Firefox and spyware- help needed please

[Saitek]

Hi

Can anyone help with a firefox problem?

For some weeks now I've been bothered by some sort of bug/tracking device that has infiltrated my firefox web browser.

It doesn't do it everytime I start up firefox, just sometimes. It opens up one or two new browser windows along with the one that I have just opened and tells me where to find vodafones or some other product I'm not interested in.

I have read up on this on web pages and have used spybot search and destroy, ewido anti-spyware and some other devices but these programs can't locate it.

I've been advised to empty my temp. files, but I'm a bit reluctant to do this as there may be things in there that are keeping other things going and there seem to be lots of temp files on my pc anyway.

Any suggestions?

Ben's Dad

[cheesegrater]

Download both of these and scan your computer. The reason I say both because there are some things that one program doesn't detect, but the other one does. Also, before you scan, run the auto-update feature in both programs to get up to date definitions. The auto-update in Spybot is a little buggy though. Scan with Ad-Aware first.

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Per ... l&tag=top5

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-D ... ag=lst-0-1

You should delete temp files. They are a waste of hard drive space. They are usually leftover installation files, that have no use anymore. You can delete them manually, but this is a pretty cool utility for deleting temp files and cleaning up your browser.

http://www.download.com/IE-Privacy-Keep ... ag=lst-0-1

BTW I would post this in software forum.

[Saitek]

Thanks cheesegrater,

I have done as you suggested and more! I have used: Ad-aware, Ewido, Search and destroy, IE privacy keeper (and used this to remove all of my temp. files, as you said).

Here is a screen shot of what I still keep getting when I open Firefox:
http://www.ms.eclipse.co.uk/untitled.bmp

This is very frustrating, have you any further help, or do I give up Firefox?

Many thanks

Ben's Dad

[MWISimmer]

Well, Ben & Dad, this may help (typed word for word from this weeks Micro Mart magazine).

[quote]TROJAN POSES AS FIREFOX EXTENSION
According to McAfee, the ID-stealing FormSpy Trojan has been attacking computers already infected with the Downloader-AXM Trojan.
Installing itself as a component of Firefox, it then proceeds to sniff out information such as passwwords and credit card numbers, which are then forwarded to malicious websites.
McAfee is classifying this Trojan as low risk, however, as most people have already dealt with the Downloader-AXM Trojan it needs in order to execute.
copyright micromart magazine, issue 914, page 82

[Fozzer]

Hi Ben...!

I have installed this program "Adblock" into my Firefox Browser extensions*...>>>

http://adblock.mozdev.org/

Stops all the annoying pop-up ads, etc...

...(and you can switch it on and off for certain sites which insists on Ads being present).

Works a treat for me... ...!

Paul......!

* ...but not my "private" extension.......!

[cheesegrater]

Some more things you can do:

Do you have Anti-Virus software? Update definitions and scan your computer. If you don't, here is a free Anti-Virus program. That should get rid of it.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

If it doesn't, Ctrl+Alt+Delete to see what is running on your system. If you see the virus exe end the task. Then, open Spybot Search and Destroy, in the top bar click on mode and switch to advanced, then go to tools and system startup and it will give you a list off the programs that start up when windows start up. You can disable the virus/trojan from booting there.

If Ctrl+Alt+Delete is confusing and don't know which programs are supposed to be there look them up in the Process Library.

http://www.processlibrary.com/

You can use Process Explorer instead of Ctrl+Alt+Delete. I find it more organized and it gives you descriptions of programs that are running on your memory.

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/P ... lorer.html

You might have to re-install firefox. I have personally never been hijacked or infected on firefox.

If all this doesn't work go to this web site and ask for help. People there are much more knowledgable than here and will help you.

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

[Saitek]

Okay thanks for the advice, but nothing seems to work. I think I better go to the firefox website.

Many thanks

Ben's Dad

[Woodlouse2002]

I'm going to say this only once Ben.





USE IE

[Saitek]

Never never never!



It's actually my Dad running this thread. This is my first input. I think he could do with an account here for his hardware/software issues.

[NicksFXHouse]

I'm going to say this only once Ben.





USE IE

HA HA HA HA HA!!!


SP2 with IE6 or 7 and the RIGHT security settings will NEVER LET YOU DOWN

[hberger]

Hi,

Try this s/w http://www.prevx.com/. Had the same problem as you, nothing worked. You can install it and use it for free for 30 days. It did the job for me.


Helmut

[Saitek]

Okay I'll try that program Helmut, thanks.