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re: Links not functioning Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 6:46 am Posted by Steve (23810 messages posted) One common cause is a Virus. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 9:48 am Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Well, that's a thought, Steve! Thanks, I'll run scans and get back to you. On Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 6:46 am, Steve wrote: >One common cause is a Virus. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 12:41 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) This normally does the trick, go into Internet Options - Programs tab - click "Reset web settings" - Restore Internet Explorer defaults - uncheck to also reset homepage. OK. After which, if IE isn't your default browser, you'll need to reset the one you use. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 6:19 pm Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Hi. I ran NOD32 deep scan, Ad-Aware Plus SE, Trojan Hunter and Sophos Anti-Rootkit, (all up to date). Ad-Aware and T.H. found DSS 100,as happens regularly. Does anyone know how to get rid of this permanently? I thought Spyware Blaster and Spyware Guard were supposed to take care of it? Links still don't work,so must be something else, but thanks for the suggestion, Steve. On Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 6:46 am, Steve wrote: >One common cause is a Virus. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 6:27 pm Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Hi, Ms Eagle. Thanks a lot. That was right on. I'm red in the face, I just switched back to IE 7.0 from Firefox and didn't even think of looking at Internet Options. I'd still be scratching my head. On Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 12:41 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >This normally does the trick, go into Internet Options - Programs tab - click "Reset >web settings" - Restore Internet Explorer defaults - uncheck to also reset homepage. >OK. > >After which, if IE isn't your default browser, you'll need to reset the one you use. > > > > >color="006699">Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 8:40 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) What is DDS 100? Isn't there a description of it in either of those scans? Spyware Blaster and SG don't prevent everything, and neither of them are cleaners. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 8:49 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) You're welcome, glad it worked. However, that can happen, i.e. clicking links does nothing, regardless of which browser you're using. Sometimes it requires re-registering a few DLL's. That's happened to me a few times, for no apparent reason. Even though I use Firefox, I still need to reset those web settings. Then I have to reset FF as my default browser and re-associate HTM and HTML files with FF. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Monday, October 15, 2007 at 6:49 am Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Hi. This is what Trojan Hunter shows: Registry Scan, Registry value exists: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run\DSS (matches DSS 100) (Regedit Jump). I've searched this, but have never been able to find anything relevant. About Spyware Blaster and SG, I thought they should keep things out. Thanks for your interest. On Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 8:40 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >What is DDS 100? Isn't there a description of it in either of those scans? Spyware >Blaster and SG don't prevent everything, and neither of them are cleaners. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Monday, October 15, 2007 at 7:01 am Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Thanks, Ms Eagle. I tend to forget about things like .dlls sometimes. :-) On Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 8:49 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >You're welcome, glad it worked. However, that can happen, i.e. clicking links does >nothing, regardless of which browser you're using. Sometimes it requires re-registering >a few DLL's. > >That's happened to me a few times, for no apparent reason. Even though I use Firefox, >I still need to reset those web settings. Then I have to reset FF as my default browser >and re-associate HTM and HTML files with FF. > > > >color="006699">Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 11:32 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) I have no clue what that might be, and I've never ran Trojan Hunter. That's a run entry, one of Windows many startup locations. You might check your startups and see if you notice anything listed that uses the initials DDS. Sorry, I don't know. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 11:52 am Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) There is a registry entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run (in RH pane):DSS, and under Data: C:\WINDOWS\BBSTORE\DSS\DSSAGENT.EXE A Google search of DSSAgent.exe turns up, inter alia, "authored by Broderbund and is spyware". My grandson has been playing on-line games. It's probably something of his. I'll get rid of it. Thanks a lot for your help that encouraged me to push this far. On Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 11:32 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >I have no clue what that might be, and I've never ran Trojan Hunter. That's a run >entry, one of Windows many startup locations. > >You might check your startups and see if you notice anything listed that uses the >initials DDS. Sorry, I don't know. > > > >color="006699">Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 12:10 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) Yeah, I just did a quick search and found out it's advertising spyware. Scroll towards the bottom of this page, there's a link to a removal utility for it at the vendor's website. The security specialists at the cexx.org site, wouldnt' recommend it, if it weren't safe to use. That entire BBSTORE folder can be deleted also, but run the removal app first. http://cexx.org/dssagent.htm Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 