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180search Assistant popups – please help

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  • #589187
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Tonight when I came to CAP, a popup appeared on my screen. The home page of Vegas Frontier Casino appeared in the popup window. In the title bar, it said, “Brought to you by 180search Assistant – Microsoft Internet Explorer.” I can’t see an affiliate tag in the URL; only the vegasfrontier.com URL.

    A minute later, another popup appeared, this time from Party Poker. The title bar was the same as before — “Brought to you by 180search Assistant – Microsoft Internet Explorer.” This is the URL that appeared in the address bar: xhttp://www.partypoker.com/marketing/180_solutions.htm?wm=2028208

    These popups are driving me nuts. I have a popup blocker, but these 180solutions popups seem to be immune to the popup blocker.

    I deleted a folder called “Internet Optimizer” tonight, which contained some 180solutions files, but now the popups are back.

    This really annoys the hell out of me. I don’t appreciate having spyware downloaded onto my computer without my permission. Now I have to waste precious time hunting around for a way to get rid of this garbage.

    Does anyone know who Party Poker wm=2028208 belongs to?

    #668223
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hi Dave

    Try downloading Microsoft Anti-Spyware. First of all its FREE and will inform you if someone is trying to add programs “spyware” to your registry and its easy to get rid of the spyware already installed.

    You can download it from Microsoft’s site for free.
    There might be better products on the market, but this is doing the job for me…

    #668227
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Try this: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/Fix180Sh.exe I use symantec occasionally and it almost always removes what you specify. The above link is the actual tool that needs to be downloaded and ran on your computer. Or read about manually uninstalling it here: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.180search.html

    #668228
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    http://www.lavasoft.de/ has a good freeware.

    Would try that first.

    Pest Patrol is fine, too. You can do a free online check if your system is infected.
    I am sure they find something.
    But removing the pests is not free.

    http://www.pestpatrol.com

    If you like buying the product I’ll be happy to send you my affiliate link.
    Please pm.

    #668236
    vladcizsol
    Member

    Spybot search and destroy is the best spyware software I have found. Its also free.

    On a side note, YES, Vegas Frontier or one of their affiliates seems to be running a HUGE spyware campaign along with SIA Casino. You see these two everywhere! :bullshit:

    #668237
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I use Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta and http://www.lavasoft.de/ one will pick up most and the other will pick some that the other won’t. I use both.

    Thanks for the info Dave!

    #668246
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Increasingly, there are a lot of small programs that are not removed by any of the spyware removers.

    Usually, if you type into google what you know about it, you will find an answer. Someone, someplace has figured out how to remove it.

    Gone are the times where adaware or any one program can tackle everything….

    #668247
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thanks for the advice, everyone. :)

    I downloaded Microsoft Antispyware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE, and I was amazed at what they all uncovered. I had a ton of spyware and adware on my computer!

    But thankfully, now it’s all gone.

    For now. :sarcasm:

    I have attached an image of the Microsoft AntiSpyware scan results. Also, I pasted the description for each item below. This information may be useful to someone in the future — for example, a search for “Claria” or “180search” or “ShopAtHome” will bring up this thread.

    WindUpdates.MediaAccess
    Type: Adware
    Threat Level: High
    Author: windupdates.com

    Description: WindUpdates is responsible for downloading adware.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    About Adware: In general, adware is software that displays advertisements, and may be beneficial by subsidizing a program or service. However, certain adware programs may lack authorization, such as installing without prominent notice or showing ads without clear attribution to their source.

    NCase
    Type: Browser Modifier
    Threat Level: Severe

    Description: NCase is adware that looks for known URLs and keywords in URLs, and displays pop-up advertisements targeted at related Web sites. nCase also periodically opens non-targeted pop-up advertisements while you are using Internet Explorer.

    Advice: Severe-risk items have an extreme potential for adverse effect, such as a security exploit, and should be removed.

    About Browser Modifier: Software that changes browser settings, such as the homepage, without adequate consent.

    ShopAtHome.Downloader.A
    Type: Trojan Downloader
    Threat Level: High

    Description: A Trojan that silently installs other programs without consent.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    eXact.Downloader
    Type: Trojan Downloader
    Threat Level: High
    Author: eXact Advertising LLC.

    Description: eXact Downloader is a Trojan used by eXact Bargain Buddy and Cash Back to download and install additional components.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    About Trojan Downloader: A Trojan that silently installs other programs without consent.

    YourSiteBar
    Type: Spyware
    Threat Level: High
    Author: Integrated Search Technologies

    Description: YourSiteBar from IST, the makers of numerous spyware threats, is an affiliate based marketing toolbar.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    About Spyware: Software that collects information, such as the websites a user visits, without adequate consent. This may include installing without prominent notice or running without a clear method to disable.

