Is this spyware or something else?

[Harmony Cubel]

Ok, everytime I turn on the computer, there is a new desktop icon (and start menu and that little tool bar at the lower right corner) called "Instant Access". It is, *shudder*, a shortcut to porn, and no one knows how it got on the computer.

I am wondering if this is some sort of spyware, or anything else, and if anyone here knows how to get rid of it. It does not show up in the remove programs screen at all, so I need help.




And yes I do have Ad-Aware, and an Anti-virus program. And I just finished running Ad-Aware.

[Figrin D'an]

It likely was installed through your web browser. Someone clicked "okay" to a dialog box when he/she shouldn't have.


If it has a removal tool in your Start menu, try to remove it that way. Then run a program to scan your registry (Spybot - Search and Destroy will do this) to remove any excess crap it leaves behind.


If that doesn't work... there is the System Restore option.

[ReaperFett]

What have you installed in recent times on the comp? As in, downloaded from the internet.

[Harmony Cubel]

Originally posted by Figrin D'an
It likely was installed through your web browser. Someone clicked "okay" to a dialog box when he/she shouldn't have.


If it has a removal tool in your Start menu, try to remove it that way. Then run a program to scan your registry (Spybot - Search and Destroy will do this) to remove any excess crap it leaves behind.

Spybot refuses to work, -.-;; and it lacks a removal icon.



Originally posted by ReaperFett
What have you installed in recent times on the comp? As in, downloaded from the internet.

I rarely install anything, it was most likely my mother (computer idjit) or my brother (not a computer idjit). The only thing recently installed was AIM, by my mother, and the AOL sever, which I quickly removed *and all other spyware things, as mentioned in Shawn's thread* and now there are stupid pop-ups showing up, even though I HAVE a pop-up blocker.

[Figrin D'an]

Have you disabled the Windows Messenger Service?

and

Are you running any type of firewall with program control (like ZoneAlarm, BlackIce Defender, etc.)?

[Harmony Cubel]

Originally posted by Figrin D'an
Have you disabled the Windows Messenger Service?

and

Are you running any type of firewall with program control (like ZoneAlarm, BlackIce Defender, etc.)?

Don't use the windows Messanger, only MSN 6.1 which I've had for a long time.

And I think we have zonealarm, I am unsure, and don't know where I can find out if we have a firewall or not.

[Figrin D'an]

Originally posted by Harmony Cubel
Don't use the windows Messanger, only MSN 6.1 which I've had for a long time.

Not the chat program... it's a service protocol running in the background. It's almost completely useless for the average user, and can be quite a nuisance.


http://www.theeldergeek.com/messenger_service_popups.htm




And I think we have zonealarm, I am unsure, and don't know where I can find out if we have a firewall or not.

There should be an icon in your system tray for any software firewall. If not, it should be in your Programs menu and show up in Add/Remove programs.

Anyway... if you could determine the name of the executable program (looking in the Task Manager or msconfig), you could block it's internet access with your firewall. That *may* prevent it from displaying the pop-ups, and at least curb the annoyance until we can determine a way to remove it. There's no guarantee... it depends upon the manner in which the program displays the pop-ups... but it's worth a try.

[Harmony Cubel]

Originally posted by Figrin D'an
Not the chat program... it's a service protocol running in the background. It's almost completely useless for the average user, and can be quite a nuisance.


http://www.theeldergeek.com/messenger_service_popups.htm


^-^ Used that, and found out that it's disabled, so it's not that, and I have now found out that the computer has no firewall, so I will look for one.

[Figrin D'an]

Just be aware, should you choose ZoneAlarm, that it needs to be updated immediately after install to fix a security hole.


I found this link... it may be of use to you. You just have to determine the variant of the program (A through F).

http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/library/instantaccessdialer/index.phtml

It does involve editing the registry by hand, so I hope you are comfortable with that.

[Harmony Cubel]

Thanks Figgy!

I did the manual removal, which using the registry does not work (none of the things they said was there!) but finding the parts that needed to be deleted was easy, so now I'm going to restart the computer and hope that it worked.

EDIT- Hooray! It worked! *gives Fig a big hug and kiss* Thank you again Figrin!