[wplug] Windows - Is this happening to you too?

Robert E. Coutch robert.coutch at verizon.net
Fri May 28 23:40:58 EDT 2004


Hi all,

I'm sooooooo glad I'm running Linux.

I've have been innundated with Windows 98 PC's lately with pretty much the 
same problem.

They all have ads, toolbars and other unsolicited software installed.

After spending DAYS working on the problem here's what I have found.

Spy-bot, Adaware, and virus checkers do not cure the problem.

Adaware finds most of the problems and removes them but then they reappear 
after reboot. Even after cleaning up the registry and other startup files.

The folks who write this crapware to infect Windows PC's are getting better at 
their craft.  It's no longer enough to clean out a few registry keys and 
remove a few program files off the hard drive.

It seems they have started using dll files that look like normal system files 
to load the unwanted software.  Some of these dll's look like part of the 
printing subsystem but are actually downloading and installing toolbars, 
search links and so on.

So far I've only seen this on PC's running Windows 98.
I want to know if anyone has seen this sort of nonsense going on with other 
versions of Windows.

None of the tools I've found have the ability to fully remove and block this 
stuff. Does anyone have any suggestions that I should try.

I've been cleaning out the registry by hand one suspicious class id at a time.
This is a very looooong and tricky process. 

The wife is actually considering switching to Linux because while her machine 
was down, she used mine.  She's also considering a Mac.

I don't think my paying clients will even consider going Linux or Mac but I 
don't want to recommend they "upgrade" to XP unless I can be sure this is not 
happening (yet) with that version of Windows.

Can any of you help me or point me in the right direction?



Thanks,

Bob



More information about the wplug mailing list