I started up my computer this morning and it started going haywire on me, roughly a million windows popped up (advertisements of course) and before i could alt+f4 my way out of it, around 9 adware programs got installed on my computer (and still counting) http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

i already removed several, virtualbouncer, freescratchcards, some lycos thing, free travel coupons, ad delivery 180, a bunch of shit, anyways, i ran both ad aware and spybot a few times and they're not catching any more spyware/adware, but for some reason, my internet explorer isnt running well... as soon as i open it, my cpu usage jumps to 98% for about 1 minute, then things open, i cant run spybot anymore without it crashing, when i minimize windows they dont like to restore (they just flash orange on the toolbar) http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif help me please!! i'm running windows XP professional

SHIT i cant acess my Internet Options, it says "this operation has been cancelled due to the restrictions in effect on this computer" ?!?!?!?!? help quick please...

okay, i managed to open internet options from the control panel but the part that has my homepage adress is grayed out and i cant change it http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif its set to some ad site

help me asap please!!

www.download.com (http://www.download.com)
do a search for lavasoft ad aware and spybot search and destroy...

Yeah those are the two best free programs out there to kill spyware

you guys probably didnt read the first post all the way, i already used both programs

hey bro check your emails I sent you spyhunter http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

I use netscape...completely eliminates popups and all that garbage i used to get with IE. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

I use Spyware NUKER...$20 for the good stuff and it updates online every time you run a scan.

hey pogue where can i find spyware nuker? my friends pc is getting the same thing along with IE shutting down and wanting to send error reports all the time. any help is greatly appreciated!

Get google's pop-up blocker. Haven't had a pop-up since. Spy-bot works, haven't tried spyhunter. (hint for MPD) http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif

weird, I dont get much spyware.

Then again, I use Avant Browser and have block pop ups on and disable java scripting, and have pest patrol running in the back ground which controls my cookies ( settable for selective browsing habbits )

ad muncher is nice to have also http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

There is a setting in SpyBot that locks your homepage. It will appear grayed out as you say. Maybe one of the spyware programs was able to switch your homepage and that setting when it installed itself. I used to always have to open the internet then go to favorites and go to my homepage. It took me forever to figure it out. Look through the options and you'll find the setting.