I keep getting pop ups for spyware,adware and ucleaner..why?

Question

Whenever I turn on my Sony Vaio laptop message windows start popping up saying that Windows IE (Internet Explorer) has detected adware, spyware and it's infecting my computer and to click OK to clean my computer. I usually just close the window but IE opens up with an advertisement from Ucleaner and it won't go away. I can't use my laptop because their are soo many pop-ups it's impossible. I see icons on my desktop, that I didn't install, such as Error Cleaner and Adware&Spyware Protection but when I go to control panel and try to uninstall them they aren't on the list. I scanned my PC with anti-spy and anti-virus and it deleted three viruses. I updated my toolbar, Windows and my yahoo account but IE won't quit. I deleted my temp files and my cookies. My question is..could I uninstall IE and/or reinstall it because that is where I think the problem is at? I don't use IE search engine I use yahoo but IE has a mind of it's own.
Please help.
Do I need IE on my PC?

Answer 1

Sounds like you have a pretty bad spyware infection. Firstly don't click on "ok" to clean my computer, its highly likely that is a hoax, to get you to download even more spyware/malware.



Check out this page and follow all the advice:-



http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/windows-spyware.html

http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/ComputerViruses.html



If you still get problems even after running spyware and anti-virus packages, you may need to completely reinstall your operating system, or take your PC to a computer repair specialist.



You can certainly ditch IE in favour of another web browser such as Firefox, Firefox is more secure than IE (especially IE 6 which is full of holes) Unfortunately you cannot uninstall IE because it is tightly integrated into the operating system.

Answer 2

You get this stuff because you use Microsoft Windows as your operating system. If you truly want to be done with the hassle of spyware, adware, and viruses, buy a Mac. The new Macs of today will run Microsoft Windows in addition to the Mac OS. So, for any of your apps that don't have a Mac version, you will still be able to run them in Windows on your Mac. But for all of your everyday work on the Internet, you'll be doing it through your Mac OS, which is not susceptible to the spyware and adware. I converted to a Mac about 3 years ago after getting sick of the same problems you describe. It was the best decision I ever made and worth every bit of the expense. I just wish I had done it sooner. In fact, I also purchased virus protection for my Mac after I was told that there are some viruses that can affect them. Like I said, it has been 3 years now and I am a heavy Internet user. Even though I keep the virus definitions up to date, I have NEVER detected one virus on my Mac.

Answer 3

Adware/spyware has infected your computer. you need to scan your computer with a virus protection program like Spybot Search & Destroy.

You could uninstall IE, but you would need another browser to use the internet. try firefox.

Answer 4

You don't need Internet Explorer on your PC at all, though Microsoft makes it nearly impossible to remove. You should go to www.getfirefox.com and install Firefox, a much more versatile and secure browser. Looking at the broader scope of things, though, I doubt Windows should even be on your computer. Maybe go to ubuntu.org, look around, see what you think.

Answer 5

All these in-experienced users trying, I guess thats what counts is that they are trying.



Get these and follow these directions. They may not be what you want to hear, but are the best things to do.



First and foremost, these are MY opinions and have experience several machines that had these on them,

as well as users using these product. Not to mention that I have ran each and every one of these myself

so as to not confuse those that think that I have not.

My findings in these products are useless and sometimes scare the normal user.

Also, these products are not for the normal user as normal user do not take the time to read the

manuals/docs for what they download and or buy, they just want to install and use.



Stop using the following software:

-- AVG --

-Avg has been known to report false positives, also reports "tracking cookies" as "Trojan downloaders".

This is bad practice to me, scaring the user half to death because that's all that we hear on the news

anymore is about Trojans, Worms and Virus'

-Maybe free, but be aware that this product is not the normal product that you would put on a machine.

Most if not all of your experts will tell you to leave this alone, avoid it like the plaque



-- Ad Aware SE --

-Ad Aware is a dangerous program if you do not know how to set it up, although it comes with the basic

'normal' user settings, those that go messing about will find after changing the settings, will remove

things from the Windows System and then be stuck in a bad situation.



-- Spybot Search and Destroy --

-Same as Ad Aware Se



-- Ewido --

-Made By AVG NOW, although AVG (Grisoft) bought them out or merged (which ever you avgt fanatics prefer)

this product does the same as their software (av) and scares the user (see above AVG)



-- McAfee --

-System Hog. Although this product is and has been around for decades, it still isn't that great of a

product as it eats up resources like a hungry dog.



-- Housecalls --

-Not a bad product, but installs while online and no option(s) to UNinstall it.



-- Trendmicro --

-Not a bad product, but installs while online and no option(s) to UNinstall it.



-- Panda --

-Not a bad product, but installs while online and no option(s) to UNinstall it.



-- Norton --

-System Hog. Although this product is and has been around for decades, it still isn't that great of a

product as it eats up resources like a hungry dog.

-Also this product has to use it's own UNinstaller to get rid of it, even if you take it out of Add Remove

and reboot your system, this pain in the **** software prompts the user to reinstall or it auto does it



-- eTrust --

-Now owned by CA MS used to ship this with it's Feb 2004 Security Update CD set. ( I know I have it ) and what

a load of rubbish.



-- Kaspersky --

-Maybe free, but be aware that this product is not the normal product that you would put on a machine.

Most if not all of your experts will tell you to leave this alone, avoid it like the plaque





Decent programs to install and use



Removal Software



-- Norton Removal Tool --

Norton Removal Tool here (IF you have Norton):http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039



DirectX 9 Removal Tool

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=522



Turning off Services

Turning off MS Messenger services http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx





Anti - Virus'

AVAST HERE http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html





Anti - Spyware

X-Cleaner http://www.xblock.com/download/xclean_micro.exe CLICK RUN

Same As Above But You see the site http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php

Spyware Blaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Super Anti Spyware http://downloads2.superantispyware.com/downloads/SUPERAntiSpyware.exe





Win Socket Fix

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html



DCOM Fix

http://www.grc.com/freeware/dcom.htm



Misc Cleaners:

Ccleaner - http://www.ccleaner.com/

Easy Cleaner - http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm

Reg Seeker - http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm





Removing Rouge Software

Rouge List - http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Removing Virus Protect Pro http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic98219.html

Answer 6

you have a virus.....i had one like that and i just backed up all important info and slicked the computer.....its a pain but worth it....we use norton and it does a good job but norton didnt detect any viruses even though my computer kept telling me i had one...it was almost like a false-positive and as matt buxtor recommended i would use mozilla firefox...its a great browser...i use it at home

Answer 7

Go to Microsoft site, download and install security pack2 that will take care of it.