[AsheJoe]

Since installing the “free” Tweak-XP program from Totalidea Software my system has been taken hostage and held for ransom.

It appears this program has modified something on my system to routinely pop-up advertisements, for among all things, a “pop-up” blocker they just so happen to sell. And get this, their ad claims that if I buy the program, it will “eliminates invasive pop-up ads like this one”. EXCUSE ME… isn’t that called “EXTORTION” ??

How do I get rid of these continuing pop-up ads ? I’ve gone in and disabled the “Messenger” setting in Administrative Tools. I’ve used both Ad-Aware and SpyBot in an attempt to track this thing down. Yet it persists. Even removing the Tweak-XP program didn’t solve the problem.

Any ideas ?

 

[Cris_Cr0ss]

Since installing the “free” Tweak-XP program from Totalidea Software my system has been taken hostage and held for ransom.

It appears this program has modified something on my system to routinely pop-up advertisements, for among all things, a “pop-up” blocker they just so happen to sell. And get this, their ad claims that if I buy the program, it will “eliminates invasive pop-up ads like this one”. EXCUSE ME… isn’t that called “EXTORTION” ??

How do I get rid of these continuing pop-up ads ? I’ve gone in and disabled the “Messenger” setting in Administrative Tools. I’ve used both Ad-Aware and SpyBot in an attempt to track this thing down. Yet it persists. Even removing the Tweak-XP program didn’t solve the problem.

Any ideas ?

i don't think its tweak xp, Is that the one you downloaded from Microsoft or am i talking about TweakUI?

Try downloading a pop up stopper its free and its link is in my signature.

 

[AsheJoe]

Thanks Cris;
No the "Tweak XP" I'm having problems with is not the one issued by Microsoft. It was on a CD that accompanied the British magazine; "Windows XP" from Future Publishing. (www.windowsxpmagazine.co.uk) The problem I'm having started right after I installed the Tweak XP program off of that CD.

Thanks also for suggesting a pop-up stopper. I've tried that as well (Web Washer to be exact), and continue to be nausiated by this pop-up ad.

Do these idiots honestly think they're winning cutomer loyalty by endlessly nagging and interupting you to buy, Buy, BUY their products ?

 

[putasolution]

Uninstall it and download the TweakUI for XP
And for a pop up stopper why not try the Google Toolbar?

No Nags software

 

[AsheJoe]

Thanks to you also Putasolution !

YES and AMEN to your suggestion about Google Toolbar pop-up blocker !! Man you are right on the money with how awesome that one is !! I've used it for some time and it really has blocked the pop-ups... accept this one I'm sorry to say.

And ditto about uninstalling the Tweak-XP program. I did do that even before posting my question. Sadly, this pop-up continues. Even Spybot and AdAware can't seem to locate where it's coming from. (Which I'm sure is exactly what they hoped for !)

 

[putasolution]

Go to this page, and download 'Hijack This!'.

Unzip it, launch Hijack This, then press Scan, and press Save Log

This will generate a text file that will list all running processes, all applications that are loaded automatically when you start Windows, and more.

open that file
Go to Edit | Select all
Now click Edit | copy to copy it

Do not change anything just yet
Come back to the forum, Right Click and paste its contents here

Someone will come along and have a look at it, and advise you what still needs to be removed.

 

[Cris_Cr0ss]

yes HijackThis should help you, as well i thot google only blocked web page pop ups anways try adding this to your hosts.ics file

its located in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc if their isn't one just paste the one i uploaded their, It blocked pop ups ads etc from your computer and as you go on you can always add i had to rename the file to upload it remove the .txt extension.

also check this
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm#IESPYAD
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

and that thanks to dvk01
http://forums.techguy.org/t208517.html

i also added the HOSTS file that goes in the same directory. remove .txt extension. Hope that helps.

 

[AsheJoe]

Thanks Guys ! I'll give these both a try.

I sincerely appreciate all you're help. Thank You

 

[AsheJoe]

