Internet getting REAL slllloooooow HELP!
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HRpartsNstuff
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I will check provider at noon Monday (peak time it seems) and have them check it to eliminate the possibility.
It seems while I am out working, my lovely wife is here playing games on the internet. It seems I am getting a LOT of my spyware from that. Is there any way to increase protection when she is on those game sites?
I also have to change settings on Spykiller, it runs on start up, slowing things down. I like to run it when I want to, like when I go away from computer for a while. HIGHLY recommend this one. Slow, but gets it all! Might go for quick scan on starup and full scan when I choose to.
Also, downloaded windows startup inspector, NICE free program. I found about 7 programs that didn't need to be loaded on startup, and 4 more that were old spyware programs that have been deleted/removed. Evidently, the startup instructions for them were still on my computer. Gone now! Seems a lot better/faster getting up & running.
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think all this lowered my blood pressure too
It seems while I am out working, my lovely wife is here playing games on the internet. It seems I am getting a LOT of my spyware from that. Is there any way to increase protection when she is on those game sites?
I also have to change settings on Spykiller, it runs on start up, slowing things down. I like to run it when I want to, like when I go away from computer for a while. HIGHLY recommend this one. Slow, but gets it all! Might go for quick scan on starup and full scan when I choose to.
Also, downloaded windows startup inspector, NICE free program. I found about 7 programs that didn't need to be loaded on startup, and 4 more that were old spyware programs that have been deleted/removed. Evidently, the startup instructions for them were still on my computer. Gone now! Seems a lot better/faster getting up & running.
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think all this lowered my blood pressure too
HRpartsNstuff
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I knew it couldn't be this easy! My spykiller is catching 5 keys that are from the windows startup program, and is marking them as severe threats & seems to want me to delete them. What's up???? Is this startup program a bonified thing, or is it spyware or something worse cloaked as something productive?
Originally posted by HRpartsNstuff
I knew it couldn't be this easy! My spykiller is catching 5 keys that are from the windows startup program, and is marking them as severe threats & seems to want me to delete them. What's up???? Is this startup program a bonified thing, or is it spyware or something worse cloaked as something productive?
No it is a great program,you can set it to ignore in the spykiller program or delete them it wont affect anything.I have never seen it have more then 1 scan registery key in spykiller. The program should also let you take the spykiller and popup protection out of your startup so you can run it when you want to.I would not run the pop up protection if you have windows xp and are running SP2. I do PC cleaning of this type as a side job, so if you have any questions or problems feel free to post here or PM or e-mail.
i dont know how far gone your PC was but sometimes the best thing to do is reload and start off running protection for this stuff.When they get real bad cleaning them will not bring them back 100%.
Hang in there,PC's can be fun when ya learn how to keep them running right
John
HRpartsNstuff
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Working good now. I dropped the spykiller from startup menu (figured out on own somehow) so I can run as I want to. I like to sit down & start up & go like mad right away. I also found that all that junk was still on my startup list, but ignored (not selected). I found that right-click lets you delete the ones that you know for sure will NEVER be on the startup again. Cleaned up the list nicely. Couldn't live without my computer it seems, doing too much on it. It's a tool for me, so it has to be good & fast or it costs me $$$$.
THANKS!
THANKS!
Those adware/spyware sometimes can't be deleted just like that, try to restart the computer and check if its still there sometimes it just pops back up and that's the purpose of those adware/spyware, even you try to uninstalled if will appear right back.
HRpartsNstuff
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I will check on next startup, but I think I deleted them a while back. One was that urpo pgm, it's GONE! Woohoo!
Also, why not run the spykiller pop-up blocker with XP & service pack 2???
Also, why not run the spykiller pop-up blocker with XP & service pack 2???
HRpartsNstuff
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Does a pop-up blocker just stop them from popping onto the screen, or does it actually block the pop-up software from the computer?
It didn't stop any so far, so I disabled it & going to remove it from startup menu. Good call on that one too!
Thanks!
It didn't stop any so far, so I disabled it & going to remove it from startup menu. Good call on that one too!
Thanks!
Ok, this is an "office" machine? Something with work related data on it? If so:
Do NOT let others play games on it. With computer prices the way they are, its almost cheaper to buy a machine for them to screw up. It IS cheaper than data recovery.
"Huh?" you ask. "Why would I need data recovery?"
Well, SP2 works well and I really like it but if you had a failed install you wouldnt be the first. A failed install might result in a non booting machine. Of course thats just an example, ANYthing that requires outside labor (fixes, reloads, etc) will have nearly paid for that second machine.
That said:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/spyware-removal.ars
I use spybot, XPSP2. To be anal I would double up with say Adaware but I dont have a spyware problem.
I also use the Mozilla browser for suspect websites. Mozilla includes email and stuff but their standalone browser is FIRFOX and includes a built-in popup blocker AND isnt quite as easy for malicious code to get past (since many are written for IE). This would be a nice alternative since I know getting the games to stop isnt going to happen... and might buy some time while you decide on SP2. http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Finally, if you have a known "bad site" just add it to the "you cant go there" list in IE. Security tab, restricted sites... while yer in there, add "cwbsearch.com" to the restricted list.
The default in spybot for ex. isnt to block/restrict everything. Ditto for most things out there - they need tweaked. Once you have a specific combo others on the board can offer more detailed setup ideas.
S
Do NOT let others play games on it. With computer prices the way they are, its almost cheaper to buy a machine for them to screw up. It IS cheaper than data recovery.
"Huh?" you ask. "Why would I need data recovery?"
Well, SP2 works well and I really like it but if you had a failed install you wouldnt be the first. A failed install might result in a non booting machine. Of course thats just an example, ANYthing that requires outside labor (fixes, reloads, etc) will have nearly paid for that second machine.
That said:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/spyware-removal.ars
I use spybot, XPSP2. To be anal I would double up with say Adaware but I dont have a spyware problem.
I also use the Mozilla browser for suspect websites. Mozilla includes email and stuff but their standalone browser is FIRFOX and includes a built-in popup blocker AND isnt quite as easy for malicious code to get past (since many are written for IE). This would be a nice alternative since I know getting the games to stop isnt going to happen... and might buy some time while you decide on SP2. http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Finally, if you have a known "bad site" just add it to the "you cant go there" list in IE. Security tab, restricted sites... while yer in there, add "cwbsearch.com" to the restricted list.
The default in spybot for ex. isnt to block/restrict everything. Ditto for most things out there - they need tweaked. Once you have a specific combo others on the board can offer more detailed setup ideas.
S
HRpartsNstuff
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I actually use the one main computer for most everything, and have a laptop for UPS shipping, away use, and backup for main computer. She was SUPPOSED to use the laptop for games, and did for a while. It's in a docking station & has regular mouse & keyboard hooked up & 15" screen, so not like it's a pain to use. But as usual, it went in one ear & out the other, along with a bunch of other requests/instructions/etc. The wife just turned 50 this month, and I feel like she just went off the extended warranty & is falling apart! 
Too bad we can't just go & get a newer model & drive the wheels off all over again 
Oh well, that just adds more problems. Like one program not working well with another program of similar build. Got to keep one or the other, not both 
Good thing she came with a lot of options I liked, got to keep the classics right?
Too bad we can't just go & get a newer model & drive the wheels off all over again Oh well, that just adds more problems. Like one program not working well with another program of similar build. Got to keep one or the other, not both Good thing she came with a lot of options I liked, got to keep the classics right? I was searching some old threads for something when I happened upon this thread from Nov where you were having the problems with your computer...
Did you ever get the problems fixed good enough?
I ask because, I had the same exact problem getting spyware until I started having it prompt for cookies.
AOL browser --> Settings --> internet[web]options --> internet explorer settings --> privacy --> advanced -->
*make sure (override automatic cookie handling) is checked
*prompt for first party cookies
*prompt for third party cookies
*(always allow session cookies) is checked
That has done it for me. It gives you a prompt box to allow or deny each time a cookie is trying to be saved to your computer - you can also select a check box to apply your decision to this site in the future automatically... so your frequent regular sites (TB.com, etc.) will go through without bugging you.
You will be surprised how many cookies you can get from some of these "free" sites - some sites will bombard you with cookies.
Oh, by the way, spyware generally sneaks in with the cookies.
If you ever accidentally block a site for good that you need cookies from to work - like yahoo (happened to me) - then go under the privacy tab and click "sites" instead of "advanced" and that will get you to a list of the sites you have regular commands set for. Then you can change them as needed.
Since I did this, I have not had ONE piece of spyware get on my computer.
Good luck!
Vic
Did you ever get the problems fixed good enough?
I ask because, I had the same exact problem getting spyware until I started having it prompt for cookies.
AOL browser --> Settings --> internet[web]options --> internet explorer settings --> privacy --> advanced -->
*make sure (override automatic cookie handling) is checked
*prompt for first party cookies
*prompt for third party cookies
*(always allow session cookies) is checked
That has done it for me. It gives you a prompt box to allow or deny each time a cookie is trying to be saved to your computer - you can also select a check box to apply your decision to this site in the future automatically... so your frequent regular sites (TB.com, etc.) will go through without bugging you.
You will be surprised how many cookies you can get from some of these "free" sites - some sites will bombard you with cookies.
