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General discussion

Entry Trap Error? Huge Mystery

Jul 9, 2005 4:35AM PDT

I'm not sure what category this would fall into but am at my wits end to define just what it is.
We have a 2year old Dell desktop with Windows XP Home and have Aol current version for ISP. All Microsoft patches have been applied and all drivers are current.

The problem is with Netflix webpage. About a month ago we started getting an Entry Trap error whenever we tried to logon to our Netflix account. Instead of getting the webpage to login to our account,we get sent to a signup page for new memebers(we have had an account for over a year)and will not let us logon or enter anything on the Signup page no matter what. Seems to put me in an endless loop of just sending me back to the same Signup web page over and over.

No matter how many times we type in Netflix.com or even anything with the word "Netlix" it changes the webpage address to include the word "trap". We have tried accessing through Google and also just opening Internet Explorer and typing the Netflix webpage that way. All to no avail. We have called Netflix, Aol & Dell and no one seems to know what the problem is nor can they fix it. We have deleted all cookies, re-enabled all cookies,checked Java, & reinstalled Aol all to no avail. We have spent hours following their directions (usually telling us again and again to "enable cookies" which we have done now many many times and they ARE enabled).

It seems to be something buried somewhere deep on our computer but WHERE? We CAN access Netflix just fine from other peoples computers. We have everything to keep anyone out:McAfee Virus Scan,Firewall,Privacy Service,Counter Spy,Phishguard,etc. Could this be some sort of trojan or virus that has sneaked past all our security? It appears to be something that occured during access of Netflix. Can anyone help with this? Can this be removed?
Sorry for long story but no other way to explain it all.
Appreciate any help or suggestions.

Discussion is locked

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If this was my machine.
Jul 9, 2005 4:49AM PDT

I'd try FIREFOX.

Bob

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Re:If this was my machine.
Jul 9, 2005 5:22AM PDT

So I can download Firefox and use it in place of IE? Even though I am on AOL? Sorry not to saavy in this area.

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Yes. It's that simple and...
Jul 9, 2005 6:27AM PDT

Gives a clue if you need to look up and post on a Hijackthis forum.

Bob

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Yup...
Jul 9, 2005 6:29AM PDT

With AOL 9.0 (free download and CDs at local stores) you can launch Firefox and have it automatically load just the AOL dialer and NOT the main AOL application. (For instructions, click here, then scroll half way down to Jim's post.) With previous versions you'll have to load AOL's software and login normally, then minimize it and launch/use Firefox. (For more information on this, click here, and make sure to read the user comments at the bottom of the page.)

Hope this helps,
John

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RE:
Jul 9, 2005 11:04PM PDT
We have everything to keep anyone out:McAfee Virus Scan,Firewall,Privacy Service,Counter Spy,Phishguard,etc. Could this be some sort of trojan or virus that has sneaked past all our security? It appears to be something that occured during access of Netflix.

Can anyone help with this?


Probably not. But, you may be able to help yourself -- are you a good detective?

Look very closely, and may I suggest thoroughly, at the options and the newfangled ways that certain utilities set themselves up to protect a user -- perhaps what somebody else assumes is the best method isn't always conducive to how you use a road map. Something is redirecting you when surfing and there is a detour sign set somewhere on that road. Whether it was a file option -- address set in the system registry and used or was a set option which was later changed in the program but was not correctly and appropriately removed from the registry and is still used without permission, is anybody's guess.

Since I'm not familiar with the programs and utilities described in #1 above, what if anything do they do regarding setups and writing to the system registry? Part I next is and example of what certain know ones do and is simply FYI:

Part I:

1. Hypothetically, you'll find that the S&D Immunization feature entries in the system registry equals approximately 44 lines of addresses and at least that many values. Please note in addition should you decide to un-immunize these addresses, the values are not removed only nulled which isn't a problem -- just stating the fact.

2. Considering SpywareBlaster's feature for Internet Explorer protection . . . and the Restricted Sites protection is . . ., it adds approximately 1,400 addresses and probably that many or double in value lines.

3. If concerned and specifically desire to see an example in your computer's registry, -- I'm only pretty sure it will be there provided the above features have been enabled and you can step further through the Domains or History or ActiveX Compatibility address(s) on your system to see more. To review the captured information in text file format for the two subjects, use the hyperlinks:

a. ''S&D'' (The approach for this software instead of detecting or removing targets, it inoculates a computer from executing certain software, stops you from downloading some types of parasite, and stops other things from working)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\008i.com

b. ''SpywareBlaster''

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\P3P\History\ad08.focalink.com

Note: ''Registry fixes'' which you may find useful at the S&D site are:

Spybot-S&D Wizard disable
Spybot-S&D SDHelper uninstall
Spybot-S&D system start run entry (uninstall)
Spybot-S&D full settings removal
Context menu for DLL files (install)
Context menu for DLL files (uninstall)
Internet Explorer Settings lock (install)
Internet Explorer Settings lock (uninstall)

4. Also, you'll find folders Logs and Recovery which are created under in the Windows\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy which may become excessive and need manual deleting on occasion.

5. Further, I do not know what the circumstances are IF/when using Norton but I assume from the information published that prevent HTML strings and/or specified pop-up or pop-under ad windows items, they are most likely written to the system registry also which may compound situations, ''Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall.''

{End}

What addresses and values are set anywhere in the system registry for ''Netflix''?

We have deleted all cookies, re-enabled all cookies,checked Java, & reinstalled Aol all to no avail. We have spent hours following their directions (usually telling us again and again to ''enable cookies'' which we have done now many many times and they ARE enabled).

Have you? Perhaps an attempt has been made but I'm not sure anyone looked at the Cookie folder right afterwards and been assured that every single cookie was gone. It's quite possible that corruption exists somewhere and certain assumed actions really don't take place. Does a ''Netflix'' cookie show up there. Have you asked the site manager to review their cookie file -- which you could upload with their permission -- to see if it is getting trashed along the way? Should I mention the ''Index.dat'' file that keeps records of the Temporary Internet Files, History, and Cookies? Long and drawn out story behind that puppy. For your reading pleasure, my threads titled, ''Record keeping'' and "Hosts perhaps."