Bad adware spyware on my PC.

I seem to have been infected with a bad adware program. Each time I launch a webpage, a page comes up, with audio, telling me to call a number to remove the program. And it throws out all kinds of ads, pages, pop ups, it's a mess. Any suggestions? I ran AVAST Free but it didn't find anything. 

appears to be Bubble Dock....

try running malwarebytes free software.

get a Mac   

In addition to malwarebytes, I used Super AntiSpyware, and between the two  of them, everything got cleaned up. [edited to correct name of the product].

lazydog said:

get a Mac  "> 

I have been Mac addicted since the late  '80s. AND I JUST GOT MY FIRST VIRUS!  

At least it appears so according to more astute MOLers. I firmly believe it was a gift from Comcast (see thread) however.

The Comcast activation screen is slowly penetrating my computer. Yesterday, for the first time, it popped up when I opened one email. Other emails could be read.

well, I ran MalwareBytes and it's better but still *****ed up. 

The MalwareBytes notification that pops up on the screen when it's detected and blocked something is constantly popping up. Browser running strangely.

@mtierney, there is little reason to believe comcast is at fault, and there is a lot of reason to believe they are not at fault. The bad guys have a big incentive to masquerade as the big (good?) guys. Since this malware does not benefit comcast in any way, they only way they could be at fault is that they inadvertently get into their systems. In other words, they didn't create it, but maybe -- just maybe -- they didn't work hard enough to prevent its spread.

I'll buy that premise, Tom. My whole experience with Comcast and its Xfinity upgrade was a fiasco from the get go. Kvetching about Comcast or to Comcast is an exercise in futility.  

Jasmo said:

In addition to malwarebytes, I used super antivirus spyware, and between the two  of them, everything got cleaned up.

What is the 'super antivirus spyware' and has anyone verified that it was actually a virus?

BCC said:

Jasmo said:

In addition to malwarebytes, I used super antivirus spyware, and between the two  of them, everything got cleaned up.

What is the 'super antivirus spyware' and has anyone verified that it was actually a virus?

BCC, thanks for asking, I realize that the name was really Super AntiSpyware.  This is how it is decscribed: "This antispyware software can block and detect a range of malware, including spyware, viruses, Trojans and rootkits."  I'm not saying that it is necessarily the best, but just that between it and malwarebytes, the malware that was destroying my functionality was eliminated.  

Jasmo said:

BCC said:

Jasmo said:

In addition to malwarebytes, I used super antivirus spyware, and between the two  of them, everything got cleaned up.

What is the 'super antivirus spyware' and has anyone verified that it was actually a virus?

BCC, thanks for asking, I realize that the name was really Super AntiSpyware.  This is how it is decscribed: "This antispyware software can block and detect a range of malware, including spyware, viruses, Trojans and rootkits."  I'm not saying that it is necessarily the best, but just that between it and malwarebytes, the malware that was destroying my functionality was eliminated.  

Thanks for the info.

I've had a lot of good experience with superantispyware. Dumb name, good product.

So I ran Super AntiSpyware TWICE. It found problem files both times. First time over a thousand and the second time 71. And I still have hinky ad pages launching. Notations on web pages that I've never had before.  All add crap. 

And the malware-bytes tool is continually popping up on the bottom of my screen identifying another malicious website detected. I think it's better but I may run them both again.

It might help if you ran superantispyware and malwarebytes in safe mode.

While your computer is starting, before it displays the Windows logo, press F8 every second until you get the menu which includes safe mode.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

So I ran Super AntiSpyware TWICE. It found problem files both times. First time over a thousand and the second time 71. And I still have hinky ad pages launching. Notations on web pages that I've never had before.  All add crap. 

And the malware-bytes tool is continually popping up on the bottom of my screen identifying another malicious website detected. I think it's better but I may run them both again.

I bought professional editions of both, update them daily; and those disturbing messages have stopped.  Everything is much better under control, although my computer runs more slowly as a result, I believe.

If you must browse the web using Windows, use a non-privileged account. Now you see why.

Tom_Reingold said:

If you must browse the web using Windows, use a non-privileged account. Now you see why.

I don't know what this means.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

Tom_Reingold said:

If you must browse the web using Windows, use a non-privileged account. Now you see why.

I don't know what that means.

I mean an account that doesn't have administrator privileges. This is an account that cannot make changes to the computer. If you normally log in as Joe and Joe is an administrator account, make an account for Pete which is a regular account. Browse the web when you are logged in as Pete. The malware takes advantage of your administrator privileges to install itself.

Now running SUPERAntiSpyware in safe mode. I'll run MalwareBytes when this is  done. Am I correct that I shouldn't run them both at the same time?

Thanks for your help, by the way. 

At this point here's my advice: Download a program called Hijack This! Create an account on the SpywareWarrior.com forum. Hijack This! in Safe Mode will create a logfile of all the hidden things waiting in your registry to run. Spyware Warrior has a team of experts which can analyse that logfile and tell you which software to run and how best to clean it with step-by-step instructions for free. I did it a couple of times back when I had PCs and it really worked, but eventually the hassle of having to continuously go there and go through it all broke me and I switched to Mac.

