Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I
think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? -- Tim Lamb |
#2
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:16:34 +0000, Tim Lamb wrote:
In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I call malware. That certainly isn't normal IE8 behaviour. IE8 should have long been upgraded by Windows Update. Where did this "offering" come from...? |
#3
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , Adrian
writes On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:16:34 +0000, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I call malware. That certainly isn't normal IE8 behaviour. IE8 should have long been upgraded by Windows Update. Where did this "offering" come from...? From a screen print.... http://static.myleadsolution.com/ag/...0B6AAEB855AB4B .... It claims to be a Microsoft gold certified partner. -- Tim Lamb |
#4
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
From a screen print....
http://static.myleadsolution.com/ag/...0B6AAEB855AB4B ... Then *might* be relatively benign adware - see eg http://www.anvisoft.com/resources/ho...removal-guide/ But note please I would not delete all host entries as that recommends and not download any tool. I don't have time now to find a better guide but as others have said Malwarebytes usually does the business. It claims to be a Microsoft gold certified partner. Please note that this comes with no warranty whatsoever despite the fact that I am a former Microsoft developer and current drinking buddy of Angelina Jolie -- Robin reply to address is (meant to be) valid |
#5
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 10:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Adrian writes On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:16:34 +0000, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I call malware. That certainly isn't normal IE8 behaviour. IE8 should have long been upgraded by Windows Update. Where did this "offering" come from...? From a screen print.... http://static.myleadsolution.com/ag/...0B6AAEB855AB4B ... It claims to be a Microsoft gold certified partner. This is m2pub which is adware. Irritating but not malicious. To get rid of it, browse here to download then install and run the free version of Malwarebytes Antimalware software. http://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/ |
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote:
In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Do you have another computer that you can use to make a bootable CD to scan this machine for any known malware? Corrupting IE to make it show adverts or hijack keystrokes is unfortunately all too common. You can't trust the main machine any more. There are some tools that use enough obfuscation that they might be able to detox an infected machine without being noticed by the malware. I have found MalwareBytes to work fairly well on other peoples infected PCs YMMV http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html -- Regards, Martin Brown |
#7
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In article , Martin Brown
writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Do you have another computer that you can use to make a bootable CD to scan this machine for any known malware? Corrupting IE to make it show adverts or hijack keystrokes is unfortunately all too common. You can't trust the main machine any more. There are some tools that use enough obfuscation that they might be able to detox an infected machine without being noticed by the malware. I have found MalwareBytes to work fairly well on other peoples infected PCs YMMV http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html Agreed that malwarebytes is the way to clear this, an excellent program, well thought of, very thorough and even asks polite permission to update itself before attempting to do so. I prefer the direct download at: http://www.malwarebytes.org/ http://downloads.malwarebytes.org/mbam-download.php Cnet frequently (although not in this case) put up their own 'trick' download buttons to encourage you to install their own junkware. It sounds like a fairly benign bit of adware, I'd download malwarebytes then unplug the machine form the internet then boot in safe mode and do their recommended scan. Read the resulting report carefully and choose what you want rid of and what you want to keep, the adware should be obvious. Running their beta antirootkit scan overnight (very thorough) after you have done this would be a good move too. http://downloads.malwarebytes.org/file/mbar I'd then run malwarebytes again after a day or so to make sure that a hidden trigger has re-installed the malware. Firefox would be a better day to day browser but I would pick up v21.0 from mozilla or oldversion.com as it has more accessible privacy features than the latest version from Mozilla. for windows: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.....0b7/win32/en- GB/Firefox%20Setup%2021.0b7.exe or all o/ss https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla....leases/21.0b7/ HTH -- fred it's a ba-na-na . . . . |
#8
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , fred writes
