Korean Job Discussion Forums

[quiksilver]

I bought a Toshiba laptop in August '04 to bring with me to Korea. I'm running Windows XP and I have Norton Anti-Virus 2004 and also an Ad-Aware program and a pop-up blocker. My problem is the thing has become so slow in the last week and I'm getting pop-ups every time I open Internet Explorer. It takes forever for Internet Explorer to open and then once I get going on something it says that an error has occured and it needs to shut down. Something is obviously wrong and I don't know what to do. I'm not real computer savy so any help would be greatly appreciated. I am running Azureus and downloading a few TV shows so maybe that's what's wrong I really don't know. Thank you to in advance to anyone who has a tip for me.

[the_beaver]

[quiksilver]

Sorry I wasn't real clear. I wasn't running Azureus at the time. I was just saying that maybe by downloading stuff I maybe got a virus or something. I haven't used Azureus for a couple days. I'm just in the process of downloading spybot and another pop-up blocker so hopefully something will work out.

[eamo]

Did you get the SP2 update from Microsoft? It installs a pop-up blocker that means some websites don't load properly.

[Dalton]

Sounds like a virus I had two years ago. I ended up reinstalling.
Here's a site to read up and get some additional software.

cexx.org

Register and ask or search through the forums for your symptoms.

Running 'Hijack This' will tell you if your browser settings have been changed.
SpywareGuard will tell you immediately if someone is trying to change your settings.

I don't know what's wrong with your PC but I believe the pop-ups sound like a virus or trojan or something for sure.

[mindmetoo]

Are you also running ZoneAlarm fire wall? I would install that too.

Before reinstalling, try system restore (start / programs / accessories / system tools). Try to set it back a few days or a couple weeks and see if that clears it up.

Also defrag your drive. Also look at what processes are running and then google for each process, see if each is legit. Most known processes are well documented, including the evil ones.

[FUBAR]

[Dalton]

Here's a list of software and links I saved. I haven't checked all the links lately and there is other stuff out there but I think this is a good start:

Free:
This link is to CNets' most popular downloads page. You'll see
AdAware, Zone Alarm, Mozilla Firefox, Spybot Search and Destroy
AdAware and Zone Alarm

Spybot Search and Destroy
Coolweb Shredder

HiJack This
Spyblaster
Spyware Guard

Not:
Window Washer
Scroll down and find Window Washer 5.1 on the right. DL it and open and read the .nfo file(s) with notepad. The rip is built into the program. Just install it. Run it every time you go off line.


Info and help sites:
Prevention article from cexx.org
spywareinfo.com
cexx.org

This is a lot of stuff. You have to get into the properties for each one too. For instance Ad Aware has a setting to eliminate the reg entry for anything it finds. Ad Aware will disable a lot of free stuff that comes with spyware and adware. Like free DivX and Download accelerator. I let it and learn to live with out that stuff.

[Derrek]

99/9% sure your browswer has been "hi-jacked."

The computer at school had the same symptoms.... drove me nuts, it was so slow and the popups were all Korean. Some "Hong Cage" thing kept popping up.

The browser had gotten hijacked, and Adaware and the ad-removal software didn't work to clean that. I had to download a registry cleaning (might have been "Hi-jack This") program and manually wipe out stuff that seemed like it shouldn't be there.

It's all better now, but be careful not to delete too much out of the registry... dangerous ground!.

[jazblanc77]

Before you clean anything with HijackThis, make sure you register at cexx.org and post your log. Someone will tell you what is safe to trash. As well, make sure you make HijackThis it's own folder on c:\ because if you run it from your desktop, it won't be able to save any restore information which is a godsend if you delete something and want it back later because you computer starts to act strangely.

[itaewonguy]

your comp takes forever to boot up?

emmm try MISCONFIG in start - run
and got to start up

then check to see how many programs you have running at start tup

disable the ones you dont need..
use this site.. its a very god site..

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

get rid the useless programs that are taking up memory and start up time.

you maye have a hijacker..
but its hard to say..
hijack this.. is a good tool.. but of course you will need to post the results on BBS so someone can tell you whats wrong.

try a online scan.
also download the CLEANER for trojans..
try all virus scans..

anyway hope this helps some..

finally I strongly recommend all people with computer problems..
to DOWNLOAD.. PALTALK..
and go to the computer room.. and ask for help..
these guys are great they always try and help and they really KNOW there stuff..
they can answer any question you have..
its live with mics.so they can walk you through the hardest questions..
I have been using that room for 5 years know..