1:10 pm Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Hi, Ms Eagle. Thanks for your continuing efforts. I went to the link you gave, then to Broderbund's web site, downloaded 'cleanbc.exe and ran it, but came up with, "DSS Agent is not installed". That despite the fact it is there in Registry as plain as can be. As I suspected, deleting the Data achieves nothing; the entry pops back right away. Trying to modify the value data is the same. Grrrrrrrrr! :-) On Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 12:10 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >Yeah, I just did a quick search and found out it's advertising spyware. > >Scroll towards the bottom of this page, there's a link to a removal utility for it >at the vendor's website. The security specialists at the cexx.org site, wouldnt' >recommend it, if it weren't safe to use. That entire BBSTORE folder can be deleted >also, but run the removal app first. > >http://cexx.org/dssagent.htm > > > > > >color="006699">Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Links not functioning Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 1:39 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) Check in Add/Remove programs for an entry, and check IE7 add-ons for any ref to it. There may be a BHO and or ActiveX Control installed. If there's not an Add/Rem entry for it, I suggest you remove/uninstall it manually by deleting it's entire directory. Then search the registry for folder name first, then the .exe file, and/or the full name of the program. (If necessary, boot into Safe mode to do this). Delete all entries found. Create a restore point first and backup your registry. Just curious, is there any particular reason you chose to go back to using IE7 over Firefox? It's still IE, and IE any version is extremely vulnerable to malware infections. Non-IE based browsers are more secure. Just a thought! Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] P.S. re: Links not functioning Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 5:52 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) Glyn, I got to thinking... I wonder if that spyware app was installed as part of a legit program? It's possible. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: P.S. re: Links not functioning Friday, October 19, 2007 at 12:04 pm Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Yes, that's certainly a possibility, and since my firewall is not showing any unidentfiable outbound activity, I'm inclined to let sleeping dogs lie. Thanks a lot for your help and interest. On Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 5:52 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >Glyn, I got to thinking... I wonder if that spyware app was installed as part of >a legit program? It's possible. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: P.S. re: Links not functioning Friday, October 19, 2007 at 12:43 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) A firewall will only show activity for a module or app trying to connect. Not all malwares phone home. I would try to get to the bottom of it, once and for all. I should have thought refer you to a security forum earlier. I suggest you register and post on this TH forum. They may have seen this come up before. Mischel Internet Security Forum http://www.misec.net/forum/?board=TrojanHunter Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: P.S. re: Links not functioning Friday, October 19, 2007 at 4:37 pm Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) Thanks for the link, Ms Eagle. I'll take your advice and get back to you. On Friday, October 19, 2007 at 12:43 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >A firewall will only show activity for a module or app trying to connect. Not all >malwares phone home. I would try to get to the bottom of it, once and for all. > >I should have thought refer you to a security forum earlier. I suggest you register >and post on this TH forum. They may have seen this come up before. > >Mischel Internet Security Forum >http://www.misec.net/forum/?board=TrojanHunter > > > > >color="006699">Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: P.S. re: Links not functioning Monday, October 22, 2007 at 11:32 am Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) While attempting to follow your advice, I encountered a series of inter-related mishaps, too long and involved to include here, but suffice it to say - and this going to please nobody - I lost patience and ended up wiping 'C' drive. It certainly solved all my many little problems, but I'm afraid it didn't contribute to this forum. Sorry, everyone and you, in particular, Ms Eagle. Thanks for all your unrequited efforts. On Friday, October 19, 2007 at 12:43 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >A firewall will only show activity for a module or app trying to connect. Not all >malwares phone home. I would try to get to the bottom of it, once and for all. > >I should have thought refer you to a security forum earlier. I suggest you register >and post on this TH forum. They may have seen this come up before. > >Mischel Internet Security Forum >http://www.misec.net/forum/?board=TrojanHunter > > > > >color="006699">Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: P.S. re: Links not functioning Monday, October 22, 2007 at 7:08 pm Posted by Ms. Eagle (33640 messages posted) Glyn, the main thing is that you got things straightened out. You sure don't owe anyone an apology. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be more help, but I'm glad to hear other problems were solved also. Thanks for posting back and letting us know. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: P.S. re: Links not functioning Monday, October 22, 2007 at 7:53 pm Posted by Glyn Nicholas (187 messages posted) All thanks to you. :-) On Monday, October 22, 2007 at 7:08 pm, Ms. Eagle wrote: > >Glyn, the main thing is that you got things straightened out. You sure don't owe >anyone an apology. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be more help, but I'm glad to hear >other problems were solved also. Thanks for posting back and letting us know. > [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum