Computer Causing Advertising Problems

[twinkissed]

I hope this is the right forum for this. I wanted to share this incase anyone else runs into the same problem. I wanted to advertise with Google Adwords and Yahoo but everytime I went to the site I got a page not found. I could get there using my mother's computer and could go to pretty much any other site. I didn't get it. So, I did a lot of study and google searches to find the possible problem and here is what it was...

I had downloaded a program that would block harmful websites with scumware etc. For some reason Adwords and Overture are listed. It blocks them in your hosts file. So what I did is I resaved a copy of my hosts file to a .txt file and deleted the Adwords and Overture ones. Then I resaved the hosts file as the proper format. I also make sure it is then turned onto read only so no scumware or viruses can change your host file.

Anyways, I have had so many issues with my computer and I learn through all of them. I figure a lot of people on here may be interested in advertising with those companies and may run into the same problem I did so I wanted to share the info.

Hope it helps someone

[Gary Richardson]

Hi Twinkissed,

An easier way to edit your hosts file is to use Hoster available here it allows you to edit your Hosts file in many ways, including on a line by line basis. It also allows you to Write protect your Hosts file, and a whole lot more.

[twinkissed]

Thanks Gary. That will come in very handy.

[Kraellin]

I had downloaded a program that would block harmful websites with scumware etc.

so, what is the program?

Craig

[Doug Nelson]

My brother asked me for a recommendation for a good spyware removal program. I recommended Ad Aware, which he Googled, found, and installed. And it infected his entire workplace with adware. It turns out he found a trojan program called Ada Ware. So now when anyone asks, I point them to the lavasoft.com website instead of giving them the name.

[twinkissed]

Originally Posted by Kraellin

so, what is the program?

Craig

Eek, you know there have been so many on this computer because I had a bad scumware infection once where it took almost 7 programs to remove all of it. I think it was Spy Doctor or something. I'll try to find it and let you know.

[Kraellin]

TK,

it's ok. i'm aware of adaware, spybot search and destroy, hijackthis and a few others. i was just curious.

Craig

[Gary Richardson]

Probably Spyware Doctor by PC Tools, one of the best.

Even the best Automatic tools though will only remove about 70% of known Malware. For those with problems not solved by such tools, try one of the help forums.

http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php (I help out there)
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?act=idx
http://castlecops.com/forums.html
http://forum.malwareremoval.com (A training Forum, I trained there, but also removes Malware for victims of such).

[winwintoo]

teeeeheeeee

I have adware and spyware blockers on my computer all in one program - it's called OS 10.4.2 - a.ka. Tiger!!

Take care, Margaret

[Gary Richardson]

True, there are a good deal fewer Malwares for Macs, but they are by no means non-existant, and much harder to get rid of, as fewer people have experience of removing them.

Best defence is to browse sensibly. Hope you remain safe.

Gary

[Robt]

This hit the net on Halloween. You can bet its going to cause some interesting action. Malwareby the huge Corperations