PC problems - any help?

[Olive]

So i've got a wierd issue on my PC. Every time I boot up I get a 'c:/windows/system/bridge.dll file not found' message. Then the computer trys to go on line. This started about a week ago.

The wierd thing is that when I do a search, that file IS found.

Any ideas?

 

[cybertalus]

Sounds like you've picked up some spyware.

Here's a couple of links. The first discusses the program and offers a few different possible methods of removal. The second is one of the removal methods the first page links to.

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win2000/t1072312997

http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/library/flingstonebridge/index.phtml

 

[LrdApoc]

Definately a spyware/redirect program..

I recommend Adaware with Spybot S&D as a one two punch to fix these sorts of issues...

 

[Olive]

Hmmm... thanks for the advice guys. It was the Bridge adware, and bazooka told me how to remove it. Now I've got it again according to Bazooka and neither the normal windows remove or where they tell me to look for it in the registry seem to work... In fact none of the things they say should be in the 'add/remove programmes' thing are in there.

The problem with adaware ist hat I have no idea what any of those things are so I could be deleting something I don't want!

 

[cybertalus]

Something I read about that particular piece of spyware (possibly in a link I didn't post) indicates that it's particularly difficult to get rid of, but apparently very easy to get (or get back), as it seems to come in through Internet Explorer.

Oh and this is interesting.... for spyware detection there is Ad Aware and Ada-ware. I'm not familiar with the second one, but I have used Ad Aware quite a bit and it will let you selectively uninstall. It also gives you the options to backup/log/quarrantine things so they can be restored if need be.

So I'd recommend downloading the free version of Ad Aware (I keep linking to them because the names are so similar that otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to be clear about which one I'm referring to). Scan with it and have it remove anything it detects as "Winfavorites Object". Reboot and scan again. If it shows up clean on a rescan, you should be good unless you get reinfected.

EDIT: Oh, and if you're on Windows XP and worried about removing things, you can always make a restore point in the System Restore tool before making any changes.