Adware has hijacked my desktop

[Arbiter]

Hi all,

I'm an experienced long-time PC technician and Windows user, but this one is eluding me...

I am using Windows XP on an older machine and my desktop has been hijacked by an ad...you know...one of those adware programs that tells you to scan for adware but it itself is an adware program?

Well, this one has hijacked my desktop and is displaying iself over my wallpaper and I cannot close it through regular means. Can anyone give me a hand? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[bbeard67]

Which one did you install?

Ad-Aware, spybot search & destroy are good ones
keep in mind that there is a spyware remover called adware and adware pro (often mistaken for the real Ad-Aware) both are fakes among others. the link below lists the fakes and what they do.
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

These are the good ones (free versions of both available)
Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot search and destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

[Arbiter]

Originally posted by bbeard67
Which one did you install?

Ad-Aware, spybot search & destroy are good ones
keep in mind that there is a spyware remover called adware and adware pro (often mistaken for the real Ad-Aware) both are fakes among others. the link below lists the fakes and what they do.
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

These are the good ones (free versions of both available)
Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot search and destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

I'm using them both already, and they haven't caught it. Truthfully, I'm repairing this machine for someone. I'm half tempted just to wipe it clean and start over again.

[bbeard67]

What's the name of the program that is taking over the desktop?

[Arbiter]

Originally posted by bbeard67
What's the name of the program that is taking over the desktop?

Thats the thing, I don't even know where it is. I've scoured the hard drive. My thoughts are its in the registry somewhere.

[bbeard67]

This confused me
hijacked my desktop and is displaying iself over my wallpaper

Another program called Hijackthis (if you don't have it already)
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html

Download and place in it's own folder Ex c:\hijackthis\

Open the program and click scan
when it's finished scanning click save log
the log will open up in notepad after you save it
Copy and paste it here

[bbeard67]

One other thing you did update ad-aware and spybot?
These do not come updated when you download them they have to be updated afterwards just in case you weren't aware of that.

[vidster]

Have you tried deleting all your cookies?.
Trojans and spyware can also hide in system restore points (Perfect hiding place really!). Turn off system restore and back on again, all the restore points will be gone and any nasties with them!.
Sorry if i'm going over old ground that you have allready 'trodden'