I have a new eMachines computer thats running WinXP. This is an OS that I'm not really used to yet. While surfing the Net I got a security pop-up that completely fills up the backscreen and there is nothing to click on to get rid of it. How do I get rid of this and get my regular backscreen back?

Did you try ctrl-alt-del and check on applications. Maybe you can end task it. It sounds like spyware to me. Otherwise i would just reboot it and see if it comes back.

One way is to Ctrl+Alt+Delete and bring up the Task Manager. On the Applications tab it'll show which applications are running - probably multiple case of Internet Explorer. Select one and click End Task. If you're lucky, you end the correct one. If not, End Task on all IE tasks and reopen IE.

FWIW, the OS doesn't really have anything to do with popups from the Internet...it's more an Internet Explorer thing. I still use an old copy of Netscape 4.75 for most of my *surfing* and don't get near as many popups.

This is the message on my backscreen:
<start>

WARNING!
YOU'RE IN DANGER!


ALL YOU DO WITH COMPUTER IS STORED FOREVER IN YOUR HARD DISK. WHEN YOU VISIT SITES, SEND EMAILS... ALL YOUR ACTIONS ARE LOGGED. AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THEM WITH STANDARD TOOLS. YOUR DATA IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR FORENSICS. AND IN SOME CASES FOR YOUR BOSS, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR WIFE, YOUR CHILDREN.

Every site you or somebody or even something, like spyware, opened in your browser, with all images, and all downloaded and maybe later removed movies or mp3 songs - ARE STILL THERE and could broke your life!


SECURE YOURSELF RIGHT NOW!

Removal instructions: <end>


When I go the removal instructions all I get are adds for some software that they want me to buy. This ad just popped up out of nowhere and no matter what I do I can't seem to be able to get rid of it. When I went to Task manager/applications, the only program I saw running is the one I'm using which was Team Chevelle!!!

Any Ideas on how to get rid of this?

ctrl alt delete will do it under taskmanager. Then under apps or processes find the culprit and end it. Chances are you need to install adware from www.lavasoftusa.com (http://www.lavasoftusa.com) to help you with spyware. Sometimes these ads pop up on certain sites and you'll just have to follow the directions above. Sometimes they are popped up due to spyware influencing ads and info being pulled down.

Hey Hey, I got rid of it. graemlins/hurray.gif

I managed to find the source of it and sent them an e-mail. These are the instructions that they sent:


TO REMOVE DESKTOP ADVERTISEMENT:
<start>

- Right click at the very top of the screen it should appear as a standard options menu.
- Select Properties - Desktop tab.
- Click "Customize Desktop" button at the bottom.
- Select "Web" Tab.
- Uncheck "Security" checkbox.
<end>

I followed thes instructions and the Pop-Up is gone graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif

Have you activated the firewall in XP?

Not Yet :(

I've been hearing that the sp2 firewall download has been causing a few problems. can it be trusted?

Originally posted by garfield:
I've been hearing that the sp2 firewall download has been causing a few problems. can it be trusted? I did it 6 weeks ago with no problems to date.
graemlins/thumbsup.gif
I've got it on CD...

So after all it was a website being posted on your desktop as background. To me that should be illegal and they should be able to be fined. Unless you said yes intall this.

Garfield, I have had no problems with SP 2 , besides sounds like you're having jut as many problems without it.

To go back to Garfields message, will something like Window Washer get rid of stuff on the hard drive? Or is there some other way to clean the hard drive?
Ron

There are several ways of getting stuff like this onto your computer. A firewall may not be the issue, it's most likely something being installed via the browser. get a pop-up blocker (Panicware has one) or try the new Mozilla Firefox browser. Also make sure the Messenger service is disabled...