trouble w/ Internet Explorer

I'm not extremely computer literate, but I know enough to be dangerous. For example, I just recently (two days ago) clicked "yes" to running an *.exe file which was downloaded to my computer.

Now I know, that was dumb. Very dumb. But this stupid file has caused all sorts of problems with my computer, Norton cannot find any problems, and, well, it sucks.

Symptoms: whenever I open Internet Explorer, I get pop-up ads and, yes, pop-up porn sites. I also get all sorts of wierd and gross new links on my desktop.

I am running a Dell with Windows XP, no idea what version of Internet Explorer. And, oh, yea, I was able to track down the file I ran. Unsurprisingly, it was named "pornsite.exe".

How the heck can I figure out what this thing did to my computer? If it's easier, how the heck can I just undo what it did? Re-install Internet Explorer?

I need help bad. I hate porn and this is driving me nuts.

Thank you whoever responds!

mtennyson@gotucson.com

 

You have spyware. Follow these directions http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407 and ask for help in the Spyware Specific section (3rd down in the main forum page) if you have more questions.

 

Took me about six hours total, but I think I finally got it. Went through all the steps (although my computer would not give me access to the web in Safe Mode. Probably something to do with my cable modem and settings or provider) listed by Major Attitude to remove hijacks, spybots, etc. at

http://forum.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=65568&goto=newpost

Anyways, ran all the scans (there goes two hours), did all the Ad Aware and other sypware stuff, and still no luck.

Finally found the little bastard with Hijact This. Some nasty little 04 (Autoloading programs from Registry or Startup group) that Hijact This said had only a 1% negative rating, and it wasn't listed anywhere in TonyK's BHO List, but there was one very close. So I took the chance and killed it and what do you know, no more pop-up porn! The name of the little bastard was zippy.dll.


So, if you get an exe file that's named pornsite.exe, only run it if you like un-wanted pop-ups.

Thanks so much for pointing me to Major Attitude 's tutorials on removing popups and hijacks, etc. You guys are awesome.

 

Did you follow the last step and use a better, more secure browser?