Here is an example of someone helping out a user with Bubble Dock and other malware.

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=35390&highlight=bubble+dock

Yes you shouldn't run them simultaneously. While computers do multitask, and they do it better than humans do, throughput is better when when they do one thing at a time.

ridski's advice is good, too. It may not be necessary, but it will be more thorough. I'm amazed at the generosity of people on Spyware Warrior in how they help with hijack this reports.

Do you run any software that requires Windows? Most people use their computers only for music, videos, document creation, web browsing, and email. Mac OS and Linux are capable of doing those things, and they are far less vulnerable to malware than Windows is. (The exception is that Linux is not as good for music for some people, and I know music is a big deal for you.) Mac OS and Linux also require less effort to use day to day. Once you are relieved of the duties of keeping a Windows system running, it feels like a weight lifted from your shoulders.

If you are committed to sticking with Windows for any reason, give some serious consideration to changing your web browsing habits. It will probably be less convenient, but then again, dealing with this malware is pretty damned annoying and time consuming.

So, I ran them both in Safe Mode and even though I had run them both 48 hours before, SUPERAntiSpyware found lots of bad files, etc. Amazing. 

I'm not sure what the current status is. I haven't seen ads or pages pop up during this PC session and MalwareBytes is popping up with "Malicious Website Blocked" bad news less frequently, it seems. 

And frankly, I'm pretty sure this was all my fault. I was Googling, looking for a user manual for an ancient Acer CPU that I use solely for browsing the web on my TV. I found a site that seemed to have the manual and it indicated that I needed to download a "reader." Stupid me. I shouldn't have done that. AVAST asked me to confirm that I wanted to allow the program to make changes to my drive and I mistakenly said OK. 

Live and learn. 

Tom, the next time I change computers, I will definitely consider Mac OS or Linux. Can't afford such a change now.

ridski, I'll try the Hijack This! solution next. Thx.

Again, thanks everyone for your help. I'll keep you posted.

With the SUPER program, one of the things they eliminate everyday is cookies that are related to advertising. I think they must regenerate themselves, because everyday it seems they get rid of 300-700 adwares, but my computer is fine.

No, things are not much improved. Browser behavior is still fukced up. Very frustrating.

My Xfinity activation screen (bug, virus, Trojan, whatever) is still active on my IPad. Goes quiet for a time, then when I click on a favorite site on my home page it makes a dramatic appearance. 

So far, as  it takes over a site, I delete that icon and reinstall another. My email was untouched until yesterday when I opened an email magazine I get every month. No magazine, just that darn screen!  

How complicated is the process of clearing off everything and starting over? Will that bug disappear or just hunker down?

I know I am a whiner over this issue, but I am trying to keep my head above the quicksand of computer jargon.

mtierney, have you tried downloading another browser like chrome for iPad and seeing if happens on that? I would give it a shot.

I'm asking because when you first mentioned it, I didn't realize it was iPad issue, thought it was a Mac issue. If it's an iPad issue, it may be actually be a problem with your router which might need to be reset. 

Try another browser, if it starts on that then we can go through some steps.

ridski said:

I'm asking because when you first mentioned it, I didn't realize it was iPad issue, thought it was a Mac issue. If it's an iPad issue, it may be actually be a problem with your router which might need to be reset. 

Try another browser, if it starts on that then we can go through some steps.

The "quicksand" just got deeper, Ridski! That word, router, was the whole issue in the Xfinity upgrade push by Comcast. It wanted to replace my router, an offer I first accepted and then promptly rejected and I returned the equipment untouched after Comcast sent me two routers. Then the haunting of my iPad began.

How does one reset a router?

About switching browsers: I googled Chrome and saw a lot of negative comments. True? Would a new browser vanquish the activation screen that I fear is buried in my iPad's innards?

mtierney said:

ridski said:

I'm asking because when you first mentioned it, I didn't realize it was iPad issue, thought it was a Mac issue. If it's an iPad issue, it may be actually be a problem with your router which might need to be reset. 

Try another browser, if it starts on that then we can go through some steps.

The "quicksand" just got deeper, Ridski! That word, router, was the whole issue in the Xfinity upgrade push by Comcast. It wanted to replace my router, an offer I first accepted and then promptly rejected and I returned the equipment untouched after Comcast sent me two routers. Then the haunting of my iPad began.

How does one reset a router?

About switching browsers: I googled Chrome and saw a lot of negative comments. True? Would a new browser vanquish the activation screen that I fear is buried in my iPad's innards?

I don't know if it will or not. I'm attempting to troubleshoot the problem without being able to see it, so I'm exploring avenues. Download Chrome for Ipad. It's free and it won't break anything. If you're not seeing the activation screen then you have a browser issue with Safari, if you are, then it's something else and you can delete Chrome and move onto the next avenue.