OK, here's the LOG from "ScanHijack". Anything look particularly suspicious ?
============================
Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 10:03:05 AM, on 4/8/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\ggviewer67-46.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\00THotkey.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\PmProxy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\TFNF5.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\TPWRTRAY.EXE
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TouchED\TouchED.Exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\ConfigFree\NDSTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb05.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\VISION~1\ONETOU~2.EXE
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Guardian\CMGrdian.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wfxsnt40.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Instant Updater\RuLaunch.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\CDANTSRV.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\cisvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WScript.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~2\SPEEDD~1\nopdb.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WFXSVC.EXE
C:\Program Files\Symantec\WinFax\WFXMOD32.EXE
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Firewall\CPD.EXE
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Firewall\CPDCLNT.EXE
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\cidaemon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\cidaemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\HPZSTC05.EXE
E:\Mandrake Move\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://my.myway.com/
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/stp/ymsgr*http://my.yahoo.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/cus.../*http://www.yahoo.com/ext/search/search.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/sp/ymsgr/*http://www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/stp/ymsgr*http://my.yahoo.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/su/ymsgr/*http://www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = 127.0.0.1
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {549B5CA7-4A86-11D7-A4DF-000874180BB3} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: Vivisimo - {5538fb62-f725-4433-a965-91314e8d8e4d} - C:\Program Files\Vivisimo\Toolbar\toolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [00THotkey] C:\WINDOWS\System32\00THotkey.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [000StTHK] 000StTHK.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PmProxy] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\PmProxy.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TFNF5] TFNF5.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Tpwrtray] TPWRTRAY.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TouchED] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TouchED\TouchED.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NDSTray.exe] "C:\Program Files\Toshiba\ConfigFree\NDSTray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OneTouch Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\VISION~1\ONETOU~2.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfee Guardian] "C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Guardian\CMGrdian.exe" /SU
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinFaxAppPortStarter] wfxsnt40.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PaperPort PTD] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IndexSearch] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [McAfee.InstantUpdate.Monitor] "C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Instant Updater\RuLaunch.exe" /startmonitor
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [] C:\PROGRA~1\WebPhone\webphone.exe -auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RssReader] C:\Program Files\RssReader\RssReader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 Quick Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\ONENOTEM.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Search.vbs
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Vivisimo Meta-Search - res://C:\Program Files\Vivisimo\Toolbar\toolbar1.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O9 - Extra button: Print Using ClickBook (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Research (HKLM)
O12 - Plugin for .gif: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\npqtplugin7.dll
O16 - DPF: {01113300-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com Configuration Class) - http://support.charter.com/sdccommon/download/tgctlcm.cab
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/vc/bin/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (YInstStarter Class) - http://download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/yinst0401.cab
O16 - DPF: {3E68E405-C6DE-49FF-83AE-41EE9F4C36CE} (Office Update Installation Engine) - http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/content/opuc.cab
O16 - DPF: {4620BC29-8B8E-4F4E-9D92-1DB6633D6793} (SurferNETWORK Plugin) - http://rd1.surfernetwork.com/surferplugin.ocx
O16 - DPF: {666DDE35-E955-11D0-A707-000000521958} - http://69.56.176.227/webplugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {78AF2F24-A9C3-11D3-BF8C-0060B0FCC122} (AcDcToday Control) - file://C:\Program Files\Autodesk\MDT6\AcDcToday.ocx
O16 - DPF: {9C134253-E8A3-4759-9F98-302B7981922E} (MaxViewer Class) - http://support.scansoft.com/pp/files/np_max.cab
O16 - DPF: {9DBAFCCF-592F-FFFF-FFFF-00608CEC297B} - http://web.net2phone.com/consumer/commcenter/download/bin/IXCommCenter.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37983.6058101852
O16 - DPF: {A17E30C4-A9BA-11D4-8673-60DB54C10000} (YahooYMailTo Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/yse/ymmapi_416.dll
O16 - DPF: {AE563720-B4F5-11D4-A415-00108302FDFD} (NOXLATE-BANR) - file://C:\Program Files\Autodesk\MDT6\InstBanr.ocx
O16 - DPF: {AE9DCB17-F804-11D2-A44A-0020182C1446} (IntraLaunch.MainControl) - file://D:\SuperCD\IntraLaunch.CAB
O16 - DPF: {C2FCEF52-ACE9-11D3-BEBD-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec RuFSI Registry Information Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab
O16 - DPF: {C6637286-300D-11D4-AE0A-0010830243BD} (InstaFred) - file://C:\Program Files\Autodesk\MDT6\InstFred.ocx
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {F281A59C-7B65-11D3-8617-0010830243BD} (AcPreview Control) - file://C:\Program Files\Autodesk\MDT6\AcPreview.ocx

 

[JohnO28356]

I had the exact same problem a few months ago, and fixed it with the program: CWShredder. (Find on Google).

 

[AsheJoe]

Thanks John ! I'll scout it out and give it a try.

I appreciate the advice !

 

[Cris_Cr0ss]

CWS shredder is for the coolwebsearch thingy, I hope you don't have it. To prevent it make sure you immunize via spybot and download spyware blaster as well as spyware gaurd.