I discovered the AzeSearch Toolbar on my browser last night. (I blame my husband for it, LOL!) Anyway, I followed some directions online on how to remove it manually, by searching for certain filenames and deleting them in safe mode. I also deleted some registry keys. The toolbar is gone and I re-installed my beloved Google toolbar, but I noticed that, as I'm answering questions on the site here, every once and a while, the browser will take me back to Google, without me doing anything. I think I read briefly on the site I looked at last night that this is a symptom of the AzeSearch Toolbar. So might there be a file or two still lingering on my computer. Any other ideas how to get rid of it? Thanks.

To make sure everything is running fine run some anti spyware apps (make sure that they are updated first ;)) (A couple of good removal tools are Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/) and Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/))

ALso an on line virus and spyware scanner is Trend Housecall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)

Ooh okay great I will try that... I have Adaware, but the website I went to last night said spyware software wouldn't work on this... only manual removal. But that could be bunk. I'll let you know what happens!

Oh by the way say hi to your wife for me, haha. She wrote me a really nice email, and I haven't had a chance to respond yet, but I will! :)

It's always a good idea to use at least 2 spyware scanners and these used together get 99.9% of known spyware ;)

She's says Hi back

This page says AzeSearch can reinstall itself somehow if you don't do the removal right:
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/129909.html

I'm not sure how that could be the case, but twas interesting reading on it anyway.

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If you use both the TeaTimer and Immunize functions within Spybot, this will stop it reinstalling as they block the process and monitor your registry for changes.

I JUST finished scanning with Adaware, and it found 8 registry keys to do with AzeSearch, even though I cleaned the registry last night! So yeah maybe it is reinstalling itself when I restart the computer. Bleah. Anyway I'm downloading SpyBot right now and I'll try the things you guys suggested.

Phew!! I just finished scanning with SpyBot, and it found 109 problems that Adaware had missed! :eek: Anyway it fixed them all, and I used the Teatimer and Immunize functions too, so hopefully it stays fixed. Thanks so much for your help!

maybe it is reinstalling itself when I restart the computer. Bleah.

Yeah, that's what that link I gave was saying.

When I do housecleaning, I always run both Adaware and Spybot. Adware can be different than Spyware - so each usually finds stuff the other doesn't.

Yeah, that's what that link I gave was saying.

When I do housecleaning, I always run both Adaware and Spybot. Adware can be different than Spyware - so each usually finds stuff the other doesn't.

Thanks for the advice, Rick. Yeah I'm going to run both from now on! I tried to comment on your other answer yesterday, but apparently I've been giving out too much reputation, haha! I keep getting the message saying I have to wait 24 hours.

Hey, don't sweat it. You can just send money instead! :D

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LOLLL yeah... it WOULD be cool to get paid for doing stuff here, especially if you are a moderator! Or errrumm... DO the moderators get paid? :rolleyes:

No. Moderators are a volunteer position by invitation. Not that it's a negative if not invited... we'll definitely continue to add them as the site grows.

Yeah I imagine it's kind of an honor to get asked to moderate. :)

Yes. I'm glad to be trusted with the "tools" I'm given.

Some of them are pretty powOful. A renegade Mod could sure mess up the works!

A renegade,Rick.I like the sound of that.Accidently delete the whole site,and see what happens?

Er,on second thoughts... DontAskMeHelpDesk sounds terrible. :D

It's Friday folks.Have a good weekend.