Comments on: Sneaky Spyware Alert - Fake Google Toolbars!!!

By: Jeff Kee

Jeff Kee — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:58:18 +0000

It’s often better to look up the symptoms on Google, and there are tech forums where people deal specifically with the specified spyware. And they can, based on a system scan that you can send them (of the running processes log and what not) provide you with specific instructions on how to remove them.

Removing some malicious spyware involves modifying the registry, deleting specific files in specific locations, booting up in safe mode, etc. and it can be quite a hassle.

There are a lot of new spyware mechanisms coming up that Norton or McAffee cannot detect or intercept. I’d say you are getting your money’s worth - without them you would be 10 times more exposed to spyware and what not - it’s like a low immune system. A good immune system is strong but still imperfect…

Another good solution to be to convert to a Mac, if you’re comfortable with the interface!

By: techmom

techmom — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:08:59 +0000

Dear Jeff, I ended up with this fake google toolbar thru Microsoft somehow. I couldn’t play a DVD one night. I was told since I was running Windows XP I needed to upgrade my Windows Media Player to the new Windows Media Player 11, So I did, then I was told I needed to download a new Decoder program? which was not actually a MS program but was taken there thru WMP11. After downloading I had nothing but problems. Still can’t get rid of it.. Just the Good Google toolbar gets deleted.
I have Norton Antivirus 2007. What do we pay for these things for? My daughter was conned into pay another $30.00 to upgrade her McIvie sp? AntiVirus program after Microsoft?? sent her a message that if she didn’t upgrade she would end up with this program also.
I downloaded Spybot and and another Antispyware-Antiadware program and have been working on deleting it (gtb) for days… Help!!

By: Jeff Kee

Jeff Kee — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:54:28 +0000

Do a google search for the string Hijacker.. sounds like one of those. It literally hijacks your search results and takes you elsewhere to a paid sponser’s site which you don’t want to visit at all.

By: Silverstar

Silverstar — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:53:17 +0000

I’ve found some really good forums where other guys can help you fix these things… they ask you to post a hijackThis log, which shows al the running processes and what not. Based on that they give you a diagnosis… it’s really handy. I dont have the URL off the top of my head but i’ll try to find it for you.

By: Meeka

Meeka — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 05:51:19 +0000

In my case, even the Google search thing on the top-right corner on IE 7 was doing it.. I still haven’t gotten rid of it yet. Can’t figure out how…Any ideas jeff?

By: DaveM

DaveM — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 05:50:25 +0000

Wow. That is sneaky… I had similar symptoms withotu the tool bar at one point.. atho they were not from the actual google links, but every time i search google, it would open a new popup window with shit on it.