Adware/spyware problem?

I just got some adware/spyware from Fanhost. Full page ad popped up and wouldn't go away. If you were screwed as well you can head over to lavasoftusa.com and download Ad-aware to kill it. Looks like every single page of the fanhost messageboards is trying to load this crap.

I don't even recall hitting yes to anything and I still got screwed. I don't know why I thought I could come here to check the posts without my pop-up blocker enabled.....

Good advice, Xator. :D
For this situation, a more powerful program is useful...

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.2

Use this program to lock your homepage from being changed...some websites like to run scripts that change your current homepage and run further scripts to scare users.

Spybot S&D can also delve deeper into a Windows system, allowing you to remove spyware that Ad-aware may have missed.

Be careful though, on that same token it is possible to remove processes vital for Windows to run properly. Only remove programs if you are absolutely sure that they are harmful.

I remember this one webpage would issue a command to open a person's CD-ROM tray and make a claim that spyware had been installed...what is this world coming to? :mad:

Originally posted by gjc170:
Good advice, Xator. :D
For this situation, a more powerful program is useful...

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.2

Use this program to lock your homepage from being changed...some websites like to run scripts that change your current homepage and run further scripts to scare users.

Spybot S&D can also delve deeper into a Windows system, allowing you to remove spyware that Ad-aware may have missed.

Be careful though, on that same token it is possible to remove processes vital for Windows to run properly. Only remove programs if you are absolutely sure that they are harmful.

I remember this one webpage would issue a command to open a person's CD-ROM tray and make a claim that spyware had been installed...what is this world coming to? :mad:

Laugh... The trays on both my drives did open. I didn't really pay attention to what it said on the screen though. I just started killing everything from the Task Manager.

What program do you think is the best pop-up blocker out there? Right now I'm using www.popupcop.com.

[ December 20, 2003, 11:47 PM: Message edited by: Xator ]

[i love love]

I tried complaining in the admin forum. I doubt it had any impact. Several folks have run into this problem with the full screen pop-up including me. This kind of crap only happens at adult sites. Completely pathetic that Fanhost even allows this bull.

Another loaded gun at this site is the advertisement for "smilies". That program is loaded with spyware if you accept their innocent looking smilies offer. Beware.

Originally posted by gjc170:
I remember this one webpage would issue a command to open a person's CD-ROM tray

That scared the **** out of me! I didn't know I was getting it from Fanhost. That will discourage people from coming here.


I can't believe that you all are talking about this because I just downloaded spybot and hour or so ago. I'm a little afraid to use it because as mentioned you may delete some windows files. I did delete all the cookies though.

This is the pop up blocker I use:

Pop Up Stopper 3.1

Works very well, hope this helps..

Originally posted by Xator:
What program do you think is the best pop-up blocker out there?

I'm partial to panicware.com's free version of popup-stopper...but I've noticed that it's no longer as effective as it used to be.

I was thinking about trying Google's toolbar with built-in pop-up ad elimination, but I'm too lazy to really find the best one out there. ;)

Yeah, something changed my homepage to something warning me about comuter security. It would open my CD-ROM and tell me my IP. Didn't bother reading the page, just pissed me off.

Sigh... It's back. After using Ad-aware I went ahead and restored a recent backup from some CD's to be on the safe side. Made sure my pop-up blocker was enabled, came here to Fanhost to login, and had junk installed on my system again. Didn't click yes to anything. I just saw a flash while it said I was logging in and I was screwed. I closed IE and opened it back up and Windows notepad came up with a message about my system being vulnerable to spyware if my CD tray opened... and the trays on both my CD-ROM drives opened :(

This is simply beyond BS. Looks like I need to restore another backup and avoid Fanhost for a...(hardcore porn popping up now) while.

And these are Ghost image backups... they kill the entire partition and then restore so I know I got rid of it for good the first time. Now I'm helpless if its just going to automatically install itself when I come here.

OMG KOMPUTAR EXPLODED!!!111!


touch me


The Skillionaire

[4nd3r$]

i dont get any popups here @ fh [img]graemlins/sniff.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/sly.gif[/img]

It's not coming up anymore. Guess the problem was fixed.

[Captain Beefheart]

I'm using one called "Popup Manager" it's good BUT it won't block that one that asks me if I want to download some IE thing; I guess cause it's not actually a popup.

Spybot is a good suggestion, it tells you information about the file found, and the company who made it etc (if it's listed)

This kind of crap only happens at adult sites.

