Popups in user.dat file (and probably elsewhere)

[APucci]

I have a ton of popups and other crap clustered around the term "Tfiog" and God knows where else in my USER.DAT file and I don't know where to begin to delete without crashing everything.

I have had up to 20 or more programs that are running in the background. I close them, remove them from the startup, and uninstall them and even defrag but nothing seems to stop them. I don't know if there is a a procedure or program that does, but now even when nothing's running up front or in the background, they are completely crippling my contact database, internet, and email access.

Anything that can save my computer and identify how this all happened in the first place will put me back on a productive track at work and save me from the look of total disdain I'm getting from the owner. I'll be the first to admit I'm a somewhat reckless Web surfer but have never intentionally downloaded/installed anything - but have definitely seen downloads and installs occurring without me requesting it. I can't get a new computer until I can identify what happened and be sure it doesn't occur again.

Yep, I'm pretty desperate at this point.

 

[torturedmind]

It is most likely that your system is infected with spwares and/or adwares.

(The following is from the help index of KazaaLite - the adware-free and spyware-free vrsion of Kazaa.)
To get rid of any spyware you may have on your PC (including some you probably didn't know about!) the best tool to use is Ad-Aware, from Lavasoft. Ad-Aware will search your memory, registry and hard drive for any Spyware or Adware it knows about and offer to delete it. It is updated regularly with any newfound software. Not only will it remove Spyware components, but it will clean their settings out of your registry and also delete any cookies set by advert banners on web sites.

An alternative spyware removal utility is Spybot Search&Destroy

Also, run a full system scan of your anti-virus software with its latest virus definition file to make sure your system is free from virus infection.

let me know if this helped. peace!

kilroy
philippines

"Illegitimis non carborundum!"

 

[APucci]

OK, I just requested approval to run the Adware program but how did this happen? Did I click in the wrong place, go to the wrong site, give my info to the wrong person. I need to ensure my boss that it won't happen again and I honestly can't say that it won't at this point.

 

[michbar]

You can pick up Adware and Spyware by many different methods. Sometimes its just tracking cookies put there by visiting sites and other times these programs come packaged with another program that you downloaded.

Here is an Introduction to Spyware and Adware.

http://www.spywareguide.com/txt_intro.php

I would also recommend that in addition to running Adaware you should also run Spybot S&D as well. What one doesn't catch often times the other will. Another recommendation: Stop using Internet Explorer if you can. A great alternative browser would be Mozilla's Firefox. You can d/l it at the following link.

http://texturizer.net/firefox/download.html

 

[TekTippy4U]

All good info above
try also
faq608-4650
faq760-3862

If you want to stop it for good .......Disconnect the Internet and bury the pc in the yard

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[torturedmind]

If you want to stop it for good .......Disconnect the Internet and bury the pc in the yard.

at least i still see humor in this forum. now i know there are still masters who know how to loosen up.

peace!

kilroy
philippines

"Illegitimis non carborundum!"