astridv: (Default)
astridv ([personal profile] astridv) wrote2004-11-14 11:18 pm

Oh joy, I caught a trojan

Congratulations, it's lop.com... *teethgrind*
My system is triple-protected: I use Norton, Ad Aware and ZoneAlarm and I update all the time... though to be fair, roomie had to disable ZoneAlarm briefly the other day... for, like, an hour, and I suspect it slipped through then.

Anyway, it's there, I hate it and everyone involved in its creation. Hatehatehateslimylowlife[snip]

If you're so lucky never to have heard of it: lop.com installs itself on your computer without asking and the latest version hides so you can't deinstall it, by constantly mutating, using random file names and other nasty little tricks. It hijacks your browser, redirecting it to cause traffic, and as a super bonus feature, it puts two big-ass tool bars in your explorer window.

I read that HijackThis can fix it... only from the sound of it you have to be nothing less than a computer science specialist to remove it successfully. So if no one hears from me for a while, it's because I lost my nerve and wiped the HD instead. (If I do that, can I make copies of all my movie, graphic, and text files and transfer them to the newly installed system? Or would there be a danger of infecting the system anew? I have no experience with these bugs.)

On one support site it says: "You can find plenty of information about it by doing a Google search for lop.com. Just be warned - some of the language used by lop victims will melt your monitor."

Anyone encountered this thing and managed to get rid of it? Please share.
ext_7287: (Default)

[identity profile] lakrids404.livejournal.com 2004-11-14 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I have just reformated and installed WinXp, Awast, Adaware, Zonearlarm. On a friends computer that was totally fucked up of hijacking spywares and virus. I tried to save if first, be when he told me, that he did nor have anything really important on it, was it so much easier to just start over.
It will probably not help you, but have you tried to install the Firefox browser, it have cut my amount of found spyware to a minimum.
ext_7287: (Default)

[identity profile] lakrids404.livejournal.com 2004-11-14 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Found a site with a program that says, that it can remove lop.com http://204.2.105.140/lop.htm . A google search (lop.com spyware), did also give other spyware removal sites. Good luck
ext_2027: (Default)

[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2004-11-14 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, that site looks promising. I'll look into it some more tomorrow... by now I'm ready to delete registry keys at random (have already started, actually) and no good can come out of this ;o). I've read about a dozen support threads, and they all say something different. The one thing that's safe to say is that it's incredibly hard to get rid of the thing. I really think it might just be easier to safe all my personal files on a data stick or portable hd, and re-format the system. (All those if step number one fails: bribing a friend into fixing it)

Yeah, I've already decided to switch to firefox asap... as soon as I can dl programs again - seems like good old lop won't let me, killkill. Also won't let me update my Norton. Not that Norton's any use...
ext_7287: (Default)

Ups!

[identity profile] lakrids404.livejournal.com 2004-11-15 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
It seems that Spyferret is also a spyware.
Found this link where, it's listed what spyware removers is unsafe.
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=26292&messageID=295034
ext_7287: (Default)

Re: Ups!

[identity profile] lakrids404.livejournal.com 2004-11-15 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
This sites seems to give fair advice on Spyware removers, and have list of trusted Spyware removers and protectors.
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#trustworthy
ext_2027: (Default)

Re: Ups!

[identity profile] astridv.livejournal.com 2004-11-15 09:33 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. These people are just lovable. I would have checked google for hints before downloading anything, can't be too careful.

I'm going for the cleen-sweap and re-install... I'm pretty sure it'll cost me less than half the time it would take to get rid of every single file of this bastard. Particularly since said bastard won't let me download any anti-spyware. I made backups of all my files today... all that's left is copy the mail folder somehow, then I'm going in ;). The system has been running for two years, it's not a bad idea to clean out the corners every once in a while. Friend of mine is doing it once a year.

If only it won't be such a pain to re-configure my ati card. Ah well.
ext_1771: Joe Flanigan looking A-Dorable. (Default)

[identity profile] monanotlisa.livejournal.com 2004-11-14 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, crap. And...uh, can't say I'm sorry, but I don't have it and therefore no clue...