[SGVLUG] Need help with clearing popups from windows system

[jmd]

On Sep 4, 2006, at 10:17 AM, Emerson, Tom wrote:

> This is ironic -- I've been so engrossed in linux and such, that now
> when someone asks about a windows system I'm as much in the dark as  
> most
> call center workers in india... ;)

i am in the same boat with my sons computer when he needs help.
>
> Seriously, though, my mother has run into a problem with an annoying
> popup.  All the off-the-shelf tools (and windows-oriented rootkit
> eradicators) "don't find a problem", yet popups are still occuring.  I
> took things a step further than these tools and tossed ethereal on the
> system and watched what happened.

i read recently (maybe slashdot) that the standard virus scans and  
adware tools are loosing ground. many newer trojans and virus are  
going undetected in windows systems. my son uses both ad-aware and  
mcafee and has pretty good luck so far.

here is a link that might be helpful:

http://www.its.caltech.edu/its/security/users/windows_messenger.shtml

jeff