Originally posted here by nihil
You have been hit by some scumware. As you can see it is blocking you from security and support sites. I am guessing that it probably attacked SpyBot as well. I have been running SpyBot on a number of machines now for several years, and have not encountered the same problems.

You might like to try downloading and running CWShredder...................I am not certain but it sure looks sneaky enough to be a Cool Web Search variant. I suspect it might already have been there and attacked spybot when you installed it?

Cheers
Heh, that may also be the reason. I just never had any of this happen untill I told Spybot to go ahead and use the toolbar and to secure my browser settings.

I had it installed for about 2 days, and then I decided to try the Tool bar thing, and that was when it all started happening.

I've been checking things out more on here, and making sure of what has been installed, and so far the only thing that seemed to happen was me installing Spybot. Other than that, I have the fallowing installed on this machine:

I reformatted this machine to install XP again, as I needed to do a few things this week that required it. Like logging into school stuff which needs IE.

The first thing I did was install Macfee Firewall, and then update it.

Then:

I updated Windows

Installed AVG, updated it

Scanned with AVG

Installed Ad Aware, updated it

Scanned with Ad Aware

Pretty much whenever I install anything anymore, I scan before and after.

So I'm really not sure how something would have gotten into my system, as I do take precautions, and I don't open email on here. Unless it's from my teacher's or a friend, and then it's only text.

The E-mail lists I belong to, I use Linux boxes to read.

I'm also behind a router, and I have my firewalls all set up to alert if anything tries to contact anything not predefined as OK with me.

Anything that tries to access the internet, or anything that the internet tries to access, has to ask if it is OK.

I like Ad Aware a lot, but is there any other software that can search for things like Spyware and Malware?

Hmm, this may turn into a good thread. What other types of software can be installed that are a little less than noble?

Mal ware, Spyware, all kinds of stuff, but what else is there, and what software picks it up?

I'm thinking of buying a real copy of Ad Aware, so even if you have to pay for it, what other software can be useful?

I know Macfee and Norton make suites for this type of thing, but are there ones you would all recommend as much better?

What about Linux spyware?

Heh, a lot of questions, but this could turn into a very helpful thread.