SNOTSYKIMS - The Polish Problem

The Polish Problem

I get a lot of correspondence on this subject and I apologise for the delay. Here are some reader's comments ( there may well be more help in the yahoo snotsykim forum )

The Problem

"Are you talking about the pesky program that puts an Icon on your task bar and doesn't seem to want to go away? I had this problem (from the Russian link that I followed from your site" ( since removed SKH )

"I also had some problems with that Polish site. The icon is stuck on the bottom horizontal 'bar' of my computer screen. When clicked it opens, but I can't get rid of it. If you find a way to do so, please publish it, thanks."

"I believe this was the problem where a program was automatically downloaded to my computer and changed the desktop to this weird black screen with Polish writing describing a porn site. You could close it but everytime you turned on the computer the screen would automatically appear. A little embarassing."

"I can't offer any solution on how to clear the program that was downloaded on my p.c. from that site, but I can tell you some of the "symptoms": Apparently, a "dialing" program had installed itself on my p.c., and it froze up anything I was running while it dialed a telephone in Europe. When I realized what was happening I tried to close the program, but the p.c. wouldn't respond to any commands, and I had to do a hard reboot to close it down. An icon for this program was placed on my p.c.'s taskbar, and I tried everything to get rid of it, but I wasn't able to do so. From that point on anytime I connected to the internet I would get [ email ended at this point ]"

Suggested Solutions

I cannot guarantee these work ( SKH )

"You will need to delete a file called sysmd.exe. You can find instructions on the internet about this trojan. I believe it is in the c:\windows directory.http://boards.cexx.org/general/messages/771.html
More here: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_s.php
( I found the latter link and it states: 'X SysR sysmd.exe Adult material based "foistware" (adds hidden components to your system)' - so may well be the problem SKH )

"That corrupted file is called "sysmd.exe". It resides in the root directory "C:\winnt\sysmd.exe Do a search on sysmd.exe, then hit delete."

"I got rid of the Polish problem using Spybot Search and Destroy, (http://spybot.eon.net.au).I found the solution in Jim coates column in theChicago Tribune technology section, Feb 12, 2003. Jim Coates can be contacted at jcoates@tribune.com"

"The nice lady at Dell Support helped me get it off my computer."

"I ended up deleting it in my system registry. It took awhile, but It's in there some where. I used the task manager and ended the tasks - one by one, until the Icon disappeared from the task bar. Then I wrote down the name of that program and searched my registry (using regedit.exe) for it (I'm sorry that I didn't keep that piece of paper) and deleted the command that launches it! This cured a most embarrassing problem that could have been!"

"I did have the problem with the Polish site. It left it`s home page on my screen and there was no way to get rid of it. Every start-up it would reappear. I had to take my comp. to a repair shop . He found it in the registration file. Cost me $25. to get rid of it."

"That Polish site has imbedded itself to the Microsoft bootup system. Who said the Polish are not smart? I have found the easiest way to handle it is to hit the icon on the toolbar then do a (ctrl alt delete) and then hit remove, otherwise an alternate more involved technique might be to reload the MS boot software if you have it."

"You could also try AdWare ( http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/ ) It's free and finds all sorts of nasty stuff on your computer ( especially if you have used BearShare - a menace, use KazaaLite instead - SKH ) "

Use Back Button to Return to SNOTSYKIMS

SNOTSYKIMS