OK, I ignored my own advice and decided to be stupid...

[Scotley]

A couple of quick thoughts. Definately try spybot search and destroy. First try immunizing your system with it. Then, make sure you use the advanced mode and there are some pretty good tools in there for getting pesky bugs out of your start up files and tracking down malicious active x files. If Spybot or ad-Aware finds something it can't remove on the first pass, reboot and use task manager to shut it down before running the program again. What are you using for Anti-Virus? Avast is pretty good and free as is Antivir (free from download.com or majorgeeks). Sometimes they can help when the spyware programs don't. You might also try Spyware Blaster, another free immunization tool (again download.com or majorgeeks should have it). It is also possible that your pop-ups are being sent through 'Messenger'. This is a Windows Service that is intended to allow you to get messages from your network administrator, but is sometimes taken over by spammers. Just go into services and shut it down unless you actually get messages from an administrator through it. A little googling should get you information on shutting it down. Good Luck!

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Have you tried Defender yet?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...e7-da2b-4a6a-afa4-f7f14e605a0d&displaylang=en

I have used everything listed above but Defender beats them all. Only bad thing is you have to have a genuien copy of XP.

Wasn't Defender rated as the worst program of its type by independet testers? It was on the tech sites a few weeks back.

Or maybe that was the anti-virus package...I can't remember.

 

[silvermane]

Isn't it time for a Windows reinstall? You know it's gonna happen every now and then

 

[Alisanos]

Explorer Add-On?

Sometimes these things are generated by an IE Add-On. Check your Add-On manager to see if something was installed.

 

[borc killer]

Wasn't Defender rated as the worst program of its type by independet testers? It was on the tech sites a few weeks back.

Or maybe that was the anti-virus package...I can't remember.

I work on 100's of systems some on a domain some off. I find it to be far and away the best (right now).

I use to swear by Search and Destroy with Lavasoft. Was a great combo. I had to deal with malware almost every single day. With Defender deployed I have to deal with malware about once a month. That makes it a priceless tool and I have seen nothing negative about it to date other than the: M$ sucks! *shrug*

Basically if you have a legit copy of Windows XP you should at least give it a go.

I know nothing about their virus software…

 

[jaerdaph]

I use to swear by Search and Destroy with Lavasoft. Was a great combo. I had to deal with malware almost every single day. With Defender deployed I have to deal with malware about once a month. That makes it a priceless tool and I have seen nothing negative about it to date other than the: M$ sucks! *shrug*

Basically if you have a legit copy of Windows XP you should at least give it a go.

Thanks for the tip - I'll definitely give Defender a try.

 

[Ranger REG]

I have used everything listed above but Defender beats them all. Only bad thing is you have to have a genuien copy of XP.

So, who here does not have a genuine copy of XP? Don't be shy, I won't snitch on you

Spoiler

yet

.

 

[xmanii]

Wasn't Defender rated as the worst program of its type by independet testers? It was on the tech sites a few weeks back.

Or maybe that was the anti-virus package...I can't remember.

You're thinking of the AV from MS.

To the OP: To reduce the chance of getting infected again, you may want to consider using a different browser (Firefox is a good choice, along with the NoScript extension), assuming you are using IE.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Go to Trendmicro and do a full system scan. It will squash it.

http://www.trendmicro.com/hc_intro/default.asp

 

[D.Shaffer]

I think most of the suggestions run toward 'USe as many different spyware removal programs as you can', and I'm going to echo it.

Another thing to try, if the spyware removal doesnt work (And I've had it happen) is to ask on the various forums that host those programs. I've cleared up a couple issues that way that the gamut of anti-spyware I have just could clear.

And worse comes to worse, there's always the 'backup, reformat' option.