HELP! Spyware/Spybot/Email

Is Spybot the cause of problems?

[annalindsay]

Spybot - what a good idea it seemed! But since I installed and ran it 48 hours ago, my internet has been behaving very peculiarly. I can access most websites, even - on SOME of them - enter data (as indeed I'm doing with this). BUT I cannot *SEND* email from any of my three email addresses: Hotmail, Freeserve, or Lineone (Tiscali). Nor can I *log* into *any* LYCOS site.
When I try, I get a page saying that the page is unavailable because "Cannot find server or DNS Error
Internet Explorer"
Does this mean that each/all of those four sneaked spyware into my system and are now sulking because it's been deleted?
I noticed on another of these forum posts that Lycos is associated with Gator (one of the "spyware" cookies identified and neutralised by Spybot) - what others should I know of?
And what can I do to be able to email again, and to access Lycos? I contacted my computer manufacturer, and he said that my ISP is to blame - but ntl have responded to my requests for help with loud silence.
Wail! HELP!

[martinibuster]

That's never happened to me on the several computers I use, nor for any of my associates who are using spybot.

Sounds like an internet connection problem. Are you on a network router/gateway? Are you on dsl?

[annalindsay]

Hi Martinibuster. The answer is: I don't know. I've never had a problem like this before either - but I can't understand why it should be so selective. Why allow me to read but not to write emails, on three totally different portals? Why can't I log into Lycos?
I have dial-up internet access (via ntl) but that's never caused a problem before now either - but I have no idea whether I'm on an internet router/gateway, I'm afraid.

[Chndru]

Why can't I log into Lycos?

Can you be more precise? When you type in your browser it gets redirected?

[martinibuster]

Did you use spybot's "Innoculate" feature?

[annalindsay]

(second attempt) Hi there - nope, didn't use any of the innoculate features 'cos I assumed they wouldn't be reversible, and wasn't confident enough to risk that. As for specifics - when I try to log into any of the Lycos features, or try to send emails, this is the page I get (only including first bit 'cos otherwise it appears to be too long):

The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please try the following:

Click the Refresh button, or try again later.

If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly.

[zeus]

I would use Ad-aware and window washer just to clean a little up and delete temp internet files and see what happens.

zeus

[annalindsay]

*sigh* one of the first things I did when the problems started was to delete all my temporary internet files... No difference, unless to make it even worse (up to last night I was able to send emails from my lineone [=Tiscali] address: now even that email avenue is blocked. I also reset my computer to the settings it had 72 hours ago (ie., before I cleaned it of the spyware) but again, zilch, no improvement. And even Mailwasher can't access my Hotmail emails - it informs me that there was an "Error while obtaining message list from hotmail: Connection Closed Gracefully. (EIdConnClosedGracefully) session was aborted" ... :-( :'-( Wail!

[zeus]

Hmm I think my sister had that problem ones where she could not access any email, maybe its time to install windows again, because I cant see how a spyware would cause that problem. One more thing you use the ad-aware 6 the new version right?.

I had a problem ones with spyblocker where some of the pictures dident show up in the browser, then I deleted the blocker and everything was ok.

zeus

[annalindsay]

Just to let you guys know... just as inexplicably as the problems started, they've now disappeared, so I can once again email... And today of course, over a week since I pleaded with ntl to help, they've finally sent an email acknowledging mine... Yes, that's right - about as useful as the fireman waiting til the blaze has put itself out before turning up...
But anyhow, Murphy's Law or not, it's settled again. So back to Martinibuster - is it a good idea to use the INNOCULATE feature on Spybot?