    WindUpdates
    Type: Browser Plug-in
    Threat Level: Severe
    Author: WindUpdates.com

    Description: WindUpdates downloads additional adware and displays pop-up advertising.

    Advice: Severe-risk items have an extreme potential for adverse effect, such as a security exploit, and should be removed.

    About Browser Plug-in: A browser plug-in is an application that can be installed within a user’s web browser. Plug-ins can come in the form of a toolbar that is included in your web browser or a search or navigation feature to extra task buttons on the browser. Although most plug-ins are designed to perform necessary functions, many plug-ins are harmful to you computer because they have complete access to your web browser and can modify, spy and redirect any task you perform.

    eXact.BargainBuddy
    Type: Adware
    Threat Level: High
    Author: eXact Advertising, LLC

    Description: BargainBuddy is a Browser Helper Object that watches the pages your browser requests and the terms you enter into a search engine web form. If a term matches a preset list of sites or keywords, BargainBuddy will display an ad.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    About Adware: In general, adware is software that displays advertisements, and may be beneficial by subsidizing a program or service. However, certain adware programs may lack authorization, such as installing without prominent notice or showing ads without clear attribution to their source.

    Claria.GAIN
    Type: Adware
    Threat Level: Moderate
    Author: Claria Corporation (formerly known as The Gator Corporation)

    Description: GAIN (Gator) automatically fills in passwords and other elements on Web forms. Its main purpose is to install an advertising module called OfferCompanion, which displays pop-up advertisements when you view certain Web sites.

    Advice: Moderate-risk items have some potential for adverse effect, but may be part of a wanted service. Users may decide to ignore such programs after review.

    About Adware: In general, adware is software that displays advertisements, and may be beneficial by subsidizing a program or service. However, certain adware programs may lack authorization, such as installing without prominent notice or showing ads without clear attribution to their source.

    WinTools
    Type: Trojan
    Threat Level: Severe

    Description: WinTools’ purpose is currently unknown. WinTools installs an Internet Explorer browser helper object, a URL search hook, and downloads several files in Common filesWinTools. WinTools runs at startup

    Advice: Severe-risk items have an extreme potential for adverse effect, such as a security exploit, and should be removed.

    About Trojan: A program that appears to be useful or harmless but that contains hidden code designed to exploit or damage the system on which it is run.

    ShopAtHome
    Type: Spyware
    Threat Level: Severe
    Author: Belcaro Group Inc.

    Description: ShopAtHome installs an agent in the Winsock layer of your computer. This redirects your Web browser to merchant sites affiliated with ShopAtHome rather than the Web sites you type in or click.

    Advice: Severe-risk items have an extreme potential for adverse effect, such as a security exploit, and should be removed.

    About Spyware: Software that collects information, such as the websites a user visits, without adequate consent. This may include installing without prominent notice or running without a clear method to disable.

    ShopAtHome.Downloader.B
    Type: Trojan Downloader
    Threat Level: High

    Description: A Trojan that silently installs other programs without consent.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    IST.ISTbar
    Type: Browser Modifier
    Threat Level: Severe
    Author: Integrated Search Technologies/CDT Inc.

    Description: ISTbar is an Internet Explorer redirector that modifies your homepage and searches without your consent using an Internet Explorer toolbar.

    Advice: Severe-risk items have an extreme potential for adverse effect, such as a security exploit, and should be removed.

    About Browser Modifier: Software that changes browser settings, such as the homepage, without adequate consent.

    IST.PowerScan
    Type: Adware
    Threat Level: High
    Author: Integrated Search Technologies

    Description: PowerScan is advertised through in ordinary web pop-ups, but recently it started to install with help from the the ISTBar adware.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    About Adware: In general, adware is software that displays advertisements, and may be beneficial by subsidizing a program or service. However, certain adware programs may lack authorization, such as installing without prominent notice or showing ads without clear attribution to their source.

    IEPlugin
    Type: Spyware
    Threat Level: High
    Author: InfoAge Marketing International

    Description: IEPlugin is an Internet Explorer browser helper object that monitors URLs, content entered into forms, and local filenames and displays pops-up advertisements.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    About Spyware: Software that collects information, such as the websites a user visits, without adequate consent. This may include installing without prominent notice or running without a clear method to disable.

    eXact.SearchBar
    Type: Browser Plug-in
    Threat Level: Elevated
    Author: eXact Advertising LLC.

    Description: eXactSearchBar is an Internet Explorer toolbar with standard search features that performs targeted advertising based on the computer usage and the URLs associated with Web pages.

    Advice: Elevated-risk items have some potential for adverse effect. Users should review such programs and remove them if unwanted.

