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Resolved COMCAST bundled software nightmare.

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by virtue1boy, 2009/10/15.

  1. 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    I had a comcast tech install high speed internet at my apt yesterday and he told me he was gonna install some software and I asked if it needed it to run the internet and he said yes. I asked him this question twice. later I found out from Comcast this was not needed. Needless to say I sat up for 6 hours last night trying to unistall the bundled software from CA pest control, Comcast UI and Comcasttb (toolbar).

    So I have two questions. I already changed my homepage address but how do I remove the comcast address from popping up everytime I open a additional new tab? (ex: chrome: comcast/ new tab/ etc).

    Secondly, I can only imagine that my computers security has been compromised because of this nightmare. Can someone help me completely eradicate comcast software from my laptop?

    Virtue
     
    virtue1boy,
    #1
  2. 2009/10/15
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi virtue1boy. To answer your first question regarding your homepage if you are using Internet Explorer open it and click Tools< Internet Options. Under homepage delete everything that is listed and type in the website you want to use as your homepage. When done click apply and ok. Now restart Internet Explorer for the changes to take effect. If you use any other internet browser you should also change your homepage in those browsers as well.

    To answer your second question try downloading the portable version of Revo Uninstaller and seeing if it will remove the comcast software.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #2


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  4. 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    There was no change. The first tab opens to my selected homepage but the second tab when opened should say.... "about:tabs" but instead it says "chrome://comcasttb/content/newtab/newtab.html "??. I have tried "tabs" options also.

    Secondly, the revo uninstaller found the exact items in my add/remove list which really didn't help me. I was hoping it would show me leftovers from bad uninstalls. I did a lot of search and destroy last night like erasing the comcast toolbar listing from my toolbar list by using hijackthis.

    ??????
     
    virtue1boy,
    #3
  5. 2009/10/15
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Did you try removing the comcast software using revo uninstaller? Once of the things that it does is it removes all of the leftover files after the initial uninstall completes. If you can't get the software to uninstall then you will have to remove the comcast software manually.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #4
  6. 2009/10/15
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    Whiskeyman,
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  7. 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    @ evan

    The revo uninstaller found no comcast items. It basically brought up my add/remove list which really didn't help me. I also manually removed most of the software last night.

    ____________________________________

    The Revo uninstaller does have a "JUNK FILES CLEANER" service, other than that no comcast items showed up. Would you like me to run that app on revo uninstaller??
     
    virtue1boy,
    #6
  8. 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    @ whiskeyman.

    Unfortunately those links are outdated and do not work with the current software and methods Comcast is using. I clearly remember seeing software from a CA Pest Control & ComcastUI in my add/remove section. As for the sneaky toolbar.. it wasn't in add/remove but it had a folder in my c:pROGRAM FILES.

    To Remove the COMCAST TOOLBAR:
    1.Locate comcasttb folder in c: PROGRAM FILES and delete it.
    2.Run a Hijackthis log to remove the listing from your toolbar menu.
     
    Last edited: 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy,
    #7
  9. 2009/10/15
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    No don't worry about running the junk files cleaner. Since revo uninstaller can't remove it try clicking Start< Search and performing a search of the word comcast on your harddrive. If the search finds any comcast files or folders go ahead and remove them.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #8
  10. 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    Yes I did search my laptop for comcast files, none were located. So back to my original dilemna.

    Comcast has it's address embedded in my IE7 tabs. The first tab is my saved home page the other tabs open with: "chrome://comcasttb/content/newtab/newtab.html. How do I erase this? This is totally annoying!!!!!!

    And do I need to run a some malware program to make sure I don't have rootkits, spyware e.t.c??
     
    Last edited: 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy,
    #9
  11. 2009/10/15
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Open regedit.
    Navigate to:
    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs\
    In right pane, you'll see Tabs entry.
    Double click on it and change it from:
    chrome://comcasttb/content/newtab/newtab.html
    to:
    res://ieframe.dll/tabswelcome.htm
     
    broni,
    #10
  12. 2009/10/15
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    YES, it worked!!!!! thank you very much BRIONI. No more comcast tabs (smiling). Will my Norton 2010 and Anti-Malware bytes be sufficient enough to check for malicious malware and rootkits? or would you suggest something more efficient??
     
    virtue1boy,
    #11
  13. 2009/10/15
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    I'm glad, it worked :)

    You should be fine with those programs, but there is always one more important factor: YOU and your internet behavior. No program will give 100% protection.
     
    broni,
    #12
  14. 2009/10/16
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Now that Broni helped you out with the New Tabs issue and that is resolved, were you able to remove the comcast software or is it still present on your system?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #13
  15. 2009/10/16
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    Well I'm not entirely sure. I removed what I could see. There may be system changes and other hidden installations (rootkits) that i'm not aware of. Maybe I should run a fresh Hijackthis log or would you have a better suggestion?
     
    Last edited: 2009/10/16
    virtue1boy,
    #14
  16. 2009/10/16
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Since you have searched your harddrive for comcast software have you searched your registry as well? Click Start< Run and type regedit and hit enter. When Registry Editor opens click Edit< Find. Type in Comcast and make sure that the match whole string only checkbox is checked and click Find Next. Make sure that the entries that you will be deleting say Comcast and not some other key. If you are comfortable removing entries from the registry then go for it, if you have doubts then disregard my post.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #15
  17. 2009/10/16
    virtue1boy

    virtue1boy Inactive Thread Starter

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    I'm totally comfortable with removing entries from my registry. I did what you said and it found no comcast related strings, which was great. I'm gonna run my Norton2010 and Malwarebytes and I should be good to go. You can close this thread. :)
     
    virtue1boy,
    #16
  18. 2009/10/16
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Ok great. It looks like this issue is resolved then. :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #17

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