Spybot S&D still functioning?

Hi All,

Is anyone having problems with Spybot S&D 1.4? I cannot download any updates. The web site run by the guy who developed Spybot no longer appears to be there.

 

They update Spyboy periodically, if your having problems updating Spybot, click on the drop down arrow and choose a different server. Most of the times when this happens it means the servers are so busy they can't process fast enough. If you still can't update, you can download the manual updates.

See this site for a list of updates:
http://safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Spybot S&D Manual Updates

 

Thanks for the reply. The safer networking link does not work - I get a "cannot find the server" message. However, your other link did work and I now have Spybot updated to 27 October. When I click the 'Search for updates' link in Spybot it produces a message box "Error retrieving update info file!. Socket Error #11001. Host not found". What does this mean? Also if I click on 'Help' then 'Home Page' it also produces a 'cannot find server' message for http://www.spybot.info/. I also have the same problem if I try to access http://www.safer-networking.org/. is it my computer which is the problem?

 

As a precaution I would like you to run the below.

Please download HOSTER and then follow the below steps.

• Unzip HOSTER to a convenient folder such as C:\Hoster

• Run Hoster.exe, click Restore Original Hosts and then click OK.

• Click the X to exit the program.

Once you have done this, try once more to access my first link. It's a valid link as it works fine for me.

 

Hi once again. I downloaded Hoster and clicked on 'Restore Microsoft's Original Hosts File' in the 'Backup & Restore Tools box. I clicked OK and exited. But I still cannot access Safer-Networking and still get the same message when using Spybot's update function. From Google I tried accessing: http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=4 but again 'cannot find server' appears. I see from Hoster there is a box 'Remove all blocking entries (127.0.0.0 etc)' and in the left hand pane is says 127.0.0.1 loal host. Should I try this 'remove all blocking entries'?

 

Just restore original Microsoft HOSTS and leave it default and you'll be fine.

See this thread below, then attach a current HJT log.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif Downloading, Installing, and Running HijackThis

 

Thanks for your reply. I attach my HJT log as requested.

 

Now scan with HijackThis and check the boxes for the following entries:
( Make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX )

R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {941DA0A7-7E2C-DC5D-E9DA-461DE5A654C4} - (no
file)

Again, make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX.

Next, run CCleaner to clean up cookies and temp files.

Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings:

To Reset Web Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK


To Default Security Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites.

After you complete this, reboot and see if you can access the site.

 

I ran HJT and did the other steps. After re-booting I tried the Spybot update but got the same error message as before (socket error). I tried Spybot's home page http://www.spybot.info/ (Help>Home Page) but again got 'cannot find server'. I also tried http://www.safer-networking.org/ but got 'cannot find server'. Is Google blocking these sites? Just in case it is relevant I have been having trouble with Outpost Firewall Pro. Sometimes it loads on boot up but sometimes not and I then get the Windows message 'your firewall is turned off'. If I click on the desktop icon nothing hapens but if I go Start>All Progams>Agnitum>Outpost Firewall it will start up and appear in the sytem tray. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling but the problem persists. Sometimes it disappears from view but if I click the < in the sytem tray it is there among the hidden ones. I am currently waiting for Agnitum developers to come back with their thoughts. I have AVG anti-virus and run Ad-Aware and Spybot as well as Windows Defender ocassionally.

I attach a HJT log run after the clean up you asked me to carry out.

 

Personally I am not familiar with Outpost Firewall. Did you purchase it or is it a free version?

If your having problems with Outpost Firewall then I recommend your uninstalling it and installing ZoneAlarm Free. I would also uninstall Spybot, download a fresh copy and try updating again.

 

Outpost Firewall by Agnitum has been reinstalled. It is a paid version with 500 days to go so I am reluctant to replace it. I have reinstalled Spybot but get the same problem as before. I disabled Outpost Firewall and tried safer-networking & spybot.info but still could not access these sites. Any other ideas as to how to resolve the problem of not being able to access certain sites apart from reinstalling XP?

 

Let's start from the beginning, first lets get you updated to IE 7.

Download the update here: Internet Explorer 7 7.0.5730.11 Final

Download this update, save to the desktop. When download is complete install and reboot. Once you have rebooted try the site again and let me know before we continue to something else.

 

I have downloaded IE7 and rebooted. Still have the same problem trying to access either safer-networking or spybot.info. The new diagnostic tool in IE7 does not produce an answer. PS I much prefer the layout of IE6!

 

IE7 has thrown up one problem. http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/ - then click on 'I want to get a map now' allows me to access the UK national map.By putting the mouse on a particular place it shows as a cross-hair and in the bottom left corner it then shows the exact grid reference. Well it did under IE6 but with IE7 it just says 'done'. Any idea why?

 

That site works fine for me running IE7. I don't usually recommend this however your problems possible could be in the registry.

Download Reg Supreme 1.4

When prompted, run the "Aggressive" scan and fix all found problems. Reboot once complete and let me know if anything has changed.

 

Downloaded Reg Supreme 1.4, ran the agressive scan, fixed all found problems and re-booted. But unfortunately still the same problems.

 

Try this, shut down any antispy, antivirus and firewall you have running. Try it this way, if nothing works, reboot into Safe Mode and try it.

If none of the above works, post this problem in the Software Forum. Those guys will be able to help you more with this IE problem.

 

I shut down any antispy, antivirus and firewall but it made no difference. I booted in Safe Mode but cannot access the internet. I also tried in safe Mode with networking but same problem. What am I doing worng? thanks for your patience.

 

How do you connect to the internet?

I apologize, I forget to mention you must use Safe Mode w/ Networking and connect to the internet by Cable/DSL.

 

I thought that I had posted a reply but on checking today I can't see it. I ran Reg Supreme 1.4 scan and fixed all found problems. I rebooted but nothing has changed. I still can't access safer-networking & spybot.info. I uninstalled IE7 and now the http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/ site works fine in IE6.

 

As this was only one of my problems I decided to take the bull by the horns and have reformatted my hard disk today, which has solved all my problems. Thanks for everyone's help.