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Annoying alert/warning from protectmypc.net

post #1 of 10
6/28/06 at 11:35am
Thread Starter 
Hi all - Since getting my Toshiba laptop back from the repair center I am getting an annoying alert stating that my pc is infected and to click on the box to download a virus/spyware scanner. If I ignore it, it sometimes just disappears, only to come up again (about four times an hour or so). Sometimes it will generate an ad-looking type box, which, when I try to close it, or hit "cancel", autoloads IE and tires to direct me to a site called Protectmypc.net. The page never succesfully loads though (I don't want their product anyway), and it is a major pain to have to keep clearing all this crap from my screen. This thing also disguises itself (it just came up again as I type here) as a Windows Security Center alert, but it's obviously and adware thing.

Has anyone else seen this, and do you know how to remove it?

I have AOL spyware and have used Spybot to try to remove it, but so far nothing works.

Please help,

Wolfie
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post #2 of 10
6/28/06 at 11:50am
Ouch, not sure exactly which spyware this is...but, its spyware for sure. It sounds like a nasty piece of spyware if spybot cant find it. You have one of two options.

1. Backup all your files and reinstall windows.
2. Go into the registry and manually remove all the fragments of spyware.

Other than that, GL!

3. (I know I said two) Try Lavasoft Adaware (click me). Another good spyware removal program, but I'm not so sure it will help.


Question: Do you use Internet exploer or Mozilla Firefox?
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post #3 of 10
6/28/06 at 12:20pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks karizma - I use IE only occasionally like when I have to sign in to use a hotels wireless access, or if I need to reload my AOL browser. I have never tried Mozilla, but my son uses it (he's a software developer). AOL has so far been pretty good to me.

I appreciate your suggestion regarding Lavasoft Adaware, but I'm reluctant to add another spyware program as they all seem to take over my system and want to control everything, along with conflict with what I already have installed.

I may have to do as you suggested and reload XP. Thing is, I'll lose a lot of programs that I don't have disks for since they were downloaded/installed from the net.

Thanks again for your reply,

Wolfie
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post #4 of 10
6/28/06 at 12:46pm
Download Firefox or opera. They are 100 times more secure and better than IE. Lavasoft's adaware is a very good program and I assure you it wont take over anything. I preffer it over spybot. Lastly I reccomend downloading Ccleaner. Go to downloads.com and search for it. It may not get rid of this but it has many useful features. Make sure you click and run the search for issues tab. This will also not do any harm to your system. And before you reformat did you at least try to system restore? I know it doesnt work for alot of things but its worth a try.
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post #5 of 10
6/28/06 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfie
Thanks karizma - I use IE only occasionally like when I have to sign in to use a hotels wireless access, or if I need to reload my AOL browser. I have never tried Mozilla, but my son uses it (he's a software developer). AOL has so far been pretty good to me.

I appreciate your suggestion regarding Lavasoft Adaware, but I'm reluctant to add another spyware program as they all seem to take over my system and want to control everything, along with conflict with what I already have installed.

I may have to do as you suggested and reload XP. Thing is, I'll lose a lot of programs that I don't have disks for since they were downloaded/installed from the net.

Thanks again for your reply,

Wolfie

You're welcome Wolfie

http://www.download.com - Write down all of your programs, they should be here unless it was a paid download.

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ - Get mozilla Firefox.

Firefox is very very similar to IE with a few adjustments that are easy to get used to. It is the safest way to interface with the internet currently. It has a built in spyware, firewall and popup blocker that are all VERY effective. Sometimes it creates a bit of system latency but the pro's outway the cons'.

With firefox you wont need to many extra ad-aware programs. Just be careful with your content surfing I personally trust Lavasoft and Spybot myself and run them both periodically on my laptop. They have different deffinitions they scan your computer by.

Let me know if you have any questions!!

You're welcome again
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post #6 of 10
6/28/06 at 1:26pm
Hmm I just noticed... you wouldnt happen to be the same wolfie I know from numerous other forums would you?

Probably not but whatever =P
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post #7 of 10
6/28/06 at 5:52pm
Thread Starter 
Karizma - thanks for the links, I'll give Mozilla a try. As for the download site, I'll check that out too, but the prog's I'm concerned about losing are indeed those I paid for (but stupidly didn't pay any extra for the disk).

Breene - The only other forum i think I might be using Wolfie on is a German aircraft forum, but it's been so long that I really don't remember what my screen name is there. I go by "Stinger" on most of my other forums.

As an aside here, I think (hope) I have fixed the problem. I downloaded a fresh version of Spybot and let it do it's thing through the restart process and so far the pop-up has not come back. However, As I was reading the most recent responses here, I tried to respond back and got a message that said my access to this site was FORBIDDEN by this (my) server. Only after a complete shutdown and restart ws I able to get back here.

Strange things happening here I guess.

Anyway, thanks again all,

Wolfie
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post #8 of 10
6/28/06 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 
It just happened again. I clicked submit reply, and got the forbidden page again. I did a click back and then submit again and it went through.

????????
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post #9 of 10
6/28/06 at 6:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfie
It just happened again. I clicked submit reply, and got the forbidden page again. I did a click back and then submit again and it went through.

????????

Lol, sounds like some sort of packet error happened.

As for the programs you paid for, you should (should) be able to go back to the sites you got them from. As long as you kept the email reciepts.

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post #10 of 10
6/28/06 at 7:28pm
Thread Starter 
Keep a receipt??? yeah, right. Who are you, the IRS?

But thanks for the tip. You're right, I may be able to go back to the site and download it again with my personal info.

later,

Wolfie
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