If you use AIM you must read this!!

[nessonite1]

Thanks to my buddy, Drew70, Inow have this super cool addition to AIM!!
It's a universal truth that AIM smilies have always and will always SUCK ASS.
You can go to smileycentral.com and it downloads a really quick, painless, seamless addition to AIM that gives you like a gazillion or so smileys. Even smileys you can customize and add text too! I'm so jazzed cause now Idont have to try to make AIMs 16 crappy smilies work for me!
It also seems to work with Yahoo,which I sometimes use, and your pop3 email programs too! Sweet! I think I've gotten SPAM about this before so I never downloaded it cause I figured it was adware or something but it really isnt! It adds a mywebsearch bar to IE (which I dontuse) but you canjust right clickit and turnit off.
Anyway...go get it! Its really cool! 😀

 

[MistressValerie1]

OMG, Nessie -- mywebsearch is classified as Spyware: http://www.winpatrol.com/db/freesample/mwsoemon.html

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=2226

This is a potentially malicious program, and you should attempt to System Restore to before you installed it, if possible. Once it is embedded in your system, it may be very difficult to remove.

I never download smiley packs for this reason -- I use MSN Messenger, which allows custom smileys that can be individually installed by the user.

Best of luck,

 

[nessonite1]

hmm...my virus protection dohickey didn't yell at me but I'll run a scan anyway. 🙂 I only have Windows 98 so no system restores here. 😛

 

[MistressValerie1]

Hi, Nessie -- antivirus software will usually not detect spyware/adware 🙁

Here are removal instructions from an antispy site:

*****
Instructions on how to remove Mysearch, aka Mywebsearch, My Search Bar, My Way Speedbar:

To uninstall Mysearch first close all open browser windows. Then click 'Start' menu, then select 'Control Panel' and open the 'Add/Remove Programs' option. Find "My Search Bar" in the list of programs, and click 'Change/Remove' and follow the prompts to remove them. Other components to look for and remove are:

My Way Speedbar (Smiley Central or other FWP as applicable)
My Way Speedbar (AOL and Yahoo Messengers) (beta users only)
My Way Speedbar (Outlook, Outlook Express, and IncrediMail)
Search Assistant - My Way
My Web Search (Smiley Central or FWP product as applicable)

This procedure should completely remove Mysearch. If you have any problems or to be certain all its components have been removed, scan your system with an adware removal utility such as Noadware.
*****

I recommend running X-Cleaner Free after trying this uninstall routine. It may help remove any components that are left behind. I use X-Cleaner myself, but if you use file-sharing software like Kazaa, X-Cleaner may damage it.

X-Cleaner download link: http://www.xblock.com/download/xcleaner_free.exe
No installation needed, just double-click, check the first box on top (Scan for Adware/Spyware), then click button at lower right (Start Cleaning), then reboot when it's done.

Good luck!

 

[Faramir]

or, what/how about Spybot Search & Destroy? SpywareBlaster?

my ISP (EarthLink) also has a spyware and scamware blocker embedded in it's browser, plus a great spam blocker in it's (pop3) e-mail program. they use the AIM, but I haven't downloaded it. should I? I already have the ICQ, MSN and Yahoo messenger's. do I really need another messenger...lol..? I hardly use the one's I do have.

(btw, off topic I know, but I met the Koolest babe last night...!! only prob is, why do they always have to be half my age...or less?? boo-hoo!! oh well, every once in a while the ol' dog gets a bone/treat... 😀 )

 

[nessonite1]

Good for you, Stormy! Im feeling pangs of jealousy now!

Missy Val...I ran Spyboy S&D...it found a lot of junk as I hadn't run it in a while. I didnt see anything reated to MyWebSearch but before I do all the stuff you listed (thanks by the way for taking the time to write it all out!) I have a couple questions...

Will it take away the new smileys in AIM? I really wanna keep them!
Does this spyware detect what Im doing when using the Opera browser (or Netscape even) and not using IE?
Thanks!

 

[Slant]

"Free smileys" is one of the commonest scumware hooks on the net.. you see adverts for them pop up on loads of websites. Best avoided!

 

[TRU1]

norton anti-virus won't detect spyware, 99.9 percent of the time. however, the latest edition of panda platinum does..

 

[MistressValerie1]

Hi, Nessie,

MyWebSearch may also be known as MySearch in some antispy programs, but it's the same thing.

I do not know if your smileys will still work if you remove the spyware, but sometimes you will get lucky and the program will still work, sans scumware.

I think that if it installed as an IE toolbar, it probably will only affect IE, but it might also be able to affect other Windows components closely bound to IE, such as Windows Explorer or Outlook Express.

Thanks, Tru and Slant, for the additional info. I never respond to popup ads ... and Norton is defintely crap, though I love their website and security newsletters. I've been using CA and love it, though I use a different firewall product (no longer made, unfortunately).

Storm, Spybot S&D and Spyware Blaster are also good programs, though I was never able to get Spybot to run properly on my PC for some reason.

Best of luck to all,

 

[nessonite1]

I removed all of the spyware that Spybot found and my virus protector (AVG) rund once a day. I will try to remove the IE toolbar and see what happens. Thanks for the alert, Missy Val. 🙂 You're like TT's mommy, keeping us all safe and healthy 😀