In article , Martin Brown writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Do you have another computer that you can use to make a bootable CD to scan this machine for any known malware? Corrupting IE to make it show adverts or hijack keystrokes is unfortunately all too common. You can't trust the main machine any more. There are some tools that use enough obfuscation that they might be able to detox an infected machine without being noticed by the malware. I have found MalwareBytes to work fairly well on other peoples infected PCs YMMV http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html Agreed that malwarebytes is the way to clear this, an excellent program, well thought of, very thorough and even asks polite permission to update itself before attempting to do so. I prefer the direct download at: http://www.malwarebytes.org/ http://downloads.malwarebytes.org/mbam-download.php Cnet frequently (although not in this case) put up their own 'trick' download buttons to encourage you to install their own junkware. It sounds like a fairly benign bit of adware, I'd download malwarebytes then unplug the machine form the internet then boot in safe mode and do their recommended scan. Read the resulting report carefully and choose what you want rid of and what you want to keep, the adware should be obvious. Running their beta antirootkit scan overnight (very thorough) after you have done this would be a good move too. http://downloads.malwarebytes.org/file/mbar I'd then run malwarebytes again after a day or so to make sure that a hidden trigger has re-installed the malware. Firefox would be a better day to day browser but I would pick up v21.0 from mozilla or oldversion.com as it has more accessible privacy features than the latest version from Mozilla. for windows: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.....0b7/win32/en- GB/Firefox%20Setup%2021.0b7.exe or all o/ss https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla....leases/21.0b7/ HTH Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. I am going to struggle recognising what can safely be removed. Anyway no online purchases or bank access FTTB. -- Tim Lamb |
#10
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/14 11:08, Tim Lamb wrote:
Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. ??? It must be YEARS since I found a site that wouldn't work with firefox ... Are there really some left? I am going to struggle recognising what can safely be removed. Anyway no online purchases or bank access FTTB. -- Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers. |
#11
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In article , The Natural Philosopher
scribeth thus On 29/01/14 11:08, Tim Lamb wrote: Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. ??? It must be YEARS since I found a site that wouldn't work with firefox ... Are there really some left? Well I had to line up some CISCO analogue telephone adapter units the other day via the web interface and some of the facilities on the config screen just weren't there.. Try as I might I couldn't get them to open so I could do a firmware upgrade Nothing on the CISCO support site anywhere .. so just gave up;(.. Came back to it a few days later and thought is there anything I overlooked and accidentally opened it this time in Chrome and mysteriously there're all there. No mention of the browser to use in the manual! I am going to struggle recognising what can safely be removed. Anyway no online purchases or bank access FTTB. -- Tony Sayer |
#12
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 11:46, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 29/01/14 11:08, Tim Lamb wrote: Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. ??? It must be YEARS since I found a site that wouldn't work with firefox ... Are there really some left? Loads out there on corporate intranets (some only working on IE6!), and a few SaaS type vendors on the internet that still require it. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#13
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , The Natural Philosopher
writes On 29/01/14 11:08, Tim Lamb wrote: Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. ??? It must be YEARS since I found a site that wouldn't work with firefox ... Are there really some left? Sorry. Bad explanation. The FWi site currently allows 2 articles to be read but wants you to sign in for more. I don't like auto sign in and use an alternative browser to confuse them:-) I am going to struggle recognising what can safely be removed. Anyway no online purchases or bank access FTTB. -- Tim Lamb |
#14
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 11:08, Tim Lamb wrote:
Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. I am going to struggle recognising what can safely be removed. Anyway no online purchases or bank access FTTB. Work on the principle that if malwarebytes flags it, have it delete it. Keeps it simple. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#15
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In article , John
Rumm writes On 29/01/2014 11:08, Tim Lamb wrote: Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. I am going to struggle recognising what can safely be removed. Anyway no online purchases or bank access FTTB. Work on the principle that if malwarebytes flags it, have it delete it. Keeps it simple. I agree that is a safe bet and I prob shouldn't have scared Tim. A different matter with other tools though, HijackThis for example but safe on Malwarebytes. -- fred it's a ba-na-na . . . . |
#16
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , John
Rumm writes On 29/01/2014 11:08, Tim Lamb wrote: Excellent Fred! I do use Firefox as default browser but keep Explorer as an alternative for sites that limit your access. I am going to struggle recognising what can safely be removed. Anyway no online purchases or bank access FTTB. Work on the principle that if malwarebytes flags it, have it delete it. Keeps it simple. er.. It flagged about 15 but only ticked 2 for removal. I should have a fresh list tomorrow and plan to post some examples here for comment. -- Tim Lamb |
