[MikeH]

recently I had an issue with a virus and ended up having to reload my OS (xp). The virus seemed to allow a hacker into my system or so the windows warning said. Now after reloading the os with "repair" so I could keep all my old files. but now I keep getting these messenger service windows pop up and they say something like:

Message from FROM to TO on date
stop! windows has found 51 critical system errors.
to fix the errors please do the following:
download repair registery pro from:www.fix-scan.com
install
run
reboot
failure to act now may lead to system failure

there are several websites listed
msregistery.com
cleanthispc.com
fixregnow.com
fixscan.com
repairreg.com
fixwinregister.com
updatepatch.info
pcregistery32.com

and probably a few more I didnt write down. I went to one of the pages and they want you to buy their sofware so I think this is some kind of spyware or virus but spy-bot nor virus scan finds anything.

Is anyone familiar with this issue and know the fix. Its driving me crazy. the windows keep popping up regardless if Im online or not. thanks

 

[Mike]

Here's my suggestion.
Turn off the Windows messenger:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx

Download and install Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Download and install Zone Alarm:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conte...alm/freeDownload.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en
Download and install AdAware:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

All are free.

 

[MikeJ]

Mike

Wow - lots of Mike's here -

You do have an antivirus too - right

Once you get done with all that - see how things are

If there are any remaining or reoccuring problems - take em one at a time - but don't mess with the registry unless your following exactly instructions from a known vendor

MikeJ

 

[Gary S]

I agree. This is probably related to the huge security holes in Windows Messenger.
http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11193-0.html?forumID=94&threadID=179928&messageID=1833760

Reinstalling your OS should have worked if you had done a clean install. Repair just keeps the viruses and spyware you already have, and fixes any broken Windows files.

Unless you want to spend lots of time cleaning and cleaning this computer, you would be best just fdisking the drive and starting over.

Remember the 3 R's of Windows
Reboot
Repair
Reinstall

For this kind of problem, #3 is the cleanest solution.

 

[72chevymalibu]

It's another spyware problem. This is pretty standard. When you visit a site and download the website you also download this application. It tells you something's wrong and to go to some site to fix it. It's kind of like a mechanic lighting your car on fire and then offering to fix it. Dpn't visit the sites. Do a Google and get Spybot S&D & HiJack Thiss and run them. They won't solve all of your probelms but it will help.

Why does windows say it's a virus/hacker? Well it might be but that would be an un-related problem and you should get a firewall anyway becuase you're at a pretty big risk of being hacked. These "programs" mentioned earlier broadcast info back to their home servers and get infor on when to run and what to say and so on. But it does mean that if they can send/receive info without your say so then so could a hacker. And don't trust windows XP "Security Center" it sucks. Invest in something better and save your personal info from theft. You wouldn't put your kid in a car with spongy brakes, bald tires, and a stuck gas pedal so don't put your comp and info at risk.

I do this stuff for a living and am constantly amazed so I try to explain and educate and thus the reason for my long posts. I know a little about cars but a lot about computers. Seems like a fair trade

 

[GWL]

Go to this website. http://forum.malwareremoval.com They will help you with your problems with pop up and adware. It saved me from reloading my OS.

 

[Buzzbomb]

If you want to end MOST of the spam and spyware crap, quit letting Microsoft force feed you Internet Explorer. Download Firefox, Opera (BEST), or MOzilla to browse the web with.