"SignupShield Alert"

[madamesilverspurs]

This thing popped onto my screen yesterday, I have no idea what its origins are, it won't let me close it unless I close all running programs and restart the computer.

Anybody have any ideas of what the heck this is???

Thanks!

-

[Jersey Devil]

1. There is a program by that name

http://www.financial-edu.com/signupshield.php

However, if you don't have it installed on your computer it may be some kind of malware. Download the free version of Malwarebytes and see what the scan says.

[canetoad]

2. Signupshield appears to be

a legitimate program - a password manager. See here http://www.protecteer.com/asp/home.asp

Have you or someone else installed the free version and it has expired? If so, grab a copy of Revo Uninstaller http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html and get rid of it in Advanced Mode.

There's always the possibility that malware of some type had appropriated the Signupshield name but nothing is showing on Google or the virus sites ... yet. I'd still run a full scan with AV and anti-malware scanners.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

3. Did you install any new software or devices recently?

It's possible that "SignupShield" came bundled with the installation of some other program or device, for example SanDisk Cruzer Flash Drive: http://www.everythingusb.com/sandisk_cruzer_titanium_2gb.html

* Interface(s): Hi-Speed USB
* Dimensions: 2.28" x 0.75" x 0.28"
* Capacity: 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB
* Read transfer speed: 15MB/s
* Write transfer speed: 9MB/s
* Bundled software: Skype 2.0, CruzerSync, SignUp Shields, Avast! Anti-virus
* Special function(s): U3 Smart Platform
* Supported platform(s): Windows 2000 / XP

I agree with Jersey Devil & canetoad's suggestions, run Malwarebytes and any AV you have installed. Another good free malware scanner is SUPERAntiSpyware.

Malwarebytes download from FileHippo: http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
SUPERAntiSpyware download: http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

ETA: SignupShield also installs as an add-on in Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3476 In that case, to uninstall go to Tools > Add-ons > Extensions > delete SignupShield.

[pokerfan]

4. Cruzer drives with U3

Pure evil. The U3 software resides in a non-removable partition and automatically installs itself onto any Windows PC it is plugged into where it appears as an optical drive. Fortunately:

Tool for controlling USB flash devices that conform to the U3 specifications. You can do the following with your U3 flash:

* Replace the CD image
* Change the size of the virtual CD or completely remove it
* Enable and disable security
* Unlock and change the password of secured U3 device
* Obtain various device information

http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/u3-tool

[Earth Bound Misfit]

5. Pure evil, indeed.

I'm not exactly a fan of bundling unwanted applications with devices or other software. Hell, I get annoyed with programs that install links to URLs for internet providers, let alone executables that hide on my disk doing God-knows-what. I understand that part of the reason the drive is so cheap is because there is mucho $$$ incentive to SanDisk to push U3 out to consumers. It's my opinion that unless the software is clearly advertised on the packaging or download page. along with an explicit mention of how to get rid of the software, companies have no business installing or running anything on my machine that is not directly related to the product I intend to buy.

I so loooooove corporate 'Murka. Yes, truly I do.