#17
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , Martin Brown
writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Do you have another computer that you can use to make a bootable CD to scan this machine for any known malware? Corrupting IE to make it show adverts or hijack keystrokes is unfortunately all too common. Only my wife's laptop (running Vista) This sounds to be beyond my current skill set:-( You can't trust the main machine any more. There are some tools that use enough obfuscation that they might be able to detox an infected machine without being noticed by the malware. I have found MalwareBytes to work fairly well on other peoples infected PCs YMMV http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html OK Noted. Thanks -- Tim Lamb |
#18
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 11:00, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Martin Brown writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Do you have another computer that you can use to make a bootable CD to scan this machine for any known malware? Corrupting IE to make it show adverts or hijack keystrokes is unfortunately all too common. Only my wife's laptop (running Vista) This sounds to be beyond my current skill set:-( If it has a combo rw CD drive it shouldn't be. ISTR all the major AV players have some sort of daily disk image that you can download and run (and provide instructions for how to do it). You obviously have to tell the PC to boot from CD first instead of HD but many are already set like that by default. It shouldn't be too hard to do this. No harder than downloading the right file from your AV vendor and following a few simple instructions. It has the advantage that you are then using software that is familiar to you. Leaving it three days after the malware got past a decent AV product is usually enough time for their countermeasures to have caught up enough to zap it. You can't trust the main machine any more. There are some tools that use enough obfuscation that they might be able to detox an infected machine without being noticed by the malware. I have found MalwareBytes to work fairly well on other peoples infected PCs YMMV http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html OK Noted. Thanks As Fred said download it from their main site Cnet will try and flog you stuff and add its own relatively benign adware if you are careless. Increasingly lots of updaters have default settings to install annoying destablising plugins adware "tools" for browsers - Adobe for instance. -- Regards, Martin Brown |
#19
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , Martin Brown
writes Do you have another computer that you can use to make a bootable CD to scan this machine for any known malware? Corrupting IE to make it show adverts or hijack keystrokes is unfortunately all too common. Only my wife's laptop (running Vista) This sounds to be beyond my current skill set:-( If it has a combo rw CD drive it shouldn't be. ISTR all the major AV players have some sort of daily disk image that you can download and run (and provide instructions for how to do it). You obviously have to tell the PC to boot from CD first instead of HD but many are already set like that by default. It shouldn't be too hard to do this. No harder than downloading the right file from your AV vendor and following a few simple instructions. It has the advantage that you are then using software that is familiar to you. Leaving it three days after the malware got past a decent AV product is usually enough time for their countermeasures to have caught up enough to zap it. You can't trust the main machine any more. There are some tools that use enough obfuscation that they might be able to detox an infected machine without being noticed by the malware. I have found MalwareBytes to work fairly well on other peoples infected PCs YMMV http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html OK Noted. Thanks As Fred said download it from their main site Cnet will try and flog you stuff and add its own relatively benign adware if you are careless. Increasingly lots of updaters have default settings to install annoying destablising plugins adware "tools" for browsers - Adobe for instance. OK Done. I ran the quick version and removed some items. Others I left due to nervousness:-) Full scan tonight! -- Tim Lamb |
#20
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
Actually, I don't think you have a serious issue. It just needs careful
hunting down. Do just one thing at a time though, do not download every anti malware known to man and take the compter back to an earlier time all at once. That is not only the way to insanity, but to completely trashing the Windows operating system. It may well be amulti tsking system but it can only cope with one bit of abuse at a time! Brian -- Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email. graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________ "Tim Lamb" wrote in message news In message , Martin Brown writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Do you have another computer that you can use to make a bootable CD to scan this machine for any known malware? Corrupting IE to make it show adverts or hijack keystrokes is unfortunately all too common. Only my wife's laptop (running Vista) This sounds to be beyond my current skill set:-( You can't trust the main machine any more. There are some tools that use enough obfuscation that they might be able to detox an infected machine without being noticed by the malware. I have found MalwareBytes to work fairly well on other peoples infected PCs YMMV http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyte...-10804572.html OK Noted. Thanks -- Tim Lamb |