U maybe on to something, Just how do u know that? I scan my PC all the time and I never have any spyware. [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/evil.gif[/img]

If the progs. suggested don't work for ya just contact my "sources" and we will take it from there...Or you could just PM me and I'd be glad to help.

Keep it greasy ;)

[ December 21, 2003, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Captain Beefheart ]

Laugh... its back. My Pop Up Blocker is blocking it. I have to set it to disable scripts for it to do so. This of course messes up most web pages like Fanhost. I can still read the posts, though.

Both Ad-aware and SpyBot say its Alexa related.

[ December 21, 2003, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: Xator ]

omg thanks,i have ad-ware on my comp. too when i come here and some tiems it makes my cd rom drive thing open and the screen 2 start going crazy on me [img]graemlins/ohwell.gif[/img]

[Captain Beefheart]

Originally posted by Xator:
Laugh... its back. My Pop Up Blocker is blocking it. I have to set it to disable scripts for it to do so. This of course messes up most web pages like Fanhost. I can still read the posts, though.

Both Ad-aware and SpyBot say its Alexa related.

Since most popups are called via javascript, you can make your own popup stopper by disabling javascript or restricting it a bit. I havn't tried it but in theory it should work.

If not go to the sites again, find out their mailing addresses. Go to the P.O. box and watch to see who picks up the mail. Follow them home, BURN THE PLACE DOOOOWN.

Or you can spare some cash and get Norton Internet Security. There are so many "options" like Mozilla, tabbed browsing (multiple windows in the same browser), pop-up blocking at will, freeware, support for pretty much all internet standards and still in development, prett much all plugins (apart from gogglebar) that work in IExplorer are also available for mozilla, integrated mail, news, chat, editor and more (if installation is desired), entirely skinnable, lots of privacy and security and performance options, READ AGAIN: Freeware ;)

I understand the logistics of running a site, and I'm not going to ***** or stop coming here. I'm not against pop-ups entirely, but I don't believe that anyone should have to be forced to deal with having them pop up if they don't want to. The other pop ups are fine because my pop-up blocker toasts them, but there is no way to get rid of those things asking you to install stuff on the computer. That's aggrivating enough, but the fact that they incessently return after you have said no a million times really is unacceptable.

PS-Picking up on something I Love mentioned, NO good web admin should ever subject his forum members to that obnoxious crap, yet keep in mind they help pay for the bandwidth and equipment charges, it's understandable but we gotta meet somewhere halfway. Put it this way, I would rather LET IT BE this way, sitting in the comfort of my home and watching pics of JLH, than busting my ass in Iraq in the name of democray [img]graemlins/rollwink_ron.gif[/img]

[ December 21, 2003, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: Captain Beefheart ]

[i love love]

Originally posted by Captain Beefheart:
This kind of crap only happens at adult sites. U maybe on to something, Just how do u know that? I scan my PC all the time and I never have any spyware. [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/evil.gif[/img]

R guess it might have to do with the fact that I'm a single adult male with a computer.

I am going to ***** about a full screen pop-up. Fanhost could at least request that this evil company use an alternate pop-up sales approach. Full page ads are insanity. If the goofy company refuses then move on to another advertisement support group that has a tiny bit of class.

I don't have ad-aware so I suppose I must have some spyware. I do have Norton and Zone Alarm but experts say any firewall protection can be compromised. Especially by those pesky trojans. Experts claim computers are loaded with spyware, especially computers that visit KAZAA and those file-sharing type of sites.

My Zone Alarm alone shows 141,857 intrusions have been blocked since installation. 6,811 have been high rated. I've still had a couple of trojans sneak in with this protection. It's a constant battle these days.

[ December 21, 2003, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: i love love ]

I am going to ***** about a full screen pop-up. Fanhost could at least request that this evil company use an alternate pop-up sales approach. Full page ads are insanity. If the goofy company refuses then move on to another advertisement support group that has a tiny bit of class.

A fullscreen ad that can be blocked or closed doesn't bother me. A fullscreen ad that most pop-up blockers dont block and can't be closed without automatically installing crap on my computer is something I mind.

[ December 21, 2003, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Xator ]

I use Mozilla. In the preferences I disable "Open unrequested windows" and enable "Enable cookies for the originating web site only". Haven't had security problems so far and it's for free. You can give it a shot if you keep having trouble.

[ December 21, 2003, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: LoveNut ]

http://tired-of-spam.home.comcast.net/

This website details the problem I and others have had. Fanhost needs to prevent this...