run the one button check-up as well.
one major suggestion, burn a copy of adaware/spybot onto a CD, if your connection to the internet is lost due to spyware and you do not have these programs on your computer, how will you get them to resolve these issues? You may end up having to pay to fix your computer and that to me is silly. Best buy- etc will charge you at least $50 just to look at it...
please keep in mind Norton antivirus nor anyother virus program will NOT detect or resolve Malware/spyware/adware from your system, you must use either spybot, or adware or any other program out there but i highly recc these two since I have used them repeatedly, for clients and friends of mine to resolve such issues, & know them to be legit & reliable companies. These programs are free to use [although they do have commerical versions as well, but those arent necc. at least they havent been for my needs thus far] but you could donate money to them for their time and constant upkeep with new spyware and all the nasty changes these companies make to their programs to avert spyware detection.
but you also have to inform your friend that by using Kazaa, and xolox, and anyother free Mp3/program/porn file sharing program you are inviting and downloading more spyware programs onto your computer and the same incidences will occur over and over, you really do not get something for nothing, repeated use of these programs that allow spyware to get onto your computer will result in an inoperable computer, your information will not be safe, you may not even be able to sign online since your system resources are so taxed-out, and sometimes complete computer crash and burns have happened, which your system will then be useless…kiss it goodbye
Furthermore, continual use of Kazaa and other such mentioned programs to download files will in the very near future (if it is governmentally approved- which it very well may be) have company made virus's on those files that are not legit, meaning perhaps 90-95% of what is being downloaded from such programs as Kazaa, etc will have virus's and programs to completely wipe out your hard drive. They are not kidding about this, as well as they are now going after people who download illegal copies of music/software more aggressively than before, if you use these programs i suggest you all stop now, or you will quite possibly be out of a system.
for further information on another component of spyware which is Browser Hyjacking if you want more information on this check this site out: http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/
also if you can not load antivirus software onto your friends computer if she can still sign online or if you can get the computer up and working so she can sign online, you can use free online antivirus systems checking programs to scan her system, while it is not as protected as using a permanent anti-virus program you will at least be able to pin-point more accurately what her computing problems are.
if you have any questions please ask… if and when i have some free time ill get back to you as soon as i can.
I hope this helps... sorry it was long
PS. I am an IT-CNS (Information Technology- Computer Networking Systems) major at ITT Tech... I not only have had first hand experiences prior to being a student dealing with spyware/malware but I have also eradicated it many times for people in the past, but have also learned techniques regarding these issues at school.
a response to this blathe: an_annoying_rant
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030627
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