Internet Explorer has been scammed! OK full details:
Problem?
A program which keeps popping up a window which says -



There is an OK and CANCEL button. It also has a "X" button at the top right hand. It is not a potentially dangerous trojan but it is DEAD annoying and my dad hates it and wants it out of his laptop. Personally i can't figure this out myself even with some help from professionals on the net. Finally, i posted it here in astahost in desperation to get this done with.

Computer details?
Microsoft Windows XP SP1

Actually, so far the best site that 'helped' me understand a bit about this trojan-like thing is Extreme tech support. The help that the "admin" there didn't really help though. I cannot find the file inside my disk at all. What do i do?
I would really appreciate anyone who can help me get this irritable file out of my dad's laptop. Thanks!

Get ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy, run them both for free and will be found on google. Next ditch IE, get Firefox. Internet Explorer has put a sign on everyone saying "mug" so just use the Fox, atleast thats safer,

OK firstly, I've run all the free spyware prevention software and none did work. Spybot, ad-aware, spy-doctor, norton, everything! Secondly, my dad isn't the type that likes to "change". So well, he doesn't actually agree to me when i asked him to use firefox like 2 weeks ago. I keep asking him to use firefox but he never listens. There is no hope. I really need to get this solved...
Thanks for your reply though....at least someone have read the post?

Use FireFox or Die

Since IE is the most used browser most virus builders will focus on that and leave FireFox alone.

[joke].. So lets keep the number of Firefox users down, so the others can enjoy ad/spy/virus free internet

Or am i being a little selfish here
[/joke]

From what I've read, it sounds like a VX2 infection. I understand the solution can be rather long and involved. Here's a link to a possible solution:

http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=8332

A lady named blender helped one person get rid of it. They used a program called HijackThis (HJT) to help. Good luck!

My dad was like that. So I changed Firefoxes layout to look almost exactly like I.E.'s layout including the bookmarks. Next i changed the desktop Icon to the blue internet explorer one and changed the text. My dad used Firefox for two weeks before I told him despite his previous claims that it would be too difficult to use. He asked me what pop up blocker I got and so spilt the beans, he laughed and said "I guess I could get used to it." In otherwords he wouldnt admit he was wrong.

So I swapped the icons around again and to stop the habit of my dad clicking on I.E., I put a program that opens up 100 message boxes which all have to be clicked individually. Sometimes being sneaky is the only way.

Ask him one question, this is how I changed my parents,

"That annoying popup or firefox?

Either way google will look the same"

They usually come round.

Hey techocian, just want to let you know, there's an easier solution to get rid of that if it is a VX2 infection. Since you said you have had Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition, there is an add-on for it here at their homepage under the Add-ons section. Using HiJackThis! will help too but the VX2 Cleaner add-on is much easier to use.

Hmmm... I think it's interesting that whatever tool you used to scan your PC was able to report you had some sort of spyware but didn't bother to actually name it. As well, it said "spyware virus". Those terms are mutually exclusive. I question the legitimacy of the scanner you used... sounds like a marketing ploy to me. Please consider running the software other members mentioned above (HJT, SpyBotS&D etc.) to validate the scan results. If you genuinely have something on your system, these proggies will find it, name it and get rid of it. Pronto!

Cheers,
Phoenix

Heh...you unfortunate Windows user... It's more like microsoft puts a sign on all Windows products that say "mug", not just IE...Why does Microsoft make so much money, when their products are of the absolute worst quality? And who would actually pay money at all, let alone $200-$300 bucks PER installation, of an OS that has such a high rate of failure? I will never know...