Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Kitchensink.n0t

Nov 1, 2008 11:15PM PDT

Anyone heard of it? Had trouble getting to google. Found out on the net that it probably had to do with being on AOL dialup.

A certificate marked kitchensink.n0t (not a typo) was responsible. Unfortunately, I clicked on the certificate and so the standard fixes (download opendns.com) have not been entirely satisfactory.

I can get to google (www.google.l.com) but it doesn't always allow me to search. When I look at the Networking tab on the task manager I see that the computer is not doing anything. It doesn't always happen.

I'm wondering if I go back and restore before the date when I clicked on the certificate if anyone believes I can get rid of whatever this is?

(Have run avast! and Ad-ware, neither have found it. Posters are other forums have narrowed it down to poisoning the AOL cache although it's not been proved, AOL is doing nothing, and the so-called fixes are complicated and I'm not sure they even work on someone who actually clicked on the certificate.)

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: Kitchensink.n0t
Nov 2, 2008 12:25AM PDT
- Collapse -
Before and After Downloading Open DNS
Nov 4, 2008 3:08AM PST

BEFORE Open DNS -- couldn't get to my gmail, but I could get to my google group.

AFTER Open DNS -- I can get into gmail. I occasionally have trouble with this account anyway because I'm on dialup and they want to give me the new improved service (which takes forever to download).

But I have the "version" of gmail that I can use when I'm not on broadband in my links and I've run into no trouble.

My big problem now is that google search doesn't always work. I had the problem again today -- so I went to google news, and that seemed ok.

I've definitely downloaded something -- and it's not easy for a novice to find. Apparently AOL is not taking any responsibility for this (what else is new).

- Collapse -
To see IF there is something "bad" on your computer.........
Nov 4, 2008 3:28AM PST

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or alternate download link

* Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
* Double-click on Download_mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
* When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
* When installation has finished, make sure you leave both of these checked:
* - Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
* - Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
* Then click Finish.
* MBAM will automatically start and you will be asked to update the program before performing a scan. If an update is found, the program will automatically update itself. Press the OK button to close that box and continue.
* If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.

* On the Scanner tab:
* - Make sure the "Perform Quick Acan" option is selected.
* - Then click on the Scan button.
* The next screen will ask you to select the drives to scan. Leave all the drives selected and click on the Start Scan button.
* The scan will begin and "Scan in progress" will show at the top. It may take some time to complete so please be patient.
* When the scan is finished, a message box will say "The scan completed successfully. Click 'Show Results' to display all objects found".
* Click OK to close the message box and continue with the removal process.
* Back at the main Scanner screen, click on the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
* Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When removal is completed, a log report will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to restart your computer. (see Note below)
* The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.

* -- Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts. Click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process. If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

**If you encounter this message:"c:\program files\malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbamext.dll Unable to register the dll/ocx: RegSvr32 failed with exit code 0x5" Click on ignore mbamext.dll

...

Download and scan with SUPERAntiSpyware Free for Home Users

* Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and use the default settings for installation.
* An icon will be created on your desktop. Double-click that icon to launch the program.
* If asked to update the program definitions, click "Yes". If not, update the definitions before scanning by selecting "Check for Updates". (If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download and unzip them from here.)
* Under "Configuration and Preferences", click the Preferences button.
* Click the Scanning Control tab.
* Under Scanner Options make sure the following are checked (leave all others unchecked):

Close browsers before scanning.
Scan for tracking cookies.
Terminate memory threats before quarantining.

* Click the "Close" button to leave the control center screen.
* Back on the main screen, under "Scan for Harmful Software" click Scan your computer.
* On the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.
* On the right, under "Complete Scan", choose Perform Complete Scan.
* Click "Next" to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.
* After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click "OK".
* Make sure everything has a checkmark next to it and click "Next".
* A notification will appear that "Quarantine and Removal is Complete". Click "OK" and then click the "Finish" button to return to the main menu.
* If asked if you want to reboot, click "Yes".

Do the scanners find anything?

- Collapse -
Used Lavasoft and Avast!
Nov 6, 2008 5:49AM PST

Neither has found anything wrong. They are both pretty good at finding malware and spyware.

- Collapse -
Not the case, anymore.
Nov 6, 2008 7:08AM PST

Avast is a real good AV, but AdAware these days, is an "also ran", and doesn't find/disinfect anything of much account.
Use MBAM. You might be surprised.
MBAM and Superantispyware are the current stars of the AS world.