1985 4Runner

EVERY single time I click on anything I get this popup on a blank white screen:

Warning: require_once(advdbcmps.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /usr/local/www/data-dist/TrafC-2.1/common.php on line 8

Fatal error: require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required 'advdbcmps.php' (include_path='.:') in /usr/local/www/data-dist/TrafC-2.1/common.php on line 8

I never got popups before, now every 30 seconds I get an ad for antivirus software or some other bs...
My computer says I have some bs virus (trojan?), but I know nothing about PC's. except that I am getting ticked off.
I will go to the store & buy what I need to clean this thing, but I don't know what to get & how to clean my laptop out.

wjwerdna

i would start by running something called ad-aware se personal and downloading microsofts free security package, windows defender or something, try to search it on google

pc_tech_ohio

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Do a scan and post the results here. Or just stop using Internet Explorer and switch to Firefox

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

Buck01

You have a case of spyware\adware. As mentioned use HIjackThis,Ad-aware, or spysweeper. They are all good cleaners. They all seem to clean some things better than others. I use all three together.

Cebby

I use the combo of the Ad-Aware (by Lavasoft) and Trend Micro PC-Cillin. I've been virus free for a LONG time now.

Switching to Firefox is also a great step - I've done this also. No pop-ups!!!

pc_tech_ohio

Adaware, hijackthis, webroot's spy sweeper (not free) will generally keep a pc free of spyware (viruses are another thing) but there are some really nasty chuncks of spyware like Spyaxe et al that must be removed manually. The people that write that crap should be strung up.

Jimmeh

I had a problem similar, and I ran Spybot Search and Destroy, Adaware, and AVG, and I was able to get rid of it after all of that. Adaware gets rid of 90% of most of that stuff, but if I were you, I would run an Anitvirus program after getting rid of it just to make sure that the "program" didn't leave any ever lasting effects. Norton will do just fine for that, as will AVG and any other anti-virus program.

1985 4Runner

thanks everybody, I will get on it today.

How often should I run a check after I install this stuff?

I surf the web a lot, but not the sites that attach this stuff, so I don't know how it got on my PC. I don't even open email from someone I don't know.

Churnd

Have you browsed through this thread? There's some useful info and links there. I especially recommend reading the firewall part. You can get an infected PC by not doing much at all.

pc_tech_ohio

I scan about once every 2 months but I don't use internet explorer on the net and for that matter, I use linux more on the internet than windows. Much depends on the type of sites you go to... porn, gambling, hacker and similar will almost always leave something behind. If you must use IE, DO NOT click ok for any window that pops up asking if you want to do install something. Better yet, turn off activex and by all means use a firewall (not just service pack 2). For most users scanning once a month is fine. If there are teenagers using the pc, scan at least once a week.

Buck01

you can get it through downloading software also or music or video's. Sometimes they package several programs in downloads....inevitably one of them is a spyware \adware piece of crap.