Can't remove this Ad Ware

[Minty]

Hello People,

I am wondering if you can help me solve a problem I am experiencing.

I have a laptop with Windows XP Pro.

Please take a look at the following images

http://www.mean-jeans.com/pain.JPG <<< Highlighted my issue with GREEN box.
http://www.mean-jeans.com/pain1.JPG <<< The blue search bar at the bottom
http://www.mean-jeans.com/pain2.JPG <<< The Process screen from Task Manager of the laptop.


I can't work out why the Desktop Icons (in image 1) will not delete, there is no right click facility either.

Can someone please help me out, I have tried a couple of Ad-Ware programs and nothing seems to be getting rid of it.

I have also ran anti-virus software which finds a virus and deletes it but when going back onto the internet (via Internet Explorer) it brings back the virus.

Anymore info required, please ask.

Thanks people

[Raging.Retard]

If its re-appearing when you load IE, its probably registered as a BHO which is why its reoccurring.

HijackThis is a good place to start. It will display a big list of the most likely culprits.

[Phil^]

spybot s&d or adaware are usually pretty good at killing those - tried either?
hijackthis, is a good tool but be careful with it, rather powerful thing it is

Main problem is : you`re using internet explorer
therefore you cant erase the programs executables as they are loaded INTO it as long as its running

Solution : close all IE windows, run a spybot s&d sweep/adaware sweep followed by checking with hijack-this that its definately dead.
Then use a proper internet browser

[zarg]

May also help to drop into safe mode to run ad-aware and spybot s&d.

[Chika]

Hmm, I had the same problem, but only mines extended to my browser and every word such as "Free" or
"Today" linked to a porn site. Ad-aware should fix this problem perfectly, when is the last time you updated it? Normally, hard-to-get-rid-of things like this can be found before your system boots up, which ad-aware does. Hopefully you get it, I know it can be frustrating. After my escapade, I through Norton Anti Virus out the window and purchased Macfee(sp? :| ) macfee sucks because it takes a lot of work to get it configured because it is so strict, but I never had a problem after. Also, you can get books on regedit. Once you know how to manipulte that, you pretty much kill any spyware that made it into your system without any programs.

[meglamaniac]

Adaware has problems dealing with certain toolbars, such as that one.
Spybot S&D can have better results, and running HijackThis after either of those two would solve the issues. But there's one problem with HijackThis: you need to know what you're doing or you can majorly screw things up.

Surprisingly, Microsoft's AntiSpyware offering almost always suceeds where Adaware fails so is worth a go if you have Windows XP. Unfortunately it doesn't work on Win9x.

Providing you are savvy enough to understand HijackThis, the best course of action to disinfect a system is:
a) AdAware scan
b) Spybot S&D scan
c) Do HijackThis
d) Install the realtime monitor for at least one of the adware programs

This is the course of action I use quite frequently, as there are plenty of people here at work who have a habit of clicking every banner ad, popup and confirmation box they see. For that reason I also make sure the realtime monitor is set to auto-deny - so far as I'm concerned they can screw their free screen savers if it keeps spyware off my damn network!