AOL & 'Viewpoint'

[guitarelf]

Had to reinstall AOL9 recently & am now plagued by Viewpoint. As soon as I remove all the entries (with XOFTSPY SE) it's often back on my laptop within minutes. Which component of AOL 'phones home' to put this pest on my machine & is it possible to safely disable it...& how would I do that??!! ;) :)
Guitarelf. :-\

[ronjor]

Can you uninstall Veiwpoint with these instructions? http://www.viewpoint.com/installer/v4/html/vmp_faq.html#q7

[guitarelf]

Yes I can. Thank you very much ronjor. For future reference, is it possible to block Viewpoint with Comodo Firewall? I always managed to keep it at bay when I ran ZAPro.
Nigel (Guitarelf) :) :thumb:

[ronjor]

Hello Nigel

Glad you got it fixed. I don't know the answer to the Comodo question. Maybe a Comodo user could help you out in the firewalls forum.

[guitarelf]

Many thanks, I'll give that a try.
Nigel (Guitarelf) :) :thumb:

[guitarelf]

Ron, back to you for a little more advice. Followed the removal instructions for 'Viewpoint', but it did not appear in the 'Change or Remove' list. However, it IS in program files on Local Disc (C) Can it be removed safely from there, if so, how do I go about it? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill & should I just configure XOFTSpy SE to ignore it....at the moment it picks up 104 references to it every day, after 'removal' every day!
Nigel (Guitarelf):)

[ronjor]

Right click on the folder Viewpoint and rename it Viewpoint.old. Windows will no longer be able to find it. If you don't have any problems after the rename, I would delete the folder.

[guitarelf]

Just tried that, got a message telling me that Viewpoint cannot be renamed, access denied. Tricky little blighter isn't it!!
Nigel. ;) :)

[ronjor]

Post a log at this site to see if there is something on your system that shouldn't be there Nigel.

http://bfccomputerhelp.com/index.php?showtopic=323

[guitarelf]

Never had to do this before. Could you walk me through this step by step please.
Nigel. :-\ :)

[ronjor]

The link (http://bfccomputerhelp.com/index.php?showtopic=323) has all the instructions you need. :thumb:

[ronjor]

I did a little searching and found this.
{QUOTE-> Open AOL and go to "help" on the toolbar. Select "About AOL". Next is the SECRET STEP. You must then press "CTRL+D" to access a "secret" panel to disable all of the desktop and IM fancy features that are associated with viewpoint. This is the only way to prevent AOL from re-installing Viewpoint at AOL startup. <-QUOTE}http://edeldoug.blogs.com/thoughts_rants_raves_and_/2006/03/aols_forced_ins

[guitarelf]

Wow, that looks interesting!! Just before I give that a try, I also noticed that along with the myriad Viewpoint entries in XOFTSpy SE, there is a single reference to KaZaa Lite that keeps turning up. Also, in SpywareBlaster, 'Gator' keeps getting unchecked in the IE section. None of my other spyware apps (Spybot, SuperAntiSpyware, Ad-Aware SE, Ewido, AOL Spyware & Windows Defender) finds any of this stuff. I do have a basic idea about 'false positives'....could that be going on here?
Really appreciate your patience & speedy replies,
Nigel. :) :thumb:

[ronjor]

{QUOTE-> could that be going on here? <-QUOTE}
Using precision guesswork, I would have to say I don't know. :blink: :D

[guitarelf]

OK, I've turned off all five 'enhanced' features in AOL. I assume that all five had to go??!! I'll scan again with XOFTSpy & report back asap. I'm actually enjoying this....my laptop/digital photography/keeping in touch with friends & family all over the world is an important part of my retirement, so keeping everything sweet 'n' clean is very important. I'm most grateful for your time & expertise!
Nigel. ;D :thumb:

Just completed the scan & its absolutely clean (I signed off & back on to AOL to give them a fighting chance!). Looks like this one's totally sorted. Ron, you're a star. Thank you very much indeed.
Nigel.

[Bubba]

{QUOTE-> Also, in SpywareBlaster, 'Gator' keeps getting unchecked in the IE section. <-QUOTE}There is a recent thread in the Spywareblaster Forum where a member also was using XOFTSpy and certain entries were becoming un-checked in Spywareblaster after an XOFTSpy scan. It seems XOFTSpy is Falsely flagging a valid Gator entry among a few other entries that Spywareblaster places in the registry for IE protection.

This thread---> http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=860136#post860136

[guitarelf]

Thanks Bubba, another mystery solved! Don't know what I'd do without all you brilliant people at Wilders!
Nigel (Guitarelf) :thumb: ;D

[guitarelf]

What bothers me about a HJT scan is that I won't understand how to perform the subsequent fix (if one is needed). Everything I've read here & elsewhere comes across as complicated/advanced stuff that is way out of my knowledge & experience (I still get excited sending & receiving emails!) I found some very useful info at www.nellie2.co.uk which would help me download, extract & run HJT, but it's what comes next that's the problem!
Nigel (Guitarelf):-\ :)

[snowbound]

{QUOTE-> What bothers me about a HJT scan is that I won't understand how to perform the subsequent fix (if one is needed). Everything I've read here & elsewhere comes across as complicated/advanced stuff that is way out of my knowledge & experience (I still get excited sending & receiving emails!) I found some very useful info at www.nellie2.co.uk which would help me download, extract & run HJT, but it's what comes next that's the problem!
Nigel (Guitarelf):-\ :) <-QUOTE}
It is best never to attempt a fix check in HJT yourself. If u think u need help with a HJT log it is best to post one at say, the link ronjor supplied above and let the experts there guide u through any malware removal.



snowbound

[guitarelf]

Snowbound, this is going to sound really stupid, but its the 'guided fix' which scares the hell out of me! As for attempting it on my own....NEVER!! :)
Assuming there could be a problem, aren't there any reliable, sensibly priced online fixes where you can 'hand your machine over' to a pro & watch it being fixed on screen?
Nigel (Guitarelf):-\ :)

[snowbound]

Still the best way i know of for online malware removal help is HJT. With expert supervision of course. ;) ;D

I'll admit the first time i used HJT it was a little nerve wracking even with what i considered the best expert help around. ;D



snowbound

[guitarelf]

Appreciate the reply, snowbound. I'll need to think long & hard about this & see if I can screw up sufficient courage to do the scan & cope with any possible followup. If I do, you'll be amongst the first to know!;D
Nigel (Guitarelf):thumb:

[cheater87]

this is why i never install AOL oh and it was on my laptop i uninstalled it and blocked it with zone alarm personal firewall