IE Defender spyware - How do I get rid of it?

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FoolKiller

FoolKiller

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This is kind of a mixed warning and question.

So I bought my PSP Friday night and then put PSP Video 9 on my PC. The problem was that the main download site was not working so I used their listed mirror site. My mistake. Warning: Don't use this.

Anyway when I installed PSP Video 9 it also installed the IE Defender spyware on my PC. Basically what this is does is install a demo version of a spyware program, that runs like spyware. It infests IE and so anytime you click on a link of any sort it pops up a warning that you have a trojan virus and should go buy the full version of IE Defender to remove it. Talk about aggressive marketing. It also infects all your search engines so that when you use, say, Google it pops up a message in the middle of your search results saying that Google has been hacked on your PC and to follow the link to get a program to fix it. The link goes to IE Defender's Web site. It also puts in a fake search result for You Tube - Porn with a very, very inappropriate image of something that is definitely not allowed on You Tube.

Anyway, after running Norton's and not finding any form of Trojan I then did a search for IE Defender, because I never remembered putting this program on my PC, which is where I discovered that it is actually spyware designed to make you buy their program. It is commonly hidden inside a video codec.

With this knowledge I then updated and ran SpyBot. SpyBot discovered IE Defender and removed the main program files from my PC. I thought my problem was solved until I used IE again and got a regular IE warning message and it was still screwing with Google.

So, it seems that SpyBot removed the main program files but did not clean up the registry files. I know it is possible to go into my registry files and edit this, but I have never done this before. I'm good at the basics of computers but when it gets this far in I get lost a bit.

Tonight I am going to see if Adaware will take care of the problem. If not I do not know what to do next. Any advice will be helpful.


And before the Firefox suggestion is thrown out there: I have Firefox but my wife prefers IE. I believe that it is just a comfort thing for her. Plus, even if I just started using Firefox it wouldn't mean the spyware is gone.


My PC info:
OS - Windows XP - updated about a month ago. I don't have the details off hand.
Browser - IE 6.

I doubt we will need much more info, but if you do just ask.


Hopefully Adaware will do the job, and maybe I will even try Windows Defender, but if not I will need whatever advice I can get. If it does then this can just serve as more of an informative thread.


Thanks in advance.
 
Go try TrendMicro. They have a free scan available. Though, you have to download more stuff on your PC.
 
First of all - Update to IE7 - However sucky it may be in may areas, it is lightyears better than IE6...

DL the Webroot Spysweeper 30day trial and run it in safe mode...
 
Firefox never blocked popups for me.. even though all browsers are suppose to..

I use Flashpeak Slimbrowser... I like it so much more...

in the case of spyware.. whenyou install something, it never hides it from you, the Read EULA thing will show that "by agreeeing you agree to install such-and-such".. I've encountered many times my computer had to be reformatted many times because i always kept downloading and downloading these games. now if i am unsure of a setup install program, i quickly scan the contract, that there's nothing hidden..

the problem i have right now is everytime i shut down the computer, an error popup will always say something like "Could not run tskmgr (task manager) because the computer is shutting down", but then 2 seconds after it'll go away and my comp will continue suhtting down.. I figured i caught something when i got a trial version of Flash MX.. becasue Tat was the only thing i had downloaded during that recent time area.
 
Run Spybot in Safe Mode.

I'm actually doing that with two XP systems I have right now.
 
OK, Ad-Aware did not get it either.

I'll try some of the other things you all have suggested. Would upgrading to IE7 possibly overwrite it or just have it end up moving into IE7?


Also, when you all say run X program in Safe Mode, do you mean Windows Safe Mode or is there a Safe Mode in the programs? I am assuming Windows Safe Mode but I just want to be sure.



I am truly tempted to just back up my files and then format and reload my PC. I haven't done it in nearly five years, so it wouldn't be uncalled for. I just need to create a backup disc, which makes me wonder why I never did that.

Or, as a quicker option, is it possible to just completely uninstall and remove IE and then reinstall it?

I could just choke back my fears and venture into the registry editing territory.
 
FoolKiller
OK, Ad-Aware did not get it either.

I'll try some of the other things you all have suggested. Would upgrading to IE7 possibly overwrite it or just have it end up moving into IE7?


Also, when you all say run X program in Safe Mode, do you mean Windows Safe Mode or is there a Safe Mode in the programs? I am assuming Windows Safe Mode but I just want to be sure.



I am truly tempted to just back up my files and then format and reload my PC. I haven't done it in nearly five years, so it wouldn't be uncalled for. I just need to create a backup disc, which makes me wonder why I never did that.

Or, as a quicker option, is it possible to just completely uninstall and remove IE and then reinstall it?

I could just choke back my fears and venture into the registry editing territory.
Click to expand...

It would probably just move on into IE7, but you might be lucky.

And I mean Windows Safe Mode.
 
Realistically, a Win Reformat would probably be the solution to all your problems. Get an external hard drive and make your backup into that one (Data only, you have to get the drivers for whichever programs you have running and want to keep). Then reformat the PC and once it's all up and running, do an adaware/Norton sweep both on the reformatted CPU and on the external drive.

I had once similar crap happen to me, so I sent all my data to a HDD and reinstalled windows, only to have it all happen again when I put all the data from my HDD into the system drive... the spyware was in my pics folder!
 
Fortunately I already use an extrenal HDD and all but game saves are already there. Backing up any remaining files will be quick and easy.
 
Have you thought about doing a system restore to last thursday? It would completely get rid of that IE Defender program. When I catch a bug that I can't get rid of I do a system restore to the day before I caught the unwanted guest.
 
UnoMOTO
Have you thought about doing a system restore to last thursday. It would completely get rid of that IE Defender program? When I catch a bug that I can't get rid of I do a system restore to the day before I caught the unwanted guest.
Click to expand...

I've had a few bugs that wouldn't let me system restore before. But, It's always worth a shot.
 
UnoMOTO
Have you thought about doing a system restore to last thursday? It would completely get rid of that IE Defender program. When I catch a bug that I can't get rid of I do a system restore to the day before I caught the unwanted guest.
Click to expand...

I'll have to try that.
 
But to return to a system restore point, don't you have to create it first?

I mean, I've thought about doing a system restore, but the idea only pops in whenever I get some sort of spyware/virus. I rarely get around to actually doing the restore point thingie.
 

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