Getting rid of address bar ads?

[Say again s l o w l y]

Every time I go to type an address into explorer, I get a pop down, saying "welcome to Airline appointments." It's the same as typing in to get to a site I've already been to, autocomplete it's called I think.
I cannot for the life of me get rid if this and a couple of others that come up, even by deleting the history. I've been through windows help and I'm none the wiser.

Could anyone shed any light on this, preferably in words of one syllable or less.

Its a windows xp machine with whatever version of explorer came stuck in at the start.

Cheers in advance

[bughunta]

And you have made sure that "auto complete" is turned off? Tools->Internet Options->Content->Auto Complete, and so on. Although it sounds more like something that Ad-aware or Spy-bot would deal with maybe...

bug

[bughunta]

If the above doesn't help, try this (in Internet Explorer),

Tools->Internet Options->Settings->View Files->Edit->Select All->File->Delete->Yes

This empties the cache of all files and cookies that you don't really need. The ones that are helpful, such as allowing frequently visited pages to load a bit quicker, will soon be gathered again the first time you visit your regular pages.

Some cookies are not removed this way; you can't easily see them or remove them. They are often referred to as Spyware, and that's where Ad-aware or Spy-Bot come in...but that's for another day

peace

bug

[Say again s l o w l y]

Cheers for that Bug.

I've tried the second option (I do it regularily anyway after a friend who works for a marketing company told me what information they glean fom cookies and such.)

The first idea you had has stopped it popping down, but when I turn it back on, they are still there. I just don't like having anythingon the computer I didn't put there myself.(maybe a bit naive I know!)

Where can I get hold of spy-bot? Is it downloadable? I've got ad-aware on my machine and it doesn't seem to pick the problem up.(It is the free version tho')

Thanks again in advance

[bughunta]

Spybot is available from here (http://download.com.com/2001-20-0.html?legacy=cnet)

Search for "spybot", use the drop-down arrow to select "downloads", then "go",and you can have a good read about it for yourself. Click on "77%" or whatever the rating is, and select to view all positive, all negative, etc. reviews. Then download it anyway!

It's no more difficult to control than Ad-aware IMHO. BTW, you have checked for updates with Ad-aware have you?

I have both Ad-aware and Spybot on my desktop; no conflicts, no probs at all.

Tip. Before scanning with either, empty cache (as you said you do), otherwise you can go down the pub for a couple and return before they finish due to the pointless checking of Temporary Internet Files which you delete regularly with impunity anyway.

Still there? (the problem that is, not you) Well another avenue to go down might be; Start->Settings->Control Panel->Add/Remove Programmes. Have a snoop around; top of the list will probably be Ad-aware 6, adobe, etc, etc. Scroll down; if in doubt leave it there, but it should be easy to spot any offensive programmes that have esconced themselves in your HD.

Let me know

bug

[Say again s l o w l y]

Hi again Bug,

I've tried both spybot and adaware, whilst spybot came up with a few things, it hasn't solved it yet.

I had a look through the ad/remove programs and apart from some files called Windows XP hotfix it all seems pretty standard in there.(as far as I can tell anyway!)

It all still keeps coming back up if I put the autocomplete back on. It's not the end of the world I know, but it is bloody annoying! :mad: :mad:

Cheers tho'

[bughunta]

Hmmmm. Before you turned off autocomplete did you try click the Clear forms/passwords option?

And I guess you have also clicked Clear History at the bottom of Internet Options page?

If all else fails, and it matters still, how about going to www.airlineappointments.com and seeing if there is an option to remove it, or ask them to?

bug

[Say again s l o w l y]

Hi again Bug,

It looks like it may come down to contacting them. One question though, what are the certificates for?? I have alot of them, but I don't want to get rid of any unless I know what they do. Could this have anything to do with it??

Thanks again.

[fobotcso]

S a S, what you have done should have got rid of this nuisance so it is clear that something is refreshing the Registry Key(s) in which the information is stored. They are:

Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Typed URLs

and the associated Key in "Users".

There's no point in suggesting that you edit The Registry even if you were willing and able to do so because that is effectively what you do more safely when you Change the settings in Internet Properties.

Can you see anything running in the background in Task Manager? This is where those sneaky little AutoUpdate programs for Windows, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, RealPlayer etc can be spotted.

Right-Click the Taskbar, left click on Task Manager and look at "Processes". They look daunting at first but when you do this often enough you get used to what looks normal and can often spot the odd one out. Clean WinXP will have about 25-28 Processes running. With a few Plug-ins included, (McAfee, ZoneAlarm, etc) you get up to about 34-35.

After a "Clear History" purge have you tried going through the alphabet? After the www. start with "a", then "b", then "c" etc and see if there is anything else that has crept back into the "Typed URLs" Key. Maybe a clue as to the program that is doing the mischief.

Finally, you do have a strong Firewall, haven't you?:uhoh:

[Say again s l o w l y]

Hmmm, I seem to have 43 processes running at the moment. There are a few I don't recognise, but to be honest that isn't saying much!

I tried the going through the alphabet bit and google was another one that keeps coming up despite have deleted all temporary files.

The firewall is the one that came with XP, so it probably isn't much cop. I'd better get a decent one I suppose.

Of the processes running they seem to split into. System ones, ones with my profile name next to them and local service ones. Is this normal??

Thanks for the help guys. I'm learning quite alot as it is.:ok:

[fobotcso]

S a S it's amazing how much I learn just trying to figure out solutions to problems remotely. If it can help, great!

Now, with 43 processes it does seem possible that your PC is playing host to programs that you didn't invite.

For example, here is the list of the 33 processes running now on the Sony laptop (Picturebook) beside me with XP Pro. It's on a LAN and that's all.

Basic 19 processes: ati2evxx.exe and atiptaxx.exe for the screen, csrss.exe, explorer.exe, lsacc.exe, ltmmsg.exe, pcfmgr.exe, services.exe, smss.exe, spoolsv.exe, svchost.exe (five times), system, system idle process.exe, taskmgr.exe and winlogon.exe. (Taskmgr.exe is, of course, the process for task Manager itself and isn't running unless Task Manager is open).

For McAfee 3 Processes; For ZoneAlarm 4 Processes; For WiFi and Bluetooth 2 Processes and for Sony specials (Camera, jogdial etc) there are 5 Processes.

If you can't justify any processes, write down the name of the file(s) that is(are) running and go to Windows explorer and search. When you find their location you will either accept that they are OK or not. Sometimes the name of a file doesn't give any indication of what its function is.

I personally disable any automatic update processes for Windows, McAfee and Zonealarm etc because I wan't to decide when these things take place. So in my list you won't see rulaunch.exe, waulaunch.exe etc.

I hope this has given you something to work on; good luck.

[bughunta]

S.A.S

Did you ever get rid of the problem?

bug

[Say again s l o w l y]

Sorry about the delay in replying.

Yep all sorted. There were a few nastys lurking, but with all your help and the help of a mate in I.T they've all been identified and banished. The computer is running alot better as well!!

Thanks for everybody's help.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Say again s l o w l y,

I am glad to hear you are all set. If you have a friend in IT, you might try to talk him in to doing a fresh install of your OS for you.

There is nothing better for a computer than a fresh install.

Take Care,

Richard