I've got.......adware

[Hale]

Somehow some adware has found its way onto my system and is poping up browser pages periodically. I don't have the slightest idea where its hiding out. I haven't really looked too hard, but its not in my startup directory or my system tray. Its not tied to any particular application (explorer, outlook, etc) as it will pop up when nothing is running.

I'm running ME. I'd guess its living in the windows scheduler. How can I examine the scheduler under ME? When I was running 98 the scheduler lived in the system tray, but it doesn't seem to be there under ME.

Any other places I should look?

Thanks!

[Zorro]

Generally, the best place to look for programs that are running at startup is in the registry. Off the top of my head, the key structure is something like:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServices

Look in those keys and you might find the something that's causing your problems. I'm finding that more and more these days butthead web developers seems to think it's fine and dandy to put ActiveX controls on their sites that install crap you don't want... Like those Gator people... Man, I hate them... I wish IE gave you the option of distrusting all content from a specific publisher permanently...

[Hale]

I'll check it out tonight. Thanks!

[[AK]Bribo]

Hale,

Get this: http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10121984.html

It's called Ad-Aware. Freeware. Will search your system for known Spyware and eliminate it. I swear by this program.

[Hale]

Thanks for the adware help. I took a hatchet to my registry and downloaded the ad-aware program. Seems to have cleared up the infection.

[Wickhawk]

I second that Ad-aware program
Good stuff.