DSO Exploit

Below we describe the DSO Exploit and provide you with information on how to remove it.

What is DSO Exploit?

DSO Exploit is simply a URL (address) placed in the registry by a site you have visited. It sends information from your computer back to the advertising sites where data is collected, then processed.

Although the DSO Exploit is not a virus, it is used to track your activities.

The DSO Exploit is brought to your attention with programs like Spybot Search and Destroy and others. This DSO Exploit takes advantage of a hole in Internet Explorer that under certain conditions may allow untrusted software to run on the computer. Hacker’s could use this DSO Exploit to gain unauthorized access to your computer!

You’ll find that even with the latest security patches, the DSO Exploit may rear its ugly head from time to time. It you are patched, then you have nothing to worry about, simply delete the DSO Exploit using the following method:

How do I Remove DSO Exploit?

Use caution when modifying the registry to fix this DSO Exploit!

Using Spybot Search & Destroy look for the DSO Exploit and then:

1. First, the this DSO Exploit Fix.
2. Disconnect your internet connection
3. Reboot your computer the standard way
4. Run Spy bot
5. Enter the registry by clicking on the start menu, then run, type regedit and choose OK
6. Now locate each one of the registy entries that Spy Bot said it found the DSO exploit in.
7. Rename the 1004 files to 1003 then exit regedit
8. Shut down your computer
9. Reconnect your internet connection
10. Restart your computer
11. Run Spy Bot again to verify the DSO Exploit has been removed
12. Make sure you’re not being tracked in other ways by visiting our spyware and firewall tests!
13. Use Proxomitron to mask your browsers signature!

You should be protected against the DSO Exploit if you’re patched. If so, you can eliminate the hassle of removing the exploit again and again in Spy Bot by doing the following:

1. Open Spybot and select ‘advanced’ mode
2. Select ‘settings’ in the left column
3. Select ‘ignore product’ in the left column
4. Select ‘security’ tab
5. Place check mark in box beside DSO Exploit
6. Close program
7. Open Spybot and run another scan looking for the DSO Exploit

 

I should mention that this vulnerability in Internet Explorer has been corrected. If you’ve patched IE and are up to date with current Microsoft Patches, then you’re safe, even if a DSO exploit is reported.

The problem comes from a bug in Spy bot Search and Destroy. It seems that the DSO Exploit may still be reported even though you have removed the exploit; it should be noted they are working on this issue and will have a DSO Exploit fix soon.

In the end, you can safely ignore Spy Bot message of the DSO Exploit. Just keep in mind that you must be fully patched and should run our free firewall test before you start visiting internet sites again.