I have been able to remove the 'pest trap' spyware that somehow appeared on my PC, but I still have this icon in the lower right corner of the screen ... it is a red circle with a white x in the center, and a box keeps popping up saying:
"Your computer is infected. Windows has detected spyware infection! It is recommended that you use special antispyware tools to prevent data loss. Windows will now download and install the most up to date antispyware software for you. Click here to protect your computer from spyware."
Of course I am not clicking on anything ... I have updated Spybot and run that, I have gotten the latest Windows updates, and I can't get rid of the icon or the 'pop-up'. I tried doing a System Restore to three different dates and each time I get a message that the restore cannot be completed.

I don't know if this is having any affect on the PC or not, but I was d/l some photos from my camera and the 'pop-up' would come up and I would close it ... later several of the photos which I did not try to d/l couldn't be accessed on the camera and said *file error*, so I am now afraid to do anything else with the photos ...

Any ideas?
thnx mch,
t.

Tony, I had this one or something very similar. It required more than running anti-spy and virus checks. Sorry, cannot remember the NAME or the actual fix details -- but here is a link that might prove helpful now, or certainly in the future:
http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php?pageNum_Rs1=0&totalRows_Rs1=2066

If I can find something I left in my files on this one I will send it ASAP.

Tony,
Type pest trap spyware in your goggle search above and there is all kinds of good info there about this spyware and how to get rid of it including the free programs to use to delete it.
Bebop

I think it is "Spy Sheriff -- a known fraud from the Philippines somewhere. A bitch to get rid of -- but it can be done effectively. Best best search Google for "Sprware Sheriff" and follow recent links or promising titles. Exp[ect to see forum threads like THIS:
http://www.spywaredb.com/remove-spy-sheriff/

Perhaps your virus/malware checker utility has a routine to easily find and get rid of it -- but mine did not.

One more fix discussion I found: this looks promising ... might be what I used (which worked):
http://www.delphifaq.com/faq/windows_user/f850.shtml

Good luck!

thnx for the quick response ... I will look into the links ...
The thing is, I don't know (although I do suspect) if the lingering 'pop-up was associated with the 'Pest Trap' or was unrelated ...
Another problem is that we don't know if some hackers might be putting false info on some of the "help" forums ... It's REALLY a jungle out there ...
t.

... followed instructions to eliminate the 'red circle' and 'pop-up'... still can't get rid of it ... also d/l and ran 'Windows Defender Beta' and it detected nothing - system is running normal - ....has anyone had any experience with "2-Spyware.com" ... or "SpywareGuide powered by FaceTime Security Labs" ? ... I'm getting so I don't trust anything anymore ...
t.

[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 06-24-2006).]

[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 06-24-2006).]

Tony if you have not added any new software..go back to a previous restore point[when all was fine]..

Fran ... thnx, but I've tried that with 3 different dates ... apparently whatever this is won't let me restore ... it keeps coming up "Restore Incomplete" ...
t.

Tony:

Probably not something you want to hear..... But in the past when I've had some similar problems with one particular computer at the office I backed up all data files, photos, midis etc. and bit the bullet, then took the original restore disks that came with the PC and brought the drive back to original state it was when I purchased it. Usually you just pop the CD in make the selection to format and reinstall the OS and original software. Lots of work and time consuming, but as a last resort it is an option............and since we're getting all rain all weekend long here in Rhody could be a good weekend to do so.

BTW, I download and listen to some techie Podcasts related to PCs. There's one school of thought that it's a good idea to reinstall via the factory restore disk every year or so. Of course that advice is coming from some real geeks.

Good luck



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 06-24-2006).]

Tony, you have mail,
BEBOP

You could run "msconfig" to see what is auto-starting and then disable if required; Google for the filename of anything you don't recognise.

I use both adaware and spybot to zap spyware of this nature. Possiblty paranoid but it seems to work. I've not been unfortunate enough to get this one yet, however.

hey tony, might be quite radical, but just like stephenm52 said, i did the same. sometimes you can only erase everything by re-format the hard disk and reinstall windows and the other software you're using.
just make a back up, prepare half a day to spend with the computer and re do everything. i also discovered by doing this, i get rid of alot of unusuable things, trash that load my computer but i dont really need it! is funny how that happens!
good luck!

Hello Tony
1. Did you re-install all your anti-spy ware software and update it after you removed pest trap, as it is possible that when pest trap was removed it removed some of the files for your other anti-spy ware products.
2. Make sure you do a full disc scan so as to fix any errors.
3. Download the Windows anti-spy ware program, and use this as well, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...&displaylang=en also run the malicious software tool. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...&displaylang=en
Finally run the removal software again, or better still if you feel confident, remove it manually. (Only do this if you feel confident in editing the registry, and MAKE SURE you BACK IT UP FIRST)
Hope this helps.

Bill

Give this a read.

http://www.delphifaq.com/faq/windows_user/f1014.shtml

-mike

To all: ... thnx for all the suggestions, and keep 'em comin' ...
I've tried almost all the suggestions with the exception of re-installing Spybot, Ad-aware, etc., and of course re-format will only be the FINAL solution ... I will try re-installing and re-updating the spyware ...
I did the microsoft Beta 2, but not the Malware ... I'll try that also ...
As I said, it does not seem that the PC is affected but that pop-up is VERY annoying ..
t.