180search assistant

[gerbie]

I get a popup that the system has detected that a third-party application has removed 180search assistant.

What do I do? Is this a hoax, a virus, spyware or a genuine problem???

Please help me someone...

Comments

[javamental.livejournal.com]

Hard to say -- is it a Windows pop-up?
Do you run any anti-virus protection, or have any anti-spyware/adware programs? If not, may I suggest Spybot Search & Destroy (spyware remover, free), Ad-Aware (another free spyware remover), and AVG Anti-Virus (free virus scanner/remover)? I use all three and they work excellently for me. (I also use the free version of ZoneAlarm, a very good firewall.) I would suggest updating and running your current spyware and virus removers, or, if you dan't have any, downloading these three and running them. If you're still getting that pop-up afterwards, chances are it's an actual problem. (Although it sounds more like spyware/adware from what you're saying here.)

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

It looks like it could be a windows pop up, but it could be a fake one at that. It gives me three options, re-install, leave it uninstalled or 'remind me later', so for the moment I pick the last one. I have got Ad-aware installed and ran it twice the last two days, I might have to give the other two a go.

I'm not really an expert on firewalls. I remember paying for one when I bought the computer, but I'm not sure how it runs or how to check it.

Thanx for your help by the way :-)

[javamental.livejournal.com]

Another thing you could try is the next time you get the pop-up, before you close it out, try right-clicking on it and checking it's "Properties". If it's ad or spyware, it should list the URL its coming from under the "Properties", and if it's a Windows pop-up, it should also tell you that. Or, you could hit "control-alt-delete" to get your Task Manager window the next time the pop-up comes up. Check under "Processes" in Task Manager, and see what all is running -- if you have anything running that shouldn't be.

Do you have your Windows Update activated? Because, since Service Pack 2 just came out, if you have your Automatic Windows Updater running, that pop-up may just be trying to tell you that Service Pack 2 is available, and that you can download it now.

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

I'm making it complicated I guess. No properties visible with right mouse click. In the task manager there are dozens of processes, but I haven't got a clue which one should be there and which one shouldn't.

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid it's not working as it should. Spybot gave me a downloading error. ZoneAlarm seems to have taken over my computer, slowing it down a lot more and refusing me to start IE. I'm trying to uninstall as I speak. I think I'll stick with AdAware and get a friend to come over someday soon and see what else is wrong with the machine. Thanx for your help, well appreciated.

[javamental.livejournal.com]

Most welcome -- sorry I couldn't be more help! (Note about ZoneAlarm and uninstalling -- sometimes when you uninstall, it won't get come out of your registry all the way, and you have to go back into the registry and manually delete it out. Otherwise, it won't let you online. It's done that to me a couple of times.)

this should help some

[(Anonymous)]

I ran inot the same problem and after a little research i found this.....it is spyware and they make it almost impossible to get rid of it. Here is a link that should help.....good luck!

http://www.180searchassistant.com/uninstall.html

Re: this should help some

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that link, I was suffering the 180 every day...