#21
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , Brian Gaff
writes Actually, I don't think you have a serious issue. It just needs careful hunting down. Do just one thing at a time though, do not download every anti malware known to man and take the compter back to an earlier time all at once. That is not only the way to insanity, but to completely trashing the Windows operating system. It may well be amulti tsking system but it can only cope with one bit of abuse at a time! I don't think the *way back* machine works on my current set up. I always assumed this was a conflict with Norton? -- Tim Lamb |
#22
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In article , Tim Lamb
scribeth thus In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Did you download it from the real Microsoft website as sometimes down loads for such aren't the real thing and come packages with other "wares"... Like Firefox that can come from other then the Mozzie foundation site.. -- Tony Sayer |
#23
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , tony sayer
writes In article , Tim Lamb scribeth thus In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Did you download it from the real Microsoft website as sometimes down loads for such aren't the real thing and come packages with other "wares"... er.. probably not. It looked authentic but I didn't check. Norton did not raise any objections. Like Firefox that can come from other then the Mozzie foundation site.. -- Tim Lamb |
#24
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , tony sayer
writes In article , Tim Lamb scribeth thus In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? Did you download it from the real Microsoft website as sometimes down loads for such aren't the real thing and come packages with other "wares"... Like Firefox that can come from other then the Mozzie foundation site.. Yes - beware of where you download Firefox from. As my existing Firefox was not quite behaving as normal, I decided to do a fresh install. The first site that Google brings up is: http://preview.tinyurl.com/o7n6tro BIG MISTAKE! I was a bit suspicious when I was offered various additional 'extras' - which I rejected. But despite rejecting the kind offers, I was left with ZoneAlarm searchbar on all of my browsers, and ZoneAlarm as the home page. I'm still busy getting rid of it. Why GoogŁe toŁŁerate these bogu$ website$ is $ureŁy my$tery (or i$ it?). -- Ian |
#25
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
Well, dunno, I've been using 8 for years, and yet its not supported by
Google and dropbox and others. Since you cannot get any newer version for XP my advice is that after April 1st, simply make Firefox your default browser which does work and carry on as before. No not seen any adverts. You may well have missed an option to have or not have adverts or another piece of software installed. I'm sure if you look around you can disable such things, or run Malwarebytes to see if you have any dodgy stuff on your machine. IE should not auto fire up. it should be a choice, so some html is being launched at start up and regularly, which sounds like maware to me. Look in msconfig.exe and see what is running at start up, if it is not recognised by you, disable it temp wise and reboot and make sure things work. I had this once with AVG, which was one of the reasons I shunted it off my system. There are avg safe search toolbars that can be set to do this as can other toolbars. Kick them into touch, particularly the Google heap. Brian -- Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email. graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them Email: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________ "Tim Lamb" wrote in message ... In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? -- Tim Lamb |
#26
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 11:26, Brian Gaff wrote:
Well, dunno, I've been using 8 for years, and yet its not supported by Google and dropbox and others. Since you cannot get any newer version for XP my advice is that after April 1st, simply make Firefox your default browser which does work and carry on as before. No not seen any adverts. You may well have missed an option to have or not have adverts or another piece of software installed. I'm sure if you look around you can disable such things, or run Malwarebytes to see if you have any dodgy stuff on your machine. IE should not auto fire up. it should be a choice, so some html is being launched at start up and regularly, which sounds like maware to me. Look in msconfig.exe and see what is running at start up, if it is not recognised by you, disable it temp wise and reboot and make sure things work. I had this once with AVG, which was one of the reasons I shunted it off my system. There are avg safe search toolbars that can be set to do this as can other toolbars. Kick them into touch, particularly the Google heap. Brian It is good idea to use the custom installation option, to then untick boxes of unwelcome software istallations. |
#27
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , Fredxxx
