windows xp

[mades]

i just got internet installed recently. anyway, some pop-ups appear saying that my windows has some corrupt registries (and so on) or that that i have a spyware infection, and that my computer may crash (etc.) unless i click on the link and download something. oh, and sometimes it says "Buffer Overrun in Messenger Service Allows Remote Code Execution, Virus Infection and Unexpected Computer Shutdowns". however, my pc has never shutdown or found any virus or anything. mind you that i haven't opened my messenger service since i got the net.

i never click on the links though. anyway, i'm worried to know what's happening. i mean, could some spyware/adware be producing those messages (i scanned my computer with my antivirus norton 2006 , with trend micro with their online scan and with mcafee with their online scan), or perhaps is it possible that some hacker may be doing this?

i found about 10-12 of spy/adware.

lastly, to give you an example of the pop-ups, some of them say to go to this site www.pcspywarescan.com however, i searched google to know if this site existed, but my search came in empty.

Mades

[Nightcrawler]

Sounds like spyware/adware to me.

Download, install, and run these two programs.

Adaware
Spybot Search and Destroy

They should take most things out.  You can also try Hijack this if the problem still persists, but that's more for advanced users.

I hope you're not using Internet Explorer.  You should be using Firefox or Mozilla.  This immunes you to a good percentage of attacks out there.

You should also go to the Windows update site and get all the updates for XP if you haven't already.  They patched dozens of security holes just over the past few months.

Do all that and let me know how it goes.  Things will probably improve for you.

[mades]

if i use firefox of mozilla, will i still be able to use internet explorer though? (by the way, i have only 128 mb of ram... which i'll update probably in a few months. i was wondering, does firefox and mozilla demand higher ram than explorer?)

Mades

p.s.: thanx for the tips. i had completely forgotten about spybot... however, i rather not use those types of things. a friend of mine in the big TO used spybot (after i told him about it) and he deleted some file/s with it, and then his computer wouldn't reboot anymore. his father fixed the computer. i just don't have the technical assistance for that if it happens.

[RedComet]

It wouldn't happen to have been called Winfixer2005, would it?

[mades]

possibly- i remember something by the name of "winfix something or other" somewhere in one of the popups. but, if you're talking about the heading, they all say "messenger service"

Mades

[RedComet]

That Winfixer2005 is a nasty, annoying piece of spy/adware. It screws with the registry and a lot of other stuff if you install it, so DON'T install it. But for some reason it can still infect your system (it did mine anyway...). Try out this link: http://forum.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=44277

I used XoftSpy and it managed to find all the files that were altered that neither adaware nor spybot could. Unfortunately, it isn't free.

[Nightcrawler]

if i use firefox of mozilla, will i still be able to use internet explorer though? (by the way, i have only 128 mb of ram... which i'll update probably in a few months. i was wondering, does firefox and mozilla demand higher ram than explorer?)

Yes, you can still use IE if you use firefox or mozilla. But I wouldn't unless you absolutely need to.  I think the require a small amount of additional RAM, but that's because they're not integrated into the OS like IE.  I think 128 megs is enough unless you go wild and open tons of tabs.

Mades

p.s.: thanx for the tips. i had completely forgotten about spybot... however, i rather not use those types of things. a friend of mine in the big TO used spybot (after i told him about it) and he deleted some file/s with it, and then his computer wouldn't reboot anymore. his father fixed the computer. i just don't have the technical assistance for that if it happens.

It's your choice, but if you don't use 'those types of things', nothing will get fixed or go away. I have yet to see Spyboat or adaware mess a system up, but they do offer a restore option in the even that they did.  I've personally used them on many computers and never had a problem.

[Tintenfisch]

Get zone alarm pro, it only cost about 13 bucks for me and it's been working just great.  Save for a few parent related occasions.

[D--]

Don't forget the Firefox memory hole that still isn't fixed. Sometimes it randomly begins devouring all the RAM in your machine. I've had it reach as high as 500MB before getting to end task it--and this was with three tabs open and no extensions.

[The_Big_Joke]

Is it mayhap a grey box that apears, named windows messanger or something like that? If so, they are useing a program in windows XP, that is suposed to be used by system admins, to inform you about things. Update windows, and it shuld go away.

[mades]

Is it mayhap a grey box that apears, named windows messanger or something like that? If so, they are useing a program in windows XP, that is suposed to be used by system admins, to inform you about things. Update windows, and it shuld go away.

yeah! that's exaclty it!! though, it tells me to fix a problem by following a few steps.

so, i should go with it, and press okay? but, each time, that window (different each time it pops up) gives me a site to go to: for example-
www.updatepatch.info
www.pcspywarescan.com
www.ms-repair.com
www.helpfixpc.com
http://fixreg32.com
www.xpregfix32.com
www.msreg.com

Are these okay sites? i've never really heard of them before

Mades

[mades]

That Winfixer2005 is a nasty, annoying piece of spy/adware. It screws with the registry and a lot of other stuff if you install it, so DON'T install it. But for some reason it can still infect your system (it did mine anyway...). Try out this link: http://forum.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=44277

I used XoftSpy and it managed to find all the files that were altered that neither adaware nor spybot could. Unfortunately, it isn't free.

thanx for this info, i'll check it out. i'll give you news later.

Mades

[The_Big_Joke]

http://its.ndsu.nodak.edu/help/exploit/messengerexploit.htm
might be of interest to you. Remember, its not spyware, a virus or anything harmfull on your computer, its simply someone who uses an exploit in the messenger system. I cant say for sure if the link that i sent you is safe, as i updated my system, but it at least looks like a serious site (check the URL) (Yea, that feels safe... make sure that you have a firewall and a virus scan installed, if you are about to use that thing. If it acts fishy, dont let it get out on the internet, and remove it as soon as possible).

Hope that helped.

[mades]

http://its.ndsu.nodak.edu/help/exploit/messengerexploit.htm
might be of interest to you. Remember, its not spyware, a virus or anything harmfull on your computer, its simply someone who uses an exploit in the messenger system. I cant say for sure if the link that i sent you is safe, as i updated my system, but it at least looks like a serious site (check the URL) (Yea, that feels safe... make sure that you have a firewall and a virus scan installed, if you are about to use that thing. If it acts fishy, dont let it get out on the internet, and remove it as soon as possible).

Hope that helped.

thanx for your help. although, for now, i'll use that site as a last resort. i'll definately keep this site in mind.

actually, by seeing you guys' help, i figured that i needed to download something. anyway, i do have a problem that will help me fix this one (strange uh?).
so, i gotta figure problem number 1.

does anyone know how to activate manage add-ons (under tools?) i was talking to Nightcrawler, and my explorer version is suppose to have that + the pop-up blocker under 'tools'. anyway, that's what i need to figure out, but i have no idea why i don't have those 2 options under 'tools'. when i'll be able to either activate them (how, i'd like to know) or 'install' (which i doubt i have to do or even can), i'll tackle problem number 2 in a jiffy and i'll be okay. meaning, both problems should be fixed.


The_Big_Joke, I was wondering, what's an "exploit in the messenger system"?


Mades

[Nightcrawler]

I figured it out! I happened to come across this 'issue' in a an article I was reading.  The reason you don't have the 'Manage Ad-ons' options in Internet Explorer is actually because you don't have XP Service Pack 2 installed. That was a change SP2 makes to Internet Explorer that is independent of the IE version that you have.

So, you need find the network/OEM SP2 download and install SP2.

I just assumed you had SP2.  You better get it immediatly! :p

Windows XP SP2 from Microsoft