Adware/spyware help

Mpowered · 12-27-2003, 01:34 AM

Looks like I've got some spyware or adware on my computer. I'm usually pretty careful but I guess it's not always possible. At random times an audio commercial is played without any visible windows. I get commercials from a job website. I forgot which one it was, but it was the one about somebody sucking up for a job then they try it again with more dignity. I get another one for some childrens games like "Dora the explorer". Next time I'll try to grab the audio. I think I've had this for a long time. At first I thought it was just a bug in my TV card software because I've seen the same commercials on TV.

I haven't noticed anything that triggers the ads but when I'm running the TV software I can hear artifacts in the sound when no other applications are playing sound. This only happens when another program is using the sound card while the TV program is running. When I hear these artifacts a sound doesn't always play so I assume this is the same program.

I haven't found anything about this on google. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

zippyjuan · 12-27-2003, 02:32 AM

I use Adaware which is free from Lavasoft: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Also SpyBot (free also!)
http://spybot-spyware.com/

Mpowered · 12-27-2003, 02:35 AM

I've already run an in depth search with adaware pro using the latest defs and also run Norton AV which also looks for spyware. Thanks though

glagic · 12-27-2003, 02:43 AM

are you running deadaim or aim+? aim has an annoying ad now when you sign on. its on the advertisement box that is removed when using those programs.

CynJon · 12-27-2003, 05:22 AM

Have you tried Spybot Search & Destroy? I've found that it finds and removes some things that AdAware overlooks, and vice versa... I usually run both when I'm doing my weekly checks. It's free, too

.

Find it here.

Mpowered · 12-27-2003, 01:15 PM

I haven't tried Spybot yet so I'm going to try that now.

glagic I am running DeadAIM. Is that ad from the AIM Buddy List window or from the AIM Today Popup? I disabled the Today window from AIMs settings so it probably won't play any sounds. But if it comes from the advertisement from the top of the Buddy List window it probably would still play. But this ad plays at random intervals. Sometimes it plays 3 times in a row and other times it can go for days without playing.

glagic · 12-27-2003, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mpowered
I haven't tried Spybot yet so I'm going to try that now.

glagic I am running DeadAIM. Is that ad from the AIM Buddy List window or from the AIM Today Popup? I disabled the Today window from AIMs settings so it probably won't play any sounds. But if it comes from the advertisement from the top of the Buddy List window it probably would still play. But this ad plays at random intervals. Sometimes it plays 3 times in a row and other times it can go for days without playing.

the ad is from the buddy list window. you know the little advertisement thats supposed to be above all the people in your buddy list? its that box. im not too sure about the playing 3 times in a row or anything. do you leave your computer on all the time? that might be why. i usually get the ad when i sign onto aim.

Mpowered · 12-27-2003, 11:49 PM

I haven't noticed it today but I've been out most of the day. I'm going to set DeadAIM to show the ad. So if its in there I should see the corresponding ad in the Buddy List window.

Well, I ran spybot and couldn't find anything. All it found were some tracking cookies and some urls. Any other ideas?

Mpowered · 12-29-2003, 07:59 AM

I heard one of the ads again and shut down AIM as soon as I could. The ad stopped instantly so the ads are coming from AIM.

[DISCLAIMER] I don't know if this will work. I do a lot of stupid things without thinking about it first. SO DO THE FOLLOWING AT YOUR OWN RISK!

To fix it using notepad, I opened up the advert.ocm file in the AIM directory and deleted everything. I saved it and made it read only. If anyone else wants to do this make sure you back the file up first. To prove how foolish I am, I didn't think about backing it up until after I saved the modifications. Smart huh?

So far so good. Haven't heard any ads yet but I will have to see how it goes.

Mpowered · 12-31-2003, 04:54 AM

Deleting the contents of the advert.ocm file didn't work. I found the following on another site and so far it works. Just add these lines to your HOSTS file:

127.0.0.1 ar.atwola.com
127.0.0.1 ads.aol.com
127.0.0.1 VTOT.proxy.aol.com
127.0.0.1 ads.web.aol.com

I used that all day and got no ads at all.