writes On 29/01/2014 11:26, Brian Gaff wrote: Well, dunno, I've been using 8 for years, and yet its not supported by Google and dropbox and others. Since you cannot get any newer version for XP my advice is that after April 1st, simply make Firefox your default browser which does work and carry on as before. No not seen any adverts. You may well have missed an option to have or not have adverts or another piece of software installed. I'm sure if you look around you can disable such things, or run Malwarebytes to see if you have any dodgy stuff on your machine. IE should not auto fire up. it should be a choice, so some html is being launched at start up and regularly, which sounds like maware to me. Look in msconfig.exe and see what is running at start up, if it is not recognised by you, disable it temp wise and reboot and make sure things work. I had this once with AVG, which was one of the reasons I shunted it off my system. There are avg safe search toolbars that can be set to do this as can other toolbars. Kick them into touch, particularly the Google heap. Brian It is good idea to use the custom installation option, to then untick boxes of unwelcome software istallations. I do that but they don't always offer a choice. -- Tim Lamb |
#28
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 13:13, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Fredxxx writes On 29/01/2014 11:26, Brian Gaff wrote: Well, dunno, I've been using 8 for years, and yet its not supported by Google and dropbox and others. Since you cannot get any newer version for XP my advice is that after April 1st, simply make Firefox your default browser which does work and carry on as before. No not seen any adverts. You may well have missed an option to have or not have adverts or another piece of software installed. I'm sure if you look around you can disable such things, or run Malwarebytes to see if you have any dodgy stuff on your machine. IE should not auto fire up. it should be a choice, so some html is being launched at start up and regularly, which sounds like maware to me. Look in msconfig.exe and see what is running at start up, if it is not recognised by you, disable it temp wise and reboot and make sure things work. I had this once with AVG, which was one of the reasons I shunted it off my system. There are avg safe search toolbars that can be set to do this as can other toolbars. Kick them into touch, particularly the Google heap. Brian It is good idea to use the custom installation option, to then untick boxes of unwelcome software istallations. I do that but they don't always offer a choice. With some applications you need to go through the "advanced" or "custom" install to deselect the bundled shovelware. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#29
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote:
In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? At the risk of stating the obvious it the time to move on from an obsolete OS is long overdue. I had hung on to XP until a year ago when I bought a new laptop that came with Windows 7. It soon became apparent that the time to leave XP behind had come. Having installed Windows 7 on my desktop I am well pleased with it. -- Peter Crosland |
#30
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , Peter
Crosland writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? At the risk of stating the obvious it the time to move on from an obsolete OS is long overdue. I had hung on to XP until a year ago when I bought a new laptop that came with Windows 7. It soon became apparent that the time to leave XP behind had come. Having installed Windows 7 on my desktop I am well pleased with it. Sadly my now rather dated mail/news reader doesn't work on 64 bytes. There are workarounds but not something I am anxious to engage. -- Tim Lamb |
#31
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
On 29/01/2014 13:17, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Peter Crosland writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? At the risk of stating the obvious it the time to move on from an obsolete OS is long overdue. I had hung on to XP until a year ago when I bought a new laptop that came with Windows 7. It soon became apparent that the time to leave XP behind had come. Having installed Windows 7 on my desktop I am well pleased with it. Sadly my now rather dated mail/news reader doesn't work on 64 bytes. There are workarounds but not something I am anxious to engage. You can install Win 7 32 bit if you want... that retains the ability to run 16 bit code. Failing that Win 7 Pro allows use of "compatibility mode" (i.e. basically a XP install stuffed into a virtual PC), and that will work on the 64 bit version. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#32
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
OT what have I done?
In message , Tim Lamb
writes In message , Peter Crosland writes On 29/01/2014 09:16, Tim Lamb wrote: In a momentary fit of insanity I allowed an offering of Explorer 8.0 (I think) to download. The only visible consequence is an overnight firing up of Explorer such that I am greeted each morning with a Windows related advert. Curiously the screen is prevented from entering sleep mode. Today's offering was for a Windows driver scanner for a Brother printer. I am using XP with service pack 3. I know this system is about to be unsupported so am becoming very nervous about anything uninvited! Any thoughts? At the risk of stating the obvious it the time to move on from an obsolete OS is long overdue. I had hung on to XP until a year ago when I bought a new laptop that came with Windows 7. It soon became apparent that the time to leave XP behind had come. Having installed Windows 7 on my desktop I am well pleased with it. Sadly my now rather dated mail/news reader doesn't work on 64 bytes. There are workarounds but not something I am anxious to engage. That would that be TP I see - in order to keep it I bought W732 bit, but I still run XP on a laptop. I haven't seen anything startlingly better on W7. IE8 was crap on it though, regularly going into a loop so now use FF -- bert |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|