Adware help

[cxoli]

Today, shortly after I started up my computer and opened up Internet Explorer, this thing came up saying, "Thank you for choosing to install eZula!" I scanned the computer for viruses, and it identified it as Adware but said it couldn't be deleted. I managed to uninstall it, but some of the files (the .dll ones) are still there.

As far as I can tell, it's not really causing any major problems. After I unistalled it, ads stopped popping up. However, my avatar is being shown as an ad, as are the avatars of some others (Rygon and Hellwolf_36 are the only other ones I've noticed). Also, it seems there was some other program that was also installed (Lycos something or other; it makes certain words appear as links and you can supposedly get more information on it if you click them), and I uninstalled it, but it still seems to be in effect.

Anyway, if someone could tell me how to get rid of this problem completely, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ^_^

[CuStOm-OwNaGe]

www.download.com

search for ad aware... it works wonders...

also while ur there get Spybot Search and Destroy... all u need

[cxoli]

I downloaded Ad-Aware 6.0, and deleted all the adware stuff it found, but I still seem to be having problems. Now, evern more peoples' avatars are showing up as ads, and every once in a while a window pops open with a random site. Any other suggestions as to what I can do to get rid of this?

[x42bn6]

Using IE? Repair IE via Add/Remove programs.

[Lights]

Use Mozilla.

[Theroy]

Avatars are showing up as ad's?

[dice5_5]

What kind of ads are they?
...just curious.

[Crookedfoot]

I thought adware that substituted pictures or banners on a site was illegal..

Oh wait, I forgot this is the internet.

You may have something that piggybacked in with another download/installation.
You may to consider uninstalling whatever freeware or whatever you may have installed recently, and not reinstalling it if it is the culprate.

Check your startup listings in msconfig and see if something strange loads on startup, that may also help you figure out what to get rid of.

[cxoli]

Using IE? Repair IE via Add/Remove programs.

I did. The ads are still showing up.

Avatars are showing up as ad's?

Yes, even more are now (ie the avatars of Cortalos, Summitalos, and various other people).

What kind of ads are they?

They're ads for programs to detect and delete spyware and adware -_-;;

You may have something that piggybacked in with another download/installation.
You may to consider uninstalling whatever freeware or whatever you may have installed recently, and not reinstalling it if it is the culprate.

Check your startup listings in msconfig and see if something strange loads on startup, that may also help you figure out what to get rid of.

I already uninstalled the programs (eZula and Lysoc SideSearch). I haven't noticed anything strange loading on startup. All I am noticing (still) are the ads and popups, and the Lycos SideSearch thing still makes certain words into links for "more information,"
even though I uninstalled it.

Any other suggestions? Keep in mind the fact that I usually use my Mac at home and don't have any of these problems, so I really have no idea what I'm doing -_-;;

[Crookedfoot]

On the pics that load in place of avatars.. can you right click on them to see their properties and get a common file name, or web site for their source?

I'm grasping at straws, but maybe doing that will help get an idea of the source program.

Whatever it is, it would have to be loading on startup, maybe turn off one thing, restart, if they come up, turn it back on, turn something else off and restart until you figure out which program it is.
If that works, you should be able to hunt down the program from there.

[cxoli]

I don't know what happened exactly, but the problem seems to be fixed now. Avatars are looking like they should, and I haven't really had much trouble with pop-ups any more. I think the problem was with that eZula program.

Anyway, thanks for the help, guys ^_^