Oh, by the way, spyware generally sneaks in with the cookies.
If you ever accidentally block a site for good that you need cookies from to work - like yahoo (happened to me) - then go under the privacy tab and click "sites" instead of "advanced" and that will get you to a list of the sites you have regular commands set for. Then you can change them as needed.
Since I did this, I have not had ONE piece of spyware get on my computer.
Good luck!
Vic
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2001
- Messages
- 11,267
spoolsv.exe
i had a buddy help me find this, it was making my puter stupid slow- i have deleted it a few times, have nortin anti virus, and another firewall, but still got this from another site.
now i need to find out where my sound went....
always having problems with my puter
BW
i had a buddy help me find this, it was making my puter stupid slow- i have deleted it a few times, have nortin anti virus, and another firewall, but still got this from another site.
now i need to find out where my sound went....
always having problems with my puter
BW
Originally posted by HRpartsNstuff
Ran spybot again, nothing found.
Ran Adaware, found 4 new ones came in while I was on internet this afternoon.
Loaded AOL version & ran it, found 4 more.
Deleted all, emptied temps & cookies,
It's a little faster now & reasonable to deal with. Not sure why my Norton Internet security & antivirus & firewall & spyware programs can't keep this poop out of my computer!!!!
It still seems slow loading stuff when multi-tasking. If opening aol, then IE, & other stuff at same time, it sure doesn't run like it should. It's worse than old computer IMO.
Looked at task manager cause it was slow again during aol spyware search. Had 50-60% of cpu being used, and 303,000 system cache of 523,000 total memory being used. With a 2.4 ghz pentium 4 with 512 MB DDRram & 512 MB bus computer, it should do multitasking better IMO. My laptop with under 1ghz pet 3 & 256 regular ram is faster, same spyware & norton on it.
Needs some tweaking
Just some experiences here; Over the years, especially lately, I've come to be quite the anti Norton anything sorta person.
I've been kept very busy trying to help family members troubleshoot various similar problems. The culprit always came around eventually to the Norton software that they had installed.
Eventually my Daughter's computer absolutely refused to access the internet, and we had to also remove Norton suite (anti virus, internet security, firewall).
The other big problem that seems to always rear it's ugly head is software based firewalls (no matter the manufacturer). They're slow, buggy and really cause some wierd problems on random times.
The only sure bet firewall is a hardware based firewall (comes built in to almost all fair to good routers). Get one, they're cheap.
I'll not recommend my version of internet security, and anti virus software so as not to sound like a sales pitch. My only recommendation is to seriously think about changing to something other than Norton.
I have a completely different method. I have a software firewall and a Linysys router. I have no anti-virus software at all and no spyware checker either.
Instead I use Norton Ghost to backup my O/S and software partition. All my user files are on a separate partition, including the big email file used by Outlook. I made a Ghost image of my computer with everything on and running the way I like. If something goes wrong I do a full restore on the O/S partition. It takes less than 10 minutes.
I recently had something prevent my computers from mounting drives properly across my network. I restored from Ghost and everything was perfect again. The best thing is that I really only need to back up the O/S partition when I add new software. I do separate back ups on the user data more regularly. Since the O/S partition does not have my email file in it, Outlook just picks up where I left off, I do not lose any mail. the only thing I lose is some bookmarks in my Favorites folder.
Instead I use Norton Ghost to backup my O/S and software partition. All my user files are on a separate partition, including the big email file used by Outlook. I made a Ghost image of my computer with everything on and running the way I like. If something goes wrong I do a full restore on the O/S partition. It takes less than 10 minutes.
I recently had something prevent my computers from mounting drives properly across my network. I restored from Ghost and everything was perfect again. The best thing is that I really only need to back up the O/S partition when I add new software. I do separate back ups on the user data more regularly. Since the O/S partition does not have my email file in it, Outlook just picks up where I left off, I do not lose any mail. the only thing I lose is some bookmarks in my Favorites folder.
I don't know if you've cleared it up yet, but when I had cable internet, I went throught TWO cable modems in the space of a year. No power surges or anything wierd like that - they just went "bad". My connection would work fine, then crappy, then fine and so on and so forth...
I probably called tech support 4 times before I finally got tranferred to a local tech who told me it was the modem (and he told me specifically that the "tier 1" techs would NOT have this kind of info - they're just script readers).
If anyone is having broadband issues, you should search the forums on broadbandreports.com - they're packed with info, like how to install and activate your new DSL WITHOUT installing all the crappy software.
I probably called tech support 4 times before I finally got tranferred to a local tech who told me it was the modem (and he told me specifically that the "tier 1" techs would NOT have this kind of info - they're just script readers).
