my old but usually trusty pc is giving me a bit of bother!

it's started directing me to allsorts of weird websites and it keeps changing my home page!
last time it did this i had to re-install everything and i don't wanna do that again!!!

i've looked in the add/remove programs part of the control panel and there's a couple of programs i don't like the look of - outlook express has got the number Q837009 after it all of a sudden, but i've still got microsoft outlook express installed further up the list! and there's a program called windows98 Q823559 update that wasn't there before!!!
i've got norton anti-virus installed so i thought i was safe, please tell me i am!

 

download anti-spyware such as ad-aware at www.lavasoftusa.com.

 

i've just noticed that internet explorer has got Q831167 after it aswell!

all the original programs are still there (internet explorer, outlook express and windows 98) so if i delete the ones with number after them, that weren't there before, will i be safe?

 

Where do you see these? In add/remove programs or somewhere else?

Jules

 

Are you running XP Professional?
Aren't both Q831167 and Q823559 Hotfixes for XP?

 

The programs that begin with Q probably aren't malicious at all, chances are they're Microsoft product or security updates, so you shouldn't remove them without first establishing beyond doubt that they're iffy, as you could easily make your situation worse.

It sounds like you've picked up a piece of malware - which almost certainly won't show up in Add/Remove Programs.

As the others have said, download a spyware/adware search and removal tool like Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy or CWShredder (all three will be located by a quick web search) and see what you've acquired.

 

i downloaded anti-spyware software and it said that i had 38 "iffy" programs so i deleted them but i haven't had the chance to check if it's worked yet!

 

I'd also recommend Spybot - Search and Destroy as well. Use both, rather than one or the other. And use a good firewall like ZoneAlarm. All the above are free.


M

 

dont forget to do your www.windowsupdate.com.

 

thanks for all the help people

just one more question, when i turn on my pc it automatically tries to connect to the net, it never used to. why?

 

You've obviously got something running that's trying to establish the connection.

It could be something kosher (antivirus software trying to automatically update etc.), or it could be a dialler, trojan or other piece of crap still trying to cause trouble.

Suggest you make sure your virus scanner is fully functional and has current definitions (some viruses can stealthily disable scanners so you may have to reinstall yours), run a deep scan and have another bash with Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D. With a bit of luck you'll find the culprit.

 

Assuming you have dial-up, then you might want to check the "Connection" properties under the modem - one option is "dial if no connection detected". Make sure that is not the selected option.


M