OT: AdShield - way to block those boxes that want to install a toolbar or search bar?

  • Thread starter Thread starter fitwell
  • Start date Start date
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fitwell

I've looked and looked and went to many AdShield links but can't find
anything re blocking this type of thing. Darn those search bars that
want to be loaded automatically. Even when you say NO sometimes they
get installed anyway (thank goodness for HijackThis!).

Even putting in the source URL doesn't seem to do any good. I'm
guessing because it's probably using same "path" or method that
legitimate downloads do. But is there a way around this?

Thanks all. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to.
It'll be wonderful if I can fix it so that even this type of thing can
be blocked.
 
fitwell said:
I've looked and looked and went to many AdShield links but can't find
anything re blocking this type of thing. Darn those search bars that
want to be loaded automatically. Even when you say NO sometimes they
get installed anyway (thank goodness for HijackThis!).
Click to expand...

Install Spybot Search & Destroy and update to the latest reference file:
http://www.safer-networking.org/

Click on "Immunize" and install the "browser helper to block bad downloads."


Also install SpywareBlaster and update to the latest database:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
 
fitwell said:
I've looked and looked and went to many AdShield links but can't find
anything re blocking this type of thing. Darn those search bars that
want to be loaded automatically. Even when you say NO sometimes they
get installed anyway (thank goodness for HijackThis!).

Even putting in the source URL doesn't seem to do any good. I'm
guessing because it's probably using same "path" or method that
legitimate downloads do. But is there a way around this?

Thanks all. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to.
It'll be wonderful if I can fix it so that even this type of thing can
be blocked.
Click to expand...

A frequently updated IE-SPYAD will stop the nasties from installing their
stuff and a good HOSTS file will stop them from even displaying their pages.

IE-SPYAD:
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm#IESPYAD

HOSTS file forum in the Other section and download:
http://membres.lycos.fr/proxoforum/forums/

Direct download:
http://webpages.charter.net/hpguru/hosts/hosts.html
 
I've looked and looked and went to many AdShield links but can't find
anything re blocking this type of thing. Darn those search bars that
want to be loaded automatically. Even when you say NO sometimes they
get installed anyway (thank goodness for HijackThis!).

Thanks all. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to.
It'll be wonderful if I can fix it so that even this type of thing can
be blocked.
Click to expand...

Besides all the other ideas in the other posts, nothing beats securing your
browser settings.

Turn off activex, will stop most of these tricks cold. The other methods
iespyad, spywareblaster, spybot immunization, etc etc will work but only if
they are in the database/file/ etc.

Go to tools---> internet options----> internet zone.

Under Activex controls and plugins, disenable or set to prompt







Aaron (my email is not munged!)
 
Thanks, Aaron!

Will this impact adversely on normal browsing in any way that I should
be aware of?
Click to expand...

A few sites will require activex of course. The most common ones are
online virus scans, and windows update. For such sites that you trust,
you should put them in your trusted zone.



Aaron (my email is not munged!)
 
Besides all the other ideas in the other posts, nothing beats securing your
browser settings.

Turn off activex, will stop most of these tricks cold. The other methods
iespyad, spywareblaster, spybot immunization, etc etc will work but only if
they are in the database/file/ etc.

Go to tools---> internet options----> internet zone.

Under Activex controls and plugins, disenable or set to prompt
Click to expand...

Thanks, Aaron!

Will this impact adversely on normal browsing in any way that I should
be aware of?
 
A few sites will require activex of course. The most common ones are
online virus scans, and windows update. For such sites that you trust,
you should put them in your trusted zone.
Click to expand...

Thanks. This is something I've meant to learn more about, perhaps
this is perfect opportunity to do so.

Cheers!
 
Install Spybot Search & Destroy and update to the latest reference file:
http://www.safer-networking.org/

Click on "Immunize" and install the "browser helper to block bad downloads."
Click to expand...
Installing Spybots S&D is a alway good idea but to stop the search bar
you can go to Internet Options > Advanced and uncheck the Enable
third-party browser extensions.
 
Installing Spybots S&D is a alway good idea but to stop the search bar
you can go to Internet Options > Advanced and uncheck the Enable
third-party browser extensions.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I actually find HijackThis a great way to see directly what has been
installed. You get a pretty good idea of what is desirable/normal by
periodic monitoring of what is installed in your registry that
HijackThis shows you. After both Ad-Aware and Spybot didn't catch a
toolbar that this one did, I tend to place more faith in this little
app than in the others now.

p.s., there's also a forum for when you're not sure. You post the log
contents of HijackThis and the "experts" in that forum can help you
determine what to remove. HijackThis has that option, you see.

If anyone needs info re this app, pls advise and I'll re-post app and
forum info.

Cheers!
 
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