12-27-2003, 01:34 AM	#1
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	Adware/spyware help Looks like I've got some spyware or adware on my computer. I'm usually pretty careful but I guess it's not always possible. At random times an audio commercial is played without any visible windows. I get commercials from a job website. I forgot which one it was, but it was the one about somebody sucking up for a job then they try it again with more dignity. I get another one for some childrens games like "Dora the explorer". Next time I'll try to grab the audio. I think I've had this for a long time. At first I thought it was just a bug in my TV card software because I've seen the same commercials on TV. I haven't noticed anything that triggers the ads but when I'm running the TV software I can hear artifacts in the sound when no other applications are playing sound. This only happens when another program is using the sound card while the TV program is running. When I hear these artifacts a sound doesn't always play so I assume this is the same program. I haven't found anything about this on google. Any help would be greatly appreciated. __________________ "Leaders? What leaders? **** these so called leaders! I don't respect them. I respect those who take action without being a leader." -Tommy Boomfiger

12-27-2003, 02:32 AM	#2
zippyjuan Picture of the Day Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 8,708	I use Adaware which is free from Lavasoft: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ Also SpyBot (free also!) http://spybot-spyware.com/ __________________ I add new pictures to my photo gallery pretty regularly. You can see them here if you are interested: http://www.pbase.com/jeffryz Last edited by zippyjuan : 12-27-2003 at 02:35 AM.

12-27-2003, 05:22 AM	#5
CynJon Commander Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The middle of the country Posts: 1,424	Have you tried Spybot Search & Destroy? I've found that it finds and removes some things that AdAware overlooks, and vice versa... I usually run both when I'm doing my weekly checks. It's free, too . Find it here. __________________

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12-27-2003, 02:35 AM	#3
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	I've already run an in depth search with adaware pro using the latest defs and also run Norton AV which also looks for spyware. Thanks though

12-27-2003, 02:43 AM	#4
glagic Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: UC Irvine Posts: 799	are you running deadaim or aim+? aim has an annoying ad now when you sign on. its on the advertisement box that is removed when using those programs.

12-27-2003, 01:15 PM	#6
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	I haven't tried Spybot yet so I'm going to try that now. glagic I am running DeadAIM. Is that ad from the AIM Buddy List window or from the AIM Today Popup? I disabled the Today window from AIMs settings so it probably won't play any sounds. But if it comes from the advertisement from the top of the Buddy List window it probably would still play. But this ad plays at random intervals. Sometimes it plays 3 times in a row and other times it can go for days without playing.

12-27-2003, 11:49 PM	#8
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	I haven't noticed it today but I've been out most of the day. I'm going to set DeadAIM to show the ad. So if its in there I should see the corresponding ad in the Buddy List window. Well, I ran spybot and couldn't find anything. All it found were some tracking cookies and some urls. Any other ideas?

12-29-2003, 07:59 AM	#9
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	I heard one of the ads again and shut down AIM as soon as I could. The ad stopped instantly so the ads are coming from AIM. [DISCLAIMER] I don't know if this will work. I do a lot of stupid things without thinking about it first. SO DO THE FOLLOWING AT YOUR OWN RISK! To fix it using notepad, I opened up the advert.ocm file in the AIM directory and deleted everything. I saved it and made it read only. If anyone else wants to do this make sure you back the file up first. To prove how foolish I am, I didn't think about backing it up until after I saved the modifications. Smart huh? So far so good. Haven't heard any ads yet but I will have to see how it goes.

12-31-2003, 04:54 AM	#10
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	Deleting the contents of the advert.ocm file didn't work. I found the following on another site and so far it works. Just add these lines to your HOSTS file: 127.0.0.1 ar.atwola.com 127.0.0.1 ads.aol.com 127.0.0.1 VTOT.proxy.aol.com 127.0.0.1 ads.web.aol.com I used that all day and got no ads at all.

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