Freepers! How to kill SPYWARE on your computer.

[Capitalism2003]

Hey Freepers, you gotta keep those computers healthy, so I thought I'd post these links together for those of you without good spyware protection on your computer. These programs will clean your system out and get rid of a bunch of nasty little programs that have installed themselves on your PC over the years without your knowledge. This is a great combination of products (100% FREE!) that can deal a knockout blow to spyware and bad computer viruses.

To eliminate spyware, use these.

Ad-Aware 6.0:

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10319876.html?tag=lst-0-2

and

Spybot Search and Destroy:

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-2

If you don't have a good Antivirus program installed, make sure to download this one!:

AVG Antivirus 7.0 (Free)

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/1/

After installing these, I recommend you navigate through the menus and UPDATE them for the latest spyware/virus definitions, then run a complete scan with each program. This should kill a LOT of bad stuff hiding on your PC.

I also highly recommend using the Mozilla Firefox browser instead of Internet Explorer. Firefox has a built in pop-up blocker and automatically prevents spyware from being installed while you surf the web. (In my experience, it also loads web sites much faster!) You can import all of your settings and bookmarks from internet explorer, so you really have nothing to lose. Give it a shot!

Firefox 1.0 http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

[Dolphy]

I currently use Spybot S&D, and it is not as effective as some other solutions

I have been told to use it in conjunction with another spyware program, Ad-Aware (as recommended here). I don't know if there was any truth to the recommendation but they seemed to think it wasn't ideal to rely on any single program.

[Se7eN]

Here's the direct link:

http://www.techsupportforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=50

[HairOfTheDog]

So.... we need to install crap on our computers to get rid of other crap. What gets rid of the new crap?

[mattdono]

The easiest way to avoid spyware and viruses...

1. Never (e-v-e-r) use Microsoft Internet Explorer again.
2. Never (e-v-e-r) use Microfoft Outllook, Outlook Express, etc. again.
3. Start brushing up on how to convert to Linux or Mac.

[Capitalism2003]

HijackThis should be used as a last resort in my opinion. If you keep Spybot and Ad-aware updated, they will find pretty much everything out there.

[WKB]

I also highly recommend using the Mozilla Firefox browser instead of Internet Explorer


Is there any problem switching back
"if you are not
completely satisfied with in 30 days"?

[El Gran Salseron]

I have the old Netscape still installed as well as Internet Explorer and Firefox just as backups in case I ever need to get online and something goes awry with IE.

I have always used IE with no problems of security breaches, etc.

I have to repeat my oft-used term: When a supposedly otherwise competent computer tech has problems with a computer, the problem usually lies between the chair and keyboard.

Generally speaking, ( and I'll probably get flamed for this, ) I have found that those people who complaim about Microsoft, IE, ad infinitum AND ad nauseum, are disgruntled and jealous of Microsoft for the same reason that foreigners hate the USA.....jealousy, envy and resentment.....hating # 1.....it's almost a custom and, if not, then a tradition in many places. :-)

[Unknown Freeper]

[Dashing Dasher]

I found something called "cookie wall" which allows me to yeah or nay any incoming cookie.

I also use ad-aware, spy bot, spy assassin, spy clean, spyware blaster and hijack this regularly.

I'm obsessed with denying spammers and spies access to my stuff.

[Prophet in the Wilderess]

I run WEBBROOT SPY SWEEPER , ADWARE , and the best spy preventer I found is SPY BLASTER , it keeps most spy ware from ever getting on your PC.
Is it ok to run 2 firewalls at the same time ?
I run windows XP and Norton, but, I like ZONELABS better,, I hear there are conflicts if you run 2 firewalls.
I use about 3 or 4 different programs to get rid of spy ware.

[WKB]

I have found that those people who complain about Microsoft, IE, ad infinitum AND ad nauseum, are disgruntled and jealous of Microsoft for the same reason that foreigners hate the USA.....jealousy, envy and resentment.....hating # 1.....it's almost a custom and, if not, then a tradition in many places. :-)




I am not any of those and belong to the
"if it ain't broke don't fix it " club.

Thanks for your help.

[Prophet in the Wilderess]

I would not advise to use any places on the Internet to do a FREE SCAN on your PC, never go to any places were they do a scan from their sight.
I advise, to download one from either ( C-net , PC Magazine, Z-Net ) or download from a sight were you can download their demos, i.e. ADWARE , SPY BOT, SPYBLASTER.

[Prophet in the Wilderess]

Yes,,, I highly recommend using Mozilla over IE explorer, it is safer and IMHO faster.
FIREFOX is good also.

[Prophet in the Wilderess]

I bet with all of that spyware on her PC , it was running slow.
900 ? YIKES.

[JoJo Gunn]

Run like hell from Spyhunter! Their practices were always suspect, and why believe they've changed for the better?

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#sh_note

[JoJo Gunn]

Addenda:

Many so-called spyware removers outright stole their program code from SpyBot S&D or AdAware, etc.

http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000007.html

I had my own experience with a rogue last year:

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24086

[WKB]

Is Adware like cholesterol?
Is there good and bad?

[Se7eN]

It's an entirely different type of malware though.

Say a hacker successfuly hijacks your web browser and manages to get svchost.exe installed through an old Java platform that was unsecured and into your windows directory.. You wouldn't know that the real svchost.exe resides in the windows/system32 folder.

Someone who can interpret a log will spot those and remove them. Pacman's Startup List is a great resource to check suspect files, but last I checked it was down for maintanance.

Spyware is a completely different type of malware. Usually low-threat data miners.

[ClintonBeGone]

It worked great for me. In fact, I had some spyware that redirected my google searches and Spyhunter was the only thing that actually removed it. I would highly recommend the product.

[Rockingham]

Good recommendations, and in addition to AdAware and SpyBot, I suggest the following freebies:

(1) Sygate Personal Firewall, both the software and the online security scans.
http://smb.sygate.com/

(2) SpywareBlaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

(3) Panda Software's on line antiviral scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

(4) Mozilla Firefox browser
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Learn them, use them, and keep them updated. It does not take much of a slip up to get a nagging problem. My brother prefers Explorer to Firefox, and his computer intermittently goes haywire due to a virus. Even removing the virus did not cure the problem, so I am probably going to have to lead him through a re-installation of XP or at least the SP2 update over the holidays.