Computer Help Needed ASAP

[paiger81]

I am so angry right now. Quick story, when Kirk left to Disney, he left his computer with me. It is a perfect computer, had all the protection programs, basically this machine is his baby. Well, I've noticed how in the past month, I've gotten more & more pop-ups and infectious stuff coming on this machine. Today I get home from my vaca, and I swear that I can't even get to home page without at least 5 popups coming on. It finally clicks, my brother apparently has no respect for other people's property and has downloaded all sorts of shit on here. I'm going through it right now, cleaning as much of it as I know how to. But I need to know if there is anything else I can do to protect this comp & to get the pop-ups to stop. Currently the best way I found to stop the pop-ups is to set my machine to wear I get a prompt EVERY TIME a cookie is trying to get access. I know there has to be an easier way, but I'm not so computer savvy.

Also, after a quick bitch session towards my bro--who had been told not to download anything onto this computer--I now want to password protect this computer so that he can't log on to it at all(or unless I am here to supervise) come on techie people, I need help!!!!

[biodork]

im no techie but i know to help get rid of those pop ups (if you don't have it already) download the free version of ad-aware, from www.lavasoft.com I know that speeds up my computer tons and gets rid of a ton of spyware.

[kitalyn414]

ad-aware is the best.


to password protect you can go to start menu, control panel, and then users and passwords.

[StateNAurora]

Delete your cookies, I think its file.txt. Search your hard-drive for cookies. What browser are you using?

[paiger81]

OK, adaware is up and running, and I'm now password protected. I've deleted as many cookies as I can find. I use Internet Explorer as my browser.

Y'all do not understand the absolute fury I have right now. My bro completely destroyed my parents computer, and so we specifically told him that he was not to download a single thing on to this computer. The complete lack of respect for other people's property has me appauled.

[paiger81]

Ok, I'm stupid, but Adaware has looked at everything and has the crtical objects and what not, what do I do to get rid of them?

I swear, for a girl with a college degree, I'd hoped to have a better feel for the computers.

[biodork]

you have to click on each of the critical objects, then just hit "next" and it should automatically quarantine them.

[paiger81]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[biodork]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
welcome! :huge:

[stonemonkey]

I use Internet Explorer as my browser.


This might be too late to be useful, but I find Internet Explorer is a big target for spyware. Try using Mozilla Firefox instead, it's free and I think much better.

http://www.mozilla.org/

[summergold]

This might be too late to be useful, but I find Internet Explorer is a big target for spyware. Try using Mozilla Firefox instead, it's free and I think much better.

http://www.mozilla.org/


I second that. Mozilla is awesome and i get no popups. I keep Internet Explorer on hand as there are a few pages here and there that don't jive with mozilla, but otherwise I love it.

[biodork]

I just wanna say to be careful with that, its hard to get used to. And it always opens up pages in a current browser instead of a new one and I've also had files saved over by accident because of the same issue.

[StateNAurora]

Go to Tools then Internet Options in Explorer. Delete internet files. Then tell your brother no more yanky his wanky with your comp, then get a MAC.

[summergold]

I just wanna say to be careful with that, its hard to get used to. And it always opens up pages in a current browser instead of a new one and I've also had files saved over by accident because of the same issue.

Do you have the latest version of it? Mine opens new browser windows for new pages. I've got v1.0.3 The only thing that tends to bother me is that a few pages don't display properly because they're only compatible with IE

[biodork]

Do you have the latest version of it? Mine opens new browser windows for new pages. I've got v1.0.3 The only thing that tends to bother me is that a few pages don't display properly because they're only compatible with IE
im pretty sure i do, it was just downloaded a few weeks ago

[summergold]

im pretty sure i do, it was just downloaded a few weeks ago


Hmmm, maybe my techie friend who installed mine did some tweaking.

[and1grad]

Personally, I think Avant Browser is better than Mozilla. Also, Mozilla really slowed my computer down, especially when it had trouble loading some page.

[stonemonkey]

You can also right-click links to open them in new tabs or new windows, if that's a problem. That's never happened to me, you should be able to configure it to do what you want in Tools -> Options.

Also, what pages are these that can only be opened in IE? I had to install some Java components when I first installed Firefox but it's been working fine since.

[summergold]

Also, what pages are these that can only be opened in IE? I had to install some Java components when I first installed Firefox but it's been working fine since.

