Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: The question of spy-ware and junk on the internet

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    1

    The question of spy-ware and junk on the internet

    Think your system is infected by a sick spyware that makes it load unwanted pages; that gives you a message 'your system is infected by spyware - download anti spyware now'?? Please don’t press the download button!! Read on.........

    The IE spyware nuisance

    Spywares are unwanted programs that lodge themselves into the computer aiding in secret broadcast of information about a user’s internet usage. They can even take over browsers and load unwanted pages causing the computer to slow down. Not all spywares transmit computer information though; some simply stay in the computer making it slow by constantly requesting a website.

    There are some websites over the internet that make use of a specific type of program that lodges itself in IE or MSN explorer by deleting a dll file. This program sets itself as your start page almost as soon as you click the website link and loads itself every time the computer is started. It can even manipulate itself into different websites every time. In addition to this the program also automatically adds unwanted sites to the favorites menu each time you connect to the internet. And worst of all, it loads a pop up that says ‘your system is infected with spyware, download anti-spyware now!!’ And most people fall victim to this pop-up out of fear. Hitting the download button would bring into your computer a malicious program that will almost lock your system down. It will make the system utterly useless; something only an expert debugger can cure.

    OK Now for the solution

    Anti Spywares and anti adware softwares are of no use. These softwares can remove some secondary files, but the primary files still remain as they form themselves as part of IE or MSN. Anti virus softwares won't detect them as they are not viruses. So stop using them. Going to 'regedit' and manipulating the system files will also do no good and the files will keep loading again as soon as deleted.

    Your only best bet is to go for system restore if you have windows XP. Go to programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.

    Now restore your system to a previous restore date. Restore dates are shown in block letters (restore the oldest date possible). After restoration delete all the system restore files by deactivating system restore (although this step is not necessary). Restoration will repair the lost dll files of IE. As restoration only restores .exe and .dll files, your data will remain as it is.

    Now, remove IE or MSN as your default browser. Load Netscape and keep it as your default. These bugs do not work against Netscape so you will be safe. In case you use IE then make sure to keep the security high. Do not allow the system to accept cookies unless necessary. Set IE to accept cookies only for some email sites like yahoo! and msn.

    If you don't have a system restore point or have disabled system restore previously, the only chance you have is to format your OS. Take your OS cd and format the entire system.

    Before doing this, take a backup of all your files using a cd writer or another hard drive. Reloading or formatting the OS will solve the problem for good.

    After doing all this, loading a good and reliable anti spyware software program is a good idea to stop future intrusions. ‘Adware’ is by far the best, but needs lots of improvements as it does not remove some malicious spyware programs. But whatever software you download be sure to first check the licensing agreement.

    Internet becoming a dumping ground?

    Recently the numbers of sick websites that are filled with junk and very destructive content have increased over the internet. I don't why people do it, but they do it. Sadists are just a reality as any other normal person. They love to see people in pain and fear. They would go to any extent to promote themselves or harass others. This is nothing but crime or abuse. They are playing with people's minds and their hard earned money. They are making them waste their time in useless activities. This is really too bad.

    The worst part is that these sick sites reach to us via search engines. The irony is that they rank high in search engines. All that you need to do is click them by mistake and you got yourself trouble.

    Can search engines help?

    Search engines are the mirror of the internet. Search engines are the ones that actually lead us to these malicious pages. So instead of focusing on money making and putting competitors down, search engines should help solve the problem of junk on the internet.

    1.) Search engines can form high end algorithms that can identify sites that promote spy wares or viruses and exclude them from their database. Even those pages that have links to such sites should be excluded.

    2.) They can make use of special information in their search results that can tell the visitor about potentially damaging content. For instance, if a search engine feels that a website has harmful content, it can include information in the SERP like 'warning' or 'this site can have damaging content/spy wares etc.

    3.) Regulate the internet by giving access to pages that have real content to display high in the SERP than those which are filled with junk

    The internet is becoming a dangerous place and if not regulated can lead to serious disasters. Things are developing too fast for men to cope with. In-fact the internet has developed at a speed faster than imaginable and hence there is lack of any order/rules and regulations. This is high time that we do something to protect the internet from damaging our personal property and privacy. This is a very serious problem and we need to think on this together. All nations should come together to solve this crisis, instead of ignoring it.

    Search engines and internet service providers have a huge responsibility towards eliminating this crime that is going on unabated on the internet. They should work together to eliminate this problem for good and save the internet from becoming a hacker’s paradise and a dumping ground of junk.


    http://<a rel="nofollow" href="http:...emagic.net</a> is a quality portal that offers affordable and professionally designed website templates. Please feel free to reproduce this article. Spread the word…….

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    4,055
    Ehh, nice spyware article (where'd ya get it from?). However in future posts, please don't advertise/spam your website. Simply putting it in your signature is fine.
    Space For Rent.. =]

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Posts
    1,018
    There are some websites over the internet that make use of a specific type of program that lodges itself in IE or MSN explorer by deleting a dll file.
    Which .dll is that?..I can't think of ever seeing one getting deleted (except for the one deleted in Spybot), but I will agree that they will often install .dlls...some of my personal favorites are the random .dll associated with CWS, wheras these: windows\nem219.dll, twaintec.dll, nvms.dll, mscb.dll , are among the most common.

    This program sets itself as your start page almost as soon as you click the website link and loads itself every time the computer is started.
    Most often, these are ActiveX controls. A simple way to block ths from happening is to open IE, go to Tools, Internet Explorer, custom label, then set your ActiveX settings as follows:
    • Download Signed ActiveX controls-set to Prompt.
    • Download Un-Signed ActiveX controls-set to Disable.
    • Initialize and script ActiveX controls marked as unsafe-set to disable.


    Hitting the download button would bring into your computer a malicious program that will almost lock your system down. I
    Often even just clicking the "close" button on the pop-up window will trigger the download. A better method would be to hit ALT-F4.

    It will make the system utterly useless; something only an expert debugger can cure.
    Not necessarily true, but sounds like the same propoganda anti-spyware salesman would use.

    Your only best bet is to go for system restore if you have windows XP. Go to programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.
    What happens when your system restore has been disabled by matrixhere?

    Before doing this, take a backup of all your files using a cd writer or another hard drive. Reloading or formatting the OS will solve the problem for good.
    Then the purveyors of malware win. IMHO, that is unacceptable in any except the most heavily compromised systems.

    Load Netscape and keep it as your default. These bugs do not work against Netscape so you will be safe.
    Netscape is no longer being updated for HP-UX, meaning unauthorized access and remote unauthorized code execution is completely possible. Brown Orifice, makes use of Netscape's Java implementation to let an unsigned Java applet read and dispense files from a user's computer.

    ‘Adware’ is by far the best, but needs lots of improvements as it does not remove some malicious spyware programs.
    Again, not true. It does, however, lead the pack among free anti-spyware applications. it was also the frst to address Alternate Data Streams.

    I'm sorry. I think your "article" lacks focus and content.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    4,055
    groovicus: Interesting points..

    What happens when your system restore has been disabled by matrixhere?
    Or if you have no set restore points and/or system restore in general?

    Again, not true. It does, however, lead the pack among free anti-spyware applications. it was also the frst to address Alternate Data Streams.
    Agreed but IMHO Ad-Aware is the best spyware removal tool (next to hijackthis probably). And for the other dudes article which said:

    but needs lots of improvements as it does not remove some malicious spyware programs.
    I find that to be not true because I can safely say Ad-Aware has NEVER failed me in finding and removing spyware/adware. NEVER.
    Space For Rent.. =]

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •