Spyware

[Jason1]

Okay so apparently my brother boots up the computer today and the desktop background says "Warning, spyware detected on your computer, click to see a list of top spyware removers"

And then there is some kind of probably bogus spyware program downloaded. So I Deleted the program, ran Adaware(Which did find an abundance of crap), and I also ran Spybot: Search and Destroy. Well everything seems back to normal except It still wont let me change that backgroud...I go into control panel to change the background, and it simply wont change. Any suggestions on this? Any other spyware programs that I could try? Or anything else I should do? I guess I could do a system restore from awhile back, but I really dont want to.

[Jonbo298]

Try MS Anti-Spyware also. It actually does a decent job detecting whats bad and what may be bad but doesnt have to be removed.

Other then that..maybe a system restore but make sure you go back a few days at least to be safe. not a 100% guarantee it'll work fine because spyware might've done the damage to where a sys restore can't fix it

[Bond]

This (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) is all you need.

[Jason1]

Okay, MS anti spyware did find a few things and deleted them, but im still had the problem. I noticed that when I right click on the desktop, select properties, it should take me to the display options, but it dosent. It simply pops up with the screenshot I have attached. I can still access the display options via the control panel, but still cant change the background
I went ahead and found that URL file, deleted it, reboted again, and now the background is simply white. When I do a search for that file it no longer shows up, but when I right click the desktop and hit properties, I get the same screen(the one in the attachment). Any ideas from here?

[Happydude]

ok, go to display properties where you change your desktop, then click on "customize desktop" below all the background choices. go to the "Web" tab and un-check anyhting you have checked there, then apply the setting or click "ok" can't remember which they have. go back to the background changing window and set your background to whatever you want...should be ok now.

[Jason1]

Bingo. That seemed to do it, thanks everyone.

[Jason1]

One question: How do I disable MS anti spyware from running every time I reboot the computer? Its annoying to have to exit out of it all the time. I cant seem to find the option within the program itself.

[Happydude]

well, you could go to 'Start > Run> msconfig' and find it in there somewhere under the "startup" tab.

but there is probably an easier option from within the program, i don't use it...so i wouldn't know.

sorry.

[KillerGremlin]

Worst case scenario, do a system restore. I swear, best thing in XP.