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General discussion

How to delete the "Adware.Gator"?

Mar 31, 2005 3:18PM PST

Hi. Norton AV (2004 version) detected a threat called Adware.Gator in one of the subfolders in Temporary Internet Files folder in my computer (Windows XP). I tried to delete it via norton but it failed to do so. I tried several methods but still could not remove it:

1) turned off System Restore and tried to delete it via norton, but failed;
2) ran AV in safe mode. it detected the threat but again failed to delete it;
3) downloaded a removal tool from norton website, but that tool could not detect the threat;
4) tried to use spybot and ad-aware to destroy it, but they could detected nothing.
5) tried to search any GAIN software installed on my computer, but seemed none was there.

I know this Adware.Gator won't cost too much trouble, but I still feel really uncomfortable about this adware. Would anyone tell me how to delete this? Thanks very much.

I have another question about IE. I don't use it anymore so I turned the security too the highest, block every cookie, and even block its access via zonealarm. How come there're still files in the Temp Internet Files? I deleted the files everyday and they appear again next day...

Thanks very much again.

Discussion is locked

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Death to Adware.Gator
Apr 2, 2005 1:06PM PST

Ah, gotta love the Gator! What, you don't?!?

Usually antispyware and antiadware programs will remove Gator, but it tends to be pretty persistant. First, try the free Microsoft AntiSpyware. It has picked up a lot of stuff on my computer that SpyBot and AdAware missed. It also has a real-time scanner, preventing most parasite from attaching themselves to your computer in the first place. If that doesn't work, download Spyware Doctor, which has an automatic Gator cleanup option.

If neither of those work, check you PCPitStop's page on Gator. It will provide a little information, and at the bottom is a link to Doxdesk's instructions to manually delete the parasite.

Removing Gator (and any other adware) should also solve the problem with files reappearing in the Temporary Internet Files folder every day.

Hope this helps,
John

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Problem still exists...
Apr 2, 2005 7:20PM PST

Hi John,

Thanks very much for your reply!! I'm really glad that someone responding my msg Grin. Anyway, yesterday I installed Spyware Doctor and it detected several spyware/adware, but after I cleared them off and tried using Norton to scan my Temp internet files folder again that threat still existed. Tonight I read your message and download Microsoft AntiSpyware and it detected other threats. Again I cleared them out and use Norton to scan that folder again. Yet it's still there. My last attempt tonight was to go through the Doxdesk's webpage and went through their instruction. However my registry doesn't have the keys they indicated. So I don't really know what else I can do with this "Adware.Gator" thing.

By the way, the source of Adware.Gator that Norton detects is "HDPlugin1018.dll". Do you (or anyone else) know what plug in is that?

Thanks very much again for your help!!

Tom

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hdplugin1018.dll
Apr 3, 2005 6:58AM PDT
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adware HDPlugin1018.dll".
Apr 21, 2005 4:09AM PDT

I have the same problem did you get rid of HDPlugin1018.dll". if so could you please tell me how.

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Re: adware HDPlugin1018.dll"
Apr 21, 2005 5:00AM PDT
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adware HDPlugin1018.dll
Apr 21, 2005 5:30AM PDT

I did that I had none of that on my computer.

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Re: adware HDPlugin1018.dll
Apr 21, 2005 5:47AM PDT
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adware HDPlugin1018.dll
Apr 21, 2005 6:05AM PDT

That is where it says it is but when i go in there to find it it not there and i do have my options to veiw all folders. Here is exacly what norton says
The file C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\HDPlugin1018.dll is a Adware threat.
Ive went into the reg and cant find anything in there for it either

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Re: adware HDPlugin1018.dll
Apr 21, 2005 7:36AM PDT

daffneyb,"The file C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\HDPlugin1018.dll is a Adware threat".

Did you right click each item in the C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files folder and choose "Properties" and see if that HDPlugin1018.dll is referenced anywhere? Is there a CONFLICT.1 item showing up there? I don't have anymore ideas as to why you can't find it. Post back answers to these 2 questions.

Tufenuf

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HDPlugin1018.dll
Apr 21, 2005 2:19PM PDT

the conflict folder didnt show up, I even did killbox and it couldnt find it but i finally figured out what to do by playing around
I had to single right click on the download folder and go down to properties and take the check out of system then it showed up.Thanks for trying to help if anyone else has this problem we know what to do now.

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OMG I was so stupid
Apr 22, 2005 7:09PM PDT

Thanks daffneyb and Tufenuf. After I read your messages I wondered myself why I did not delete that file in the Temp Internet Files folders in the first place... It's gone now so I dun need to click "Skip" anymore whenever Norton detected it. It has been a month since this stupid adware on my computer, and finally it's over!!! Yeah!

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Adware Gator
Apr 24, 2005 5:29AM PDT

Have been following this thread and have the same problem - exactly as described. What do you mean, daffneyb, whne you right-click the Downloaded Program Files folder and click on Properties? What check do you take out of the system? The folder properties only has a "General" tab. It says there are 37 files and 1 folder. Only 22 lines show up under Program Files on the right. Checking properties on each of these listings shows nothing about HDPlugin1018.dll or CONFLICT.1. Many thanks.

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Adware Gator
Apr 24, 2005 8:17AM PDT

I think you have to go to Tools --> Folder Options in Windows Explorer. Under View tab, check "Show hidden files and folders". All hidden and system files will be shown then.

Make sure the infected file is not important before you delete it.

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View Hidden Files
Apr 24, 2005 3:27PM PDT

That was already checked. Hidden files should be showing. The mystery continues.

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HDPlugin1018.dll
Apr 26, 2005 7:11AM PDT

I had four threats according to Norton:

HDPlugin1018.dll, HDPlugin1019.dll, lkir812qm.dl and spywarenukerinstaller.exe

all were located in c:\winnt\downloaded program files

Under windows I was unable to locate the offending files. I rebooted under DOS and was able to find the files under c:\winnt\downl~1\

They are deleted and gone.

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HDPlugin1018.dll
May 10, 2005 7:19AM PDT

Norton detected HDPlugin1018.dll (an adware threat) on my pc but could not delete or repair it. It was in c:\windows\downloaded program files.

I could not find this file in windows even when showing hidden files. I took your hint and went through DOS. I didn't reboot in DOS, just went through the command window. Found the file and deleted it.

Thanks for your wisdom in this.