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Original poster

computer virus - about:blank

27 replies

willow2 · 21/06/2004 15:21

Have had computer hijacked by some virus/trojan horse type thing. Seems relatively benign in that it simply changes your internet explorer home page to about:blank - and then you get bombarded by pop ups from companies saying your computer has been hijacked and please buy our programme that will eradicate the problem - but so far that seems to be all. Funny how these companies suddenly knew we had a problem - could they be linked???!!! Anyway, have found some programme that seems to have destroyed the problem although only time will tell as it kept coming back over the weekend.

Anyone else had this problem? It got past Norton and a variety of other virus checkers.

Cheers my dears

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HiddenSpirit · 21/06/2004 15:45

The about:blank homepage is not a virus. You can set your homepage to this (mine always is). The ads you are receiving could be due to some spyware on your pc. You can download Spybot here and that will search for any spyware on your pc.

These pop-ups are not a virus or a trojan, just very very annoying

Original poster
willow2 · 21/06/2004 16:21

it is spyware - it has hijacked my computer and keeps changing my home page to this page - loads of other people are having same problem - according to piece in standard spyware is linked to bank and identity fraud so want to get rid of it!

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bonniej · 21/06/2004 16:34

I had a similar thing a while back and if you scan for the virus and get the name of it, you can go on a website called symnatec (i think) and type in the name of your virus. They should tell you how to get rid of it. Alternatively type the name of the virus in the search engine and it should bring up something that might help. You can download avg to scan your computer for free. this will tell you the name of the trojan. I got rid of mine this way.

Original poster
willow2 · 21/06/2004 23:03

Well, if this happens to you dont bother buying Spy Sweeper as it doesn't work. It scans, supposedly finds the problem and eradicates it... but then it is back two seconds later. This is xxxxxxx annoying.

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3GirlsMum · 21/06/2004 23:39

What version of windows are you running Willow? If its XP have a look in your add/remove programs first of all to see if there is anything there. If you cant find anything then go to the Trend Micro site and do their free scan, its one of the best ones I have found and if you have a virus/trojan its more than likely to pick it up.

If that doesnt work try this:-

Hijack This Homepage Virus Remover

Its freeware. HTH.

3GirlsMum · 22/06/2004 11:03

Did u manage to sort this out?

flea · 22/06/2004 13:37

Ok : reboot in safe mode (press F8 a lot as machine is rebooting) - search for dpusys.* and sysupd.exe and delete all occurances.
This should basically shift it.. There are more things to delete in the reg : but if you google for dpusys that will give you more help
Spent about 4 hours figuring this out on my home pc last night

SoupDragon · 22/06/2004 13:41

Willow, you may need to disable the Windows "system restore" before removing it. You have to do this before removing a number of viruses otherwise your PC just reinfects itself.

I like SpyBot. This removed lots of things and also immunised my PC and I've had very little problem from spyware since.

Original poster
willow2 · 22/06/2004 13:51

Still having problems - will try the system restore trick, once I have reloaded spy sweeper which I managed to delete last night.

Will let you know how I get on with your suggestions.

By the way, did I tell anyone about how I fell off platform heels on Saturday, knackered my knee and managed to lose my purse between getting the money out to pay a cab and walking in my front door? I am such a xxxx at times.

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ks · 22/06/2004 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
willow2 · 23/06/2004 00:00

Have run everything known to man - with system restore turned off - so will just have to wait and see. Have spent the last three hours doing it. Thanks for all your suggestions so far.

If it doesn't work I will cry.

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xoz · 23/06/2004 00:55

Okay having now read thru this, my suggestion is to try some of the stuff on this site here . All this stuff is free to some degree.
This site is how I figured out what the name of our problem was. I downloaded the scanner called AntiVir (which is completely free), after none of the online ones could find anything. Will keep looking for you though. Never know what you may find.

xoz · 23/06/2004 01:08

Found this onthe microsoft website. spyware
Might help a bit. They recommend Spybot and Ad-aware, so if you have tried them you might

xoz · 23/06/2004 01:14

sorry clicked in the wrong spot... it's getting late!
what I was saying was that you might just need to do a google for spyware and see if any other software comes up. That site I gave the link to before doesn't have anything specifically related to spyware, but has quite a bit for Trojans which may help...I dunno.
Best of luck getting rid of it... I know how much of a pain these things are.

ks · 23/06/2004 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Tinker · 23/06/2004 09:25

Willow - get today's Independent. In the Review section there is an article about just this problem. If I get a chance later I'll try and do a link but it might be quicker to just get the paper.

Original poster
willow2 · 23/06/2004 10:22

Was up until 1am trying to sort this - thought I had done it - turned off system restore, ran CW Shredder, Stinger, Ad-Aware, Spybot and Spysweeper - and guess what was waiting for me when I turned on the machine this morning! Don't know which is more annoying - numerous pop ups and the wrong home page or countless messages from the above programmes telling me something is trying to change my settings and do I want to deny or allow!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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Original poster
willow2 · 23/06/2004 13:13

Well, I have done pretty much everything suggested here and more - will let you know if it works in a day or two.

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gothicmama · 23/06/2004 13:18

Willow2 me to just now - am going to follow info here- Willow 2 see my posting I am pulling my hair out if you fix it pleasepost back I will if I do

charliecat · 23/06/2004 13:19

My friend had this problem and spent a good few days going mad over it, they installed windows over the top of the virused version and all has been ok since. Dont know if thats an option.

Tinker · 23/06/2004 13:29

Indie article - might help

gothicmama · 23/06/2004 14:38

willow2 fingers crossed I seem to have fixed it - go to internet explorer then on top bit click - tools - then internet options - then choose advance clear the tick (click on it)in the box enable third party briwser extensions ( requires restart )click apply - ok then restart and run ad aware or whaever software.

New prob now is how to get in to hotmail forgetten password and answer to secret question

Original poster
willow2 · 26/06/2004 15:54

frankly nothing seems to work for longer than a day - it always comes back - dunno where it is hiding but it is doing my head in. Think I'll have to clean computer and reload all programmes.

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gothicmama · 26/06/2004 16:29

this has worked but I have had to scan each day to check different bits keep picking up but touch wood it has all gone now

Original poster
willow2 · 26/06/2004 18:09

I've done what you suggested but the buggers are still appearing. Scans will come back clean and then, hey presto, they are back.

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