When visiting certain internet sites from time to time, including email services, but this mainly applied to web sites in general, sometimes sites install spyware and scumware hidden into our systems.

I use Adawre by Lavasoft to clean up this mess once in a while.

Lately, this web site I visit sometimes - which also contains a messaging system and notifies users when they have new messages, seems to somehow be installing scumware and spyware into my system.

It's so annoying that it somehow manages to install software, create directories and have things running in the background that constanly launches pop-ups.

The only way to remove it is:

1) Go to Add/Remove Programs (even though I never authorized the install, it does it automatically)

and

2) Run Lavasoft - AdAware to clean it up.

The common sense thing to do is probably to avoid this web site, but it's a site where I have communication with some individuals.

Is there away to somehow block or prevent certain codes, sites, or installs from being installed on my computer if it's the same spyware/scumware over and over again?

It seems some common aspects are installing something called 1) "Movieplace" and 2) "Launcher" which appear in the Add/Remove programs list in the contral panel, which I have to end tast before removing. Also, something called "DW" appears to be running as well.

Lately, after visiting this site, it seems I have between 20 to 25 files recognized by Ad-Aware that need to be removed.

Since these are the same files over and over again, is there a way to BLOCK the system from recognizing these files when I visit this site so that it rejects this spyware/scumware in particular?

sometimes sites install spyware and scumware hidden into our systems.

This is all I read... Websites cannot simply install software onto your system without your authorization (ActiveX Controls i assume you mean). If you give authorization, then you are allowing this yourself.

Originally posted by SynHost


This is all I read... Websites cannot simply install software onto your system without your authorization (ActiveX Controls i assume you mean). If you give authorization, then you are allowing this yourself.

Yeah, if you dont lock down your back then any site can do much more then simply setup some spyware. Look into securing your home box..

Here are some useful links from an article on BBC last week:

http://www.anti-leech.com/
http://www.doxdesk.com/
http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm
http://www.spywareinfo.com/

...but basically it's just common sense. If a dialog pops up saying "this will install P0rnDialler, click OK to proceed, Cancel to quit" ...then you click Cancel. A good browser like Mozilla or Opera helps too. Using IE is just giving an open ticket to World + Dog.

...but basically it's just common sense. If a dialog pops up saying "this will install P0rnDialler, click OK to proceed, Cancel to quit" ...then you click Cancel. A good browser like Mozilla or Opera helps too. Using IE is just giving an open ticket to World + Dog.

Exactly... If websites could just install any software on your machine, we would have a MUCH bigger problem than this... Sure there are some exploits out there, but still.

yeah. unforuntly there are exploits. i encountered one last week when xupiter.com decided to install itself onto my system after i mistakenly clicked a link in a yahoo chat room... and shortly after reset mozilla as my default browser to make sure it doesn't happen again. another thing i have found works for most of those porn dialers is to not have a partition using c:, as they are hardcoded to that. they may create the shortcuts, but the program doesnt get installed.

best protection in my mind is change your security settings in your browser to a bit more restrictive, and make sure you have a good AV and adaware.

If so, you must upgrade your Windows server and IE browser to the most current Critical Updates.

Upgrade the browser to IE6 sp1 or 2, and use the Privacy options.
Then turn all ActiveX and Java and any other download or interactivity option to "Prompt" in the Custom settings of the Security tab.

Its a pain because Sites will now prompt you to just change pages-something you are not getting now because your settings are allowing certain actions, including some downloading that you DONT need to approve.

-But you may at least do it when at this Site you mention, and you will be prompted by the browser to allow some actions.
This may give you a clue as to what and where the Crapware is trying to install to.

You might want to check permissions on the part of the OS that is having items installed also. "Everyone" is usually not necessary...

If you DONT have a Windows system, then...I'm logging out & going to get coffee.....