Greetings, harryg!
Thanks to Researcher Feilong for the endorsement! However, this
parasite is slightly different than those on which I have previously
Answered Questions.
I have found DoxDesk ( http://www.doxdesk.com ) to be an excellent
source of information for identifying and eradicating evil scumware
(adware and spyware).
They have a great page describing your particular problem -- Qual
Net's SubSearch -- and its solutions:
"Description
SubSearch is an Internet Explorer Browser Helper Object. It detects
when you are using a search engine, and opens its own 'enhanced
results' sidebar containing paid links. This is styled to look a bit
like the search engine you are using at the time...
Removal
There is no uninstall feature. Spybot update 2003-04-28 can remove
SubSearch.
Manual removal..."
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/SubSearch.html
While you **can** follow their directions for manual removal, messing
with .dll files and Registry entries can be very tricky, so I
recommend instead that you download the free Spybot Search and Destroy
scumware detecting and disabling software. They just released the
newest version on Monday (April 28), and it includes a fix for
SubSearch.
"2003-04-28
Hijacker
++ 17plus
++ CnsMin.EasyService
++ EZ-Searching
++ HotAndSexy
++ GlobalWebSearch
++ Grokster.Mayan
++ SexOcean
++ SuperSpider
++ TopSearcher
++ Unknown + I-Lookup + RapidBlaster
+ SexArena + ShopNav + SubSearch"
You can either download and install the new version:
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.2
(donorware - free, but you can donate if you wish)
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
or start Spybot and click "Search for Updates" (I think that this
option is much easier and quicker).
I also recommend that you download Lavasoft's AdAware software as
well. It is not identical to Spybot, and the two programs complement
each other well for protection. I and many other Researchers use both
to keep our systems clean.
AdAware Standard 6.0
(freeware)
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
Before Rating my Answer, if you have any questions about this
information, please post a Request for Clarification.
I hope that this Answer provides exactly the information that you
needed!
Regards,
aceresearcher |
Request for Answer Clarification by
harryg-ga
on
01 May 2003 20:29 PDT
Dear Aceresearcher.
Bravo. After discovering my home home-brew fix (turning off the
"enable third party browser extensions) I continued to look for ways
of getting at the underlying problem.
Your answer was ... the answer. First I went to doxdesk, found its
"parasite detection" page which told me I had parasites and which
ones. I searched for them, found some, deleted what could be deleted,
but that did not solve the problem.
You recommended Spybot which I had already run, downloading the newest
version from their website. BUT, I had not checked for "updates." I
did that, got two new updates, ran Spybot again and ... presto, zingo,
the problem is gone.
I now have "enable third party browser extensions" enabled, and no
stupid adware window in my google search results screen. Hooray.
Many thanks.
Harryg
|
