I cant STAND IT ANYMORE

[Rox]

Bloody Claria/Gain/Dashbar/Presion Time etc etc etc.

I keep deleting them (via Ad-aware and Spybot) and they keep installing themselves.

I have Google's pop-up toolbar, but that doesn't stop them.

Can anyone help me??? What I want is a way to BLOCK Gain, etc, from coming back onto my computer.

thanks in advance,
signed tearing my hair out.

[Duxxy]

aww Rox I feel your pain!! I can't help you, sorry. When I get the popup I say no and it doesn't install. I run adaware about every second day to make sure I dont have any spyware.

[John]

First off, go into your browser's advanced options and turn off all the "automatic" stuff, and make it "ask first". Then just answer "no" whenever something wants to install that you don't explicitly want installed.

[Rox]

Thank you John, I'll do that right away.

[Rox]

Just thought I'd give y'all a good laugh.

I wrote the most eloquent letter (in my frustration) and decided I really needed to share it with you. Feel free to copy and use it at your own free will.
BTW ~ I used to get very high marks on my business letter writing back in the day when I attended school.

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
From: "_-------------------"
Subject: feedback question
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2004 18:31:59 +0000

------------------(me.m@shaw.ca) writes:

I HATE YOUR PRODUCTS and I am SICK TO DEATH of your products installing
themselves back onto my computer.
I am going to make it my lifes work to find a way to block your ANNOYING
products from ever coming back onto my computer.

I HATE YOUR EVERYTHING.









++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++


what surprises me the most is.. someone actually REPLIED! BWAHAHAHA

------------,

What steps are you taking to uninstall?

Do you have any GAIN supported applications installed?

To view a list of products that are part of the GAIN Network and installed
on the computer you are currently using, you can go to:

http://webpdp.gator.com/gain/51/about-gain-01.html

Alternately, you can also view a list of products that are part of the
GAIN Network and installed on the computer by clicking on the Windows
Start button, selecting Programs, **GAIN Publishing, and then About GAIN
Publishing.

When the About GAIN window opens, click on the What is GAIN tab, and then
on the link for displaying a **list of GAIN supported products to see a
list of GAIN supported applications that are detected as being installed.

** Wording may be slightly different depending on which version of GAIN
you have.

Tina

[John]

"If you'd like to find out which GAIN products are installed on your computer, please download our handy GAINfinder application."

[speedbump]

Hi Rox, I ran into some of the same problems you did. I did several things and now I am spyware and trojan free.

1. ctr+alt+del, bring up everything that's running in your task menu, write them down. Don't delete anything, just close out the window when done writing.

Check out www.answersthatwork.com or www.windowsstartup.com for the definition of each of those programs running. It will help you determine whats needed and whats spyware (and also tell you how to get rid of it). You might also find that some of the programs running are actually viruses that were undectable to your anti-virus program.

2. Try downloading Spybot Search & Destroy which will get rid of any spyware programs that are detected.

I also use Zone Alarm (free version) which block incoming hacks and attempts. You can choose which programs are granted access to and from the internet. (recommended if you have DSL or Broadband)

I also use www.computing.net. You can search for questions and ask questions regarding your operating system.

If you have Kazaa or any share (P2P) program, get rid of it. Kazaa is notorious for spyware and alot of the files that are being shared either contain viruses or spyware.

Hope this helps lead you in the right direction. I'm no computer wizard by any means, but I found the above steps and websites help keep my computer running smoothly and spyware free.


***for free download programs, check out www.download.com

[senrik]

A few wise ass answers (I have to get them out of the way, due to my Lan Admin hat)
1. Don't install it in the first place. I know for a fact that you have to press a button to install Gain. I have never had it on my home machine nor any of my work machines.

2. Go to linux. Gain doesn't infect Linux.

OK a few real answers.

trust only software that doesn't include spyware.
Uninstall software, then go into the registry, Hkey_Local Machine->software-> Microsoft->WIndows->current Version -> Run ..... Clear out anything fishy.

Reboot.