If anyone is having broadband issues, you should search the forums on broadbandreports.com - they're packed with info, like how to install and activate your new DSL WITHOUT installing all the crappy software.
FWIW, this moth's PC magazine has a review of anti-spyware software.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1758380,00.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1760691,00.asp
The best overall rating was Spy Sweeper 3.5.
Unfortunately, no one program blocked, detected, or removed ALL spyware, that PC Mag challenged the tools with. And future spyware infestation may similarly pass thru some tools undetected.
Like several above, I use the free versions of both Ad-Aware & Spybot Search&Destroy (run them daily), use a Linksys hardware router (the later ones have some form of "Stateful Packet Inspection", SPI, in addition to plain old NAT), and I've NEVER had a problem with spyware or adware.
It seems one should probably use TWO different tools for redundancy, and then STILL be meticulous about never downloading Anything whose origin or trustworthiness is suspect.
When one considers the money spent on buying antivirus & antispyware tools, on annual subscription updates, and the time wasted on all of this (eg: there are entire forums devoted to cleaning out infected PCs; I've spent hours on the phone helping friends, etc) -- the cost is staggering-- many billions of dollars cost to the consumer. The hackers, spammers, and punk virus writers of the world are contemptible bastards.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1758380,00.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1760691,00.asp
The best overall rating was Spy Sweeper 3.5.
Unfortunately, no one program blocked, detected, or removed ALL spyware, that PC Mag challenged the tools with. And future spyware infestation may similarly pass thru some tools undetected.
Like several above, I use the free versions of both Ad-Aware & Spybot Search&Destroy (run them daily), use a Linksys hardware router (the later ones have some form of "Stateful Packet Inspection", SPI, in addition to plain old NAT), and I've NEVER had a problem with spyware or adware.
It seems one should probably use TWO different tools for redundancy, and then STILL be meticulous about never downloading Anything whose origin or trustworthiness is suspect.
When one considers the money spent on buying antivirus & antispyware tools, on annual subscription updates, and the time wasted on all of this (eg: there are entire forums devoted to cleaning out infected PCs; I've spent hours on the phone helping friends, etc) -- the cost is staggering-- many billions of dollars cost to the consumer. The hackers, spammers, and punk virus writers of the world are contemptible bastards.
The Norton stuff IMO is crap. It is more of an inconvenience to use it than not.
Make sure you have SP2 installed with the firewall enabled. Install all the critical updates from Windows Update.
I've had people give me good reviews on the Microsoft Spyware Removal program.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
It's in beta right now, but it seems to work well.
The other thing is, get your wife her own computer either that or install XP Pro and make sure that her login is locked down.
I'm being straight when I say that I use no anti-virus software, no spyware detector, no nothing except that I have my Linksys router with firewall up and running. I just avoid all this crap by browsing smart. Watch what you click on, don't install anything that you know nothing about. Even if your buddy sent it to you chances are he is a moron about computers. Don't trust him.
Google for info about programs you are going to install that you aren't sure about. Read the license that appears at the beginning of the install for programs you aren't sure about. Most will put into the license that you agree to install 3rd party software as part of the usage agreement (if they are going to install Spyware).
I think I installed a virus by accident one time in the last ten years and that was because I was being stupid and ran an executable that I knew nothing about.
I do web programming by the way, but I don't program spyware thankfully.
Also, one more thing, try getting and using Firefox.
http://www.firefox.com/
Internet Explorer is the exploit king. Everyone likes to hack it because everyone uses it. Firefox IMO is a better browser and it's less vulnerable.
Make sure you have SP2 installed with the firewall enabled. Install all the critical updates from Windows Update.
I've had people give me good reviews on the Microsoft Spyware Removal program.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
It's in beta right now, but it seems to work well.
The other thing is, get your wife her own computer either that or install XP Pro and make sure that her login is locked down.
I'm being straight when I say that I use no anti-virus software, no spyware detector, no nothing except that I have my Linksys router with firewall up and running. I just avoid all this crap by browsing smart. Watch what you click on, don't install anything that you know nothing about. Even if your buddy sent it to you chances are he is a moron about computers. Don't trust him.
Google for info about programs you are going to install that you aren't sure about. Read the license that appears at the beginning of the install for programs you aren't sure about. Most will put into the license that you agree to install 3rd party software as part of the usage agreement (if they are going to install Spyware).
I think I installed a virus by accident one time in the last ten years and that was because I was being stupid and ran an executable that I knew nothing about.
I do web programming by the way, but I don't program spyware thankfully.
Also, one more thing, try getting and using Firefox.
http://www.firefox.com/
Internet Explorer is the exploit king. Everyone likes to hack it because everyone uses it. Firefox IMO is a better browser and it's less vulnerable.
