IE is always open...

wtcnbrwndo4u · January 11th, 2007

IE is always open for my brother's laptop. There's a minimum of 2 instances of it running at all times, stealing a near 100MB sometimes from the 512MB of RAM. It also opens up an ad in IE whenever I startup Firefox, which leads me to think it's spyware, but I can't find any...

Any ideas?

Mithosphere · January 11th, 2007

can you end it in the processes window?
maybe try a fresh install of windows

RangerXLT8 · January 11th, 2007

Use Mozilla FireFox and never use IE again except to write articles in PHPCow(lol).

Is the popup asking you to set Defualt Browser? That might be the IE add popping up.

polobunny · January 11th, 2007

Most probably spyware, seen often on clients computers. If you close them thru task manager and they instantly re-appear it's definitely spyware.

Zambini · January 11th, 2007

try Bitdefender.com's online scan
You have to use IE though, Firefox won't give it access to your computer's files.

It's a comprehensive scan and I use it quite a bit

**stinger608** · January 11th, 2007

Na, just a typical laptop!!! Have him reformat, and install JUST windows without all the extra crap that came with the laptop!!!

Trust me, I just got a Dell Insprion and had the same crap all of the time!!!
Well, just reformatted, installed windows, and the drivers, and guess what, no BS to be had, just a clean OS and the drivers!!!

wtcnbrwndo4u · January 12th, 2007

Yeah, so I'm gonna run that scan Zambini. I was sure it was spyware, but was just wondering.

BTW, if I try to close all three instances, it instantly reappears. I've successfully shutdown all three ONCE! Anyways, to the scan!

EDIT: As for reformatting, it's not really an option right now. I just did it 3 weeks ago. And Stinger, I'm the Dell wiz ya know, so I know what's what.

I've also tried msconfig to see if it's in the boot services, but it's not.

yurimxpxman · January 12th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

IE is always open for my brother's laptop. There's a minimum of 2 instances of it running at all times, stealing a near 100MB sometimes from the 512MB of RAM. It also opens up an ad in IE whenever I startup Firefox, which leads me to think it's spyware, but I can't find any...

Any ideas?

It's definitely malware. Post a hijackthis log and run some scans.

wtcnbrwndo4u · January 12th, 2007

I posted the HijackThis log Yuri. I'll run a scan also.

wtcnbrwndo4u · January 12th, 2007

Ran AdAware. It deleted some 21 IE cookies. But it didn't solve anything. IE is still running twice, currently snagging 60MB combined.

Possibly a delete of IE7?

January 11th, 2007	#1
wtcnbrwndo4u Resident Brownie Join Date: May 2006 Location: KS Posts: 2,183	IE is always open... IE is always open for my brother's laptop. There's a minimum of 2 instances of it running at all times, stealing a near 100MB sometimes from the 512MB of RAM. It also opens up an ad in IE whenever I startup Firefox, which leads me to think it's spyware, but I can't find any... Any ideas? - Core 2 Quad Q6600 - DFI Infinity 975X - 4GB Corsair XMS2 w/ DHX DDR2-800 - 250GB Seagate 7200.10RPM + 160GB Hitachi 5400.4RPM - ATi Radeon X1900XT 256MB - Cooler Master Centurion 5 + OCZ StealthXStream 600W - Acer 19" P191W Monitor - Logitech Z-5500 Digital + Logitech MX Revolution - Vista Ultimate x64

January 11th, 2007	#2
Mithosphere Yeah, so are your pants! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cherry Capital of the World Posts: 564	Re: IE is always open... can you end it in the processes window? maybe try a fresh install of windows Pentium D 915\|EVGA 7050 mATX\|OCZ XTC 2GB\|XFX 7900GS XT\|Hyper Type-R 580W\|Qmicra 2 Case

January 11th, 2007	#3
RangerXLT8 Worker Ant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 942	Re: IE is always open... Use Mozilla FireFox and never use IE again except to write articles in PHPCow(lol). Is the popup asking you to set Defualt Browser? That might be the IE add popping up. Quad Core Xeon 3210@3.22ghz GA-EP35C-DS3R 460FSB x 7 -- 60mm Delta fan on NB 2x1gb OCZ3-1333@1380MHZ Sapphire 4870 512mb GDDR5 2x Raptor 150 ADFD RAID 0--WD320YS RE 16mb Storage Samsung Super WriteMaster 20x DVDRW X-Fi eXtremeGamer w\Logitech Z-2300 Silverstone OP650 54A 12v Rail @50C DamgerDen Torture Rack--MC-TDX--Black Ice GTX240--MCP355 Rev 2--Swiftech MicroRes-- Tygon 3603 3/8"ID Logitech G5 - Logitech LX-710 wireless KB Vista Ultimate 64

January 11th, 2007	#4
polobunny T-Rex Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,573 Blog Entries: 6	Re: IE is always open... Most probably spyware, seen often on clients computers. If you close them thru task manager and they instantly re-appear it's definitely spyware.

January 11th, 2007	#5
Zambini Lvl 1 College Student Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St. Mere du SantaCruz Posts: 1,919 Blog Entries: 1	Re: IE is always open... try Bitdefender.com's online scan You have to use IE though, Firefox won't give it access to your computer's files. It's a comprehensive scan and I use it quite a bit

January 11th, 2007	#6
stinger608 The Real Final Word Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the Zone! Posts: 2,541 Blog Entries: 1	Re: IE is always open... Na, just a typical laptop!!! Have him reformat, and install JUST windows without all the extra crap that came with the laptop!!! Trust me, I just got a Dell Insprion and had the same crap all of the time!!! Well, just reformatted, installed windows, and the drivers, and guess what, no BS to be had, just a clean OS and the drivers!!!

January 12th, 2007	#7
wtcnbrwndo4u Resident Brownie Join Date: May 2006 Location: KS Posts: 2,183	Re: IE is always open... Yeah, so I'm gonna run that scan Zambini. I was sure it was spyware, but was just wondering. BTW, if I try to close all three instances, it instantly reappears. I've successfully shutdown all three ONCE! Anyways, to the scan! EDIT: As for reformatting, it's not really an option right now. I just did it 3 weeks ago. And Stinger, I'm the Dell wiz ya know, so I know what's what. I've also tried msconfig to see if it's in the boot services, but it's not. - Core 2 Quad Q6600 - DFI Infinity 975X - 4GB Corsair XMS2 w/ DHX DDR2-800 - 250GB Seagate 7200.10RPM + 160GB Hitachi 5400.4RPM - ATi Radeon X1900XT 256MB - Cooler Master Centurion 5 + OCZ StealthXStream 600W - Acer 19" P191W Monitor - Logitech Z-5500 Digital + Logitech MX Revolution - Vista Ultimate x64 Last edited by wtcnbrwndo4u; January 12th, 2007 at 05:34.

January 12th, 2007	#9
wtcnbrwndo4u Resident Brownie Join Date: May 2006 Location: KS Posts: 2,183	Re: IE is always open... I posted the HijackThis log Yuri. I'll run a scan also. - Core 2 Quad Q6600 - DFI Infinity 975X - 4GB Corsair XMS2 w/ DHX DDR2-800 - 250GB Seagate 7200.10RPM + 160GB Hitachi 5400.4RPM - ATi Radeon X1900XT 256MB - Cooler Master Centurion 5 + OCZ StealthXStream 600W - Acer 19" P191W Monitor - Logitech Z-5500 Digital + Logitech MX Revolution - Vista Ultimate x64

January 12th, 2007	#10
wtcnbrwndo4u Resident Brownie Join Date: May 2006 Location: KS Posts: 2,183	Re: IE is always open... Ran AdAware. It deleted some 21 IE cookies. But it didn't solve anything. IE is still running twice, currently snagging 60MB combined. Possibly a delete of IE7? - Core 2 Quad Q6600 - DFI Infinity 975X - 4GB Corsair XMS2 w/ DHX DDR2-800 - 250GB Seagate 7200.10RPM + 160GB Hitachi 5400.4RPM - ATi Radeon X1900XT 256MB - Cooler Master Centurion 5 + OCZ StealthXStream 600W - Acer 19" P191W Monitor - Logitech Z-5500 Digital + Logitech MX Revolution - Vista Ultimate x64

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