    About Browser Plug-in: A browser plug-in is an application that can be installed within a user’s web browser. Plug-ins can come in the form of a toolbar that is included in your web browser or a search or navigation feature to extra task buttons on the browser. Although most plug-ins are designed to perform necessary functions, many plug-ins are harmful to you computer because they have complete access to your web browser and can modify, spy and redirect any task you perform.

    eXact.CashBack
    Type: Adware
    Threat Level: High
    Author: eXact Advertising

    Description: CashBack is part of BargainBuddy adware that displays pop-up advertisements.

    Advice: High-risk items have a large potential for adverse effect, such as loss of computer control, and should be removed unless knowingly installed.

    About Adware: In general, adware is software that displays advertisements, and may be beneficial by subsidizing a program or service. However, certain adware programs may lack authorization, such as installing without prominent notice or showing ads without clear attribution to their source.

    eXact.BullseyeNetwork
    Type: Adware
    Threat Level: Severe
    Author: eXact Advertising

    Description: Bullseye displays pop-up advertisements.

    Advice: Severe-risk items have an extreme potential for adverse effect, such as a security exploit, and should be removed.

    About Adware: In general, adware is software that displays advertisements, and may be beneficial by subsidizing a program or service. However, certain adware programs may lack authorization, such as installing without prominent notice or showing ads without clear attribution to their source.

    AvenueMedia.DyFuCA
    Type: Browser Plug-in
    Threat Level: Severe
    Author: Internet-Optimizer/Avenue Media

    Description: AvenueMedia DyFuCA Internet Optimizer is adware that changes your browser error page. It periodically displays pop-up advertisements from its remote sites and may update itself.

    Advice: Severe-risk items have an extreme potential for adverse effect, such as a security exploit, and should be removed.

    About Browser Plug-in: A browser plug-in is an application that can be installed within a user’s web browser. Plug-ins can come in the form of a toolbar that is included in your web browser or a search or navigation feature to extra task buttons on the browser. Although most plug-ins are designed to perform necessary functions, many plug-ins are harmful to you computer because they have complete access to your web browser and can modify, spy and redirect any task you perform.

    180Solutions.SearchAssistant
    Type: Adware
    Threat Level: Elevated
    Author: 180Solutions

    Description: 180search Assistant displays pop-up advertismenets.

    Advice: Elevated-risk items have some potential for adverse effect. Users should review such programs and remove them if unwanted.

    About Adware: In general, adware is software that displays advertisements, and may be beneficial by subsidizing a program or service. However, certain adware programs may lack authorization, such as installing without prominent notice or showing ads without clear attribution to their source.

    #668248
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Do you use a popup blocker?

    These things are just a pain anymore. They allow you to run around loaded down with thiefware of all types and never know it.

    Meanwhile, the blocker is continuously fighting popups from a half dozen thiefware programs.

    This is not good for your computer, slows it down, and worst of all, some programs are very harmful.

    Popup blockers mask symptoms and allow the problem to flourish.

    I do not use them anymore. If my computer is infested, I want to know about it asap.

    #668250
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I do use the Google toolbar popup blocker. Perhaps I should turn it off for a while and see what happens. I’m hesitant to do this, though, because it claims to have blocked 5,423 popups since I installed it 6 months ago. That equates to roughly 30 popups each day. Yikes!

    But thanks for the tip — I will give this a try and see how bad it really is with the popup blocker turned off.

    #668251
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    If you are getting a lot of popups and you are not in porn sites, and they are not the popunders about going to school online that some free resource sites like to use to raise money, you are infested.

    The fact that your blocker blocked that many pops is alarming! You had so much thiefware on board, it’s scary. Just think of all the activity!

    Depending on your surfing habits, you may get one or two pops a day. That’s what I get, some days, tops!! At least learn what’s normal for you so you can watch the blocker and if it claims to block more than that, clean your computer of the thiefware you picked up.

    Of course there is the handful of affiliates that insist on putting popup hells in the search engines, but they are becoming far and between.

    #668253
    Anonymous
    Inactive
    Dominique wrote:
    At least learn what’s normal for you so you can watch the blocker and if it claims to block more than that, clean your computer of the thiefware you picked up.Good tip — thanks. :)
    #668262
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yes .. there is so much spyware – scumware – call them what you will – that you do need to put a plan in place to minimise the impact.

    I find that a weekly scheduled event to clean up unwanted items works best for keeping your computer clean. I’m using Windows XP that allows you to schedule these things.

    SpyBot, AdAware and AVG Anti-Virus all start off at 7am on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (respectively) … and have usually given me a clean bill of health before I’ve finished my breakfast coffee.

    Then I do my morning commute to work … via slippers into the spare bedroom (office) and take it from there.
    :clapper:

    Also keep yourself upto date with Windows and Explorer security updates.

    That combo seems to be working for me
    :capmiami:

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)