AOL & 'Viewpoint'

Discussion in 'privacy problems' started by guitarelf, Oct 16, 2006.

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  1. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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. :doubt:
     
  2. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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  3. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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:
     
  4. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    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.
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2006
  5. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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):)
     
  7. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    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.
     
  8. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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

    ronjor Global Moderator

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  10. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    Never had to do this before. Could you walk me through this step by step please.
    Nigel. :doubt: :)
     
  11. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    The link has all the instructions you need. :thumb:
     
  12. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    I did a little searching and found this.
    http://edeldoug.blogs.com/thoughts_rants_raves_and_/2006/03/aols_forced_ins
     
  13. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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:
     
  14. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    Using precision guesswork, I would have to say I don't know. :blink: :D
     
  15. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2006
  16. Bubba

    Bubba Updates Team

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    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---> https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=860136#post860136
     
  17. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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):doubt: :)
     
  19. snowbound

    snowbound Retired Moderator

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    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
     
  20. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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):doubt: :)
     
  21. snowbound

    snowbound Retired Moderator

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    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
     
  22. guitarelf

    guitarelf Registered Member

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    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:
     
  23. cheater87

    cheater87 Registered Member

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    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
     
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