Alexa related...

[douglasjre]

My Spybot caught an item it calls "Alexa Realted." It was in directory c:\windows\web\related.htm

This came as no surprise to me as I caught a virus in my system yesterday. I deleted it, and my machine wouldn't boot last evening. I has to repair Windows XP. This worked well as I was able to avoid having to reinstall all the third party software.

Note: The virus that I caught yesterday was in directory c:\windows\web\virus name.extension The folder "web" still remains.

But, when I recovered, I reran Spybot, Stinger, Ad-Ware SE Personal and Norton Anti-Virus. My Spybot caught the above mentioned Alexa realted item. My Norton did not.

To the point: Should I be concerned that there are other creatures hiding in my system? What steps should I take in the future? Sould I delete the folder "web"?

[GlobalForce]

Howdy Douglas! ;D

If the virus is no longer an issue and you wish to deal with that Alexa item....mmmm, read all about it here (http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm). ;)
BTW, no need to delete that folder, as the above referenced will address the related.htm.

As far as being concerned, that's completely up to you. If you're interested....
this site (http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/main.htm) will provide a veritable wealth of information.

Beyond that....please feel welcome to "peruse" the forum.


GF

[bigbuck]

I've found 'alexa related' on new/clean/fresh installs. I'd say it's probably shipped with windows/IE.

[nadirah]

{QUOTE-> I've found 'alexa related' on new/clean/fresh installs. I'd say it's probably shipped with windows/IE. <-QUOTE}

It's in Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1.
Microsoft put this alexa thing in to spy on people maybe.
In XP SP2 this alexa thing seems to have ceased to exist.

[Jimbob1989]

{QUOTE-> I've found 'alexa related' on new/clean/fresh installs. I'd say it's probably shipped with windows/IE. <-QUOTE}

Yep, I found it on a clean install too.

Jimbob

[fred22]

i remove it whit NLite on a clean install(unattended install)
nlite is great utility, check it out 8)

[douglasjre]

Aaaah. Thanx guys. I see where Alexa came from. I got a pop up recently that offered google toolbar. That was offered when downloading DivX. I was downloading Divx cause it was supposedly required to view video. After loading DivX I found a virus. And, even though I declined the Google Toolbar, I still got the Alexa thing. I've since discarded DivX, the virus, Alexa, and repried Windows. No video is that important.