The pages always open, but sometimes they just don't look that great. It's usually an issue with the font. I know I could adjust it, but I just click over to IE when I'm feeling lazy.

[SunDevil]

You can right click and click on "Select All" as well using Ad-aware.

Microsoft also bought a company and rebranded their spyware software that gets other crap.

[pisces2473]

<33333333 Mozilla <33333333333

[capella]

Go to Tools then Internet Options in Explorer. Delete internet files. Then tell your brother no more yanky his wanky with your comp, then get a MAC.
*Sigh* I want a Mac. Not as much crap like this to deal with. Too bad a Powerbook is, well, let's just say way out of my price range right now.

[meatwad]

OK. Time for the guy who does this for a living to chime in. :D

Ad-aware is definitely a good thing to have. I agree there.

Same with Firefox. That alone will cut back your problems dramatically. Most of the websites that have problems in firefox are Microsoft sites. Go figure. :googly:

You want to get another program called Spyware Doctor. Awesome program for finding spyware and crap and getting rid of it.

You also want a program called Spyware Blaster. It doesn't clean up the crap but it blocks a pretty good amount of it from getting on your computer, and the paid version is only $10.

If you're still having trouble, download a program called hijack this and we can try to figure out what's lingering with that.

You can get all this stuff at download.com (http://www.download.com) or Major Geeks (http://www.majorgeeks.com).

[MetFanL]

Paige, do you have Windows XP? I set up a separate account for my old roommate (who was also very good at destroying computers) and changed all her rights and blocked a sh*tload of websites. She needed a password to download and she needed to sign into my account (which was also password protected) if she really needed something and couldn't get to it b/c of the rights (or lack thereof) that I assigned to her. So, basically, to access anything, she needed my permission or she needed to get her own damn computer. It worked well for me.

[paiger81]

Paige, do you have Windows XP? I set up a separate account for my old roommate (who was also very good at destroying computers) and changed all her rights and blocked a sh*tload of websites. She needed a password to download and she needed to sign into my account (which was also password protected) if she really needed something and couldn't get to it b/c of the rights (or lack thereof) that I assigned to her. So, basically, to access anything, she needed my permission or she needed to get her own damn computer. It worked well for me.

Yes, I do have XP, how do I go about doing all that?

[MetFanL]

If you go into your account, you can set up different user account on your computer... then, it prompts you to assign whatever type of account you want... some are very restricted (like the one I gave her) and others are pretty much full access. I'll have to look when I get home to give you the exact way to do it, b/c I don't have the option of setting up accounts on my work computer.

When you turn on your computer, though, you'll see a screen with an icon for your account and an icon for his. If he tries to get into yours, a dialog box requested a password will pop up, so he'll only be able to sign on to his account with the restricted permissions. Also, I don't think he'll be able to see any of your files or anything. For example, my brother has this on the computer he shares with his fiance and she can't "see" any of his music files... you have to sign onto his account to access their music files.

[analogman]

I think Google has a pop-up blocker toolbar for Internet Explorer also.

You may or may not want to do this, but wiping out Windows and starting over can be a good idea (I recommend you get someone knowledgeable to help you with this in person). Your brother might have downloaded more than just ad-ware. You can have a key logger running on your computer for all you know. That means if you do any sort of online banking or account access to credit cards, etc ..., your account is compromised. Sorry to paint so bleak a picture but I take identity theft prevention very seriously.

BIOS passwords are an option of keep the computer off-limits. Unfortunately, without physically securing the hardware, there are ways around software protection mechanisms. I don't think you are going for that level of security though :)

[paiger81]

My bro didn't download Ad-Aware, I did. My bro was too busy downloading Japanese anime porn to pay attention to what else was coming along with it. :frustrate

[analogman]

My bro didn't download Ad-Aware, I did. My bro was too busy downloading Japanese anime porn to pay attention to what else was coming along with it. :frustrate

Paige, I was referring to ad-ware, not Ad-Aware, big difference :) I am saying he might have downloaded other malicious programs such as ones that keep logs of every key that is pressed on your keyboard.

[bumblegirl]

Try spybot also, if you run all of them regularly you'll notice a HUGE difference. Also, try downloading Mozilla Firefox to use as your browser. It offers MUCH better protection that Explorer. I've started using only FireFox and I no longer have any *bugs*. Lemme know if you have questions about all this.