Freepers! How to kill SPYWARE on your computer.

[Capitalism2003]

good stuff...I forgot about Spywareblaster. It's nice to know you can get these things for free. Next time I buy a new computer, the first things on it will be this power combo:

Spybot + Ad-Aware + Spywareblaster + AVG Antivirus + Sygate Firewall.

Great security/privacy/anti-spyware/antivirus package, and it costs $0.00

can't beat it!:)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Outpost Firewall has a free version that rocks! A great addition to any security package.

Some other good spyware software would be Spyware Blaster and SpyWare Guard which have update functions too. Run them before surfing and they will keep the crud from being installed in the first place.

[Capitalism2003]

Thought I'd make hyperlinks to the programs to make it easier to click on them..

Ad-Aware (anti-spyware)

Spybot Search and Destroy (anti-spyware)

AVG Free 7.0 (antivirus)

Sygate Personal Firewall (must-have for broadband)

and finally

Mozilla Firefox (great browser!)

[Prophet in the Wilderess]

well,,, Adware is a program that removes ( ADWARE ) yes,, ad ware can be dangerious,, and it can be used to track your internet activity.
ADWARE 6 is a good program to use

[PoorMuttly]

Once installed Adaware/Search and Destroy on Official Muttly Supercomputer IBM Brain.

Fouled everything up, and had a hard time removing it.

Reminds me of a chicken bone stuck in my craw once...but then again, almost everything does.

Me not munking-up Muttly window on the world ever again...well..not like that, anyway.

[El Gran Salseron]

Nah, those programs didn't mess up your computer. I run them on my computer and have for months in addition to many other programs like pop-up blocker, firewall, etc.

( See my earlier post about where the problem lies when there is a computer problem. )

I really do dislike being so blunt but:

YOU messed up your computer by not following standard installation instructions, not the software which most people try to blame.

You did things like letting all of the background programs continue to run despite and even though on the very first install screen of EVERY program, it clearly states, "We strongly recommend that you exit all programs prior to installing this program," or words to that effect.

"All of your background programs" would include but would not necessarily be limited to the following:

Word Processors, browsers, email programs, Anti-Virus software, pop-up blockers, firewall, any anti-spyware software you had already installed in addition to any of the many other programs that insist upon running when Windows starts.

All of those things have to be shut down in order to have a successful installation of anything. While WinXP does a better job of preventing the kind of thing you experienced it still is not foolproof.

When I do an install of software the only thing left in the System Tray is the time. Other background things can also be shut down by pressing ctrl-alt-del to see the tasks that are running but you have to be careful with the tasks and not shut down system critical files.

Again, sorry to be so blunt but I have found that most people don't listen when I try to be Mr. Nice Guy. :-)

[PoorMuttly]

Muttly not saying he DID everything right..but he TRIED. (he does that)

Now he just continues his monthly procedure of dipping his computer and tv in bleach...although he now unplugs them first.

See? We CAN learn!

[Capitalism2003]

Oh NOO!! They moved my post to the computer forum where NOBODY will read it. I posted in the free republic forum because I wanted to help as many people as possible...now hundreds (thousands) of Freepers aren't going to get these great programs..

:(

[Uri’el-2012]

Mine is a 17" PG

I have never looked back to Pee Cees

[Unknown Freeper]

You do know that the information on these solutions has been posted hundreds of times before already, right?

[Capitalism2003]

I know these programs have been posted before, but I figured the only people who see them are those who LOOK for solutions once their system is already screwed up. Hopefully a few people will find these useful in preventing spyware problems in the first place.

[ThePythonicCow]

There are many rogue spyware programs, often with names that are intentionally similar to the good ones.

The following site sorts this all out: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites.

[Capitalism2003]

weekend BUMP!

[Bush2000]

It never fails. Somebody posts a thread about PC-related issues -- and the Macolytes come crawling out of their hiding places with their exhortations to "Switch to a Mac... You're like Moonies at the airport. Take your damn Mac pencils and flowers -- and scram.

[Capitalism2003]

This is another great FREE firewall. I personally use this, and recommend it to anyone. I like it better than the sygate firewall a posted earlier.
Kerio Personal Firewall

Just click the download link on the left side.

[Izzy Dunne]

Take your damn Mac pencils and flowers -- and scram.

And who appointed YOU the posting police, eh?

I posted one solution to the problem. If you don't like it, then don't follow my advice,

[texasflower]

Thank you for the information in your post about exiting programs.

I truly thought that meant you should make sure the browsers windows were closed and stuff like that.

I did not know about exiting from all that other stuff in the system tray.

Thanks again. I love these threads. I learn something new each time.

[texasflower]

Thank you for posting this stuff.

[investigateworld]

Question here from a tech-challenged grandpa. I load Spy-bot, ran the "wash". it cleaned out 14 problems. Then to induce the evening "constitutional", I slipped over to DU for a laugh. I then ran Spy-bot again and it showed 5 problems. So I washed again, and went back to DU just to check, and "shore nuff" it showed 5 problems. Any suggestions? (Don't tell me not to go to DU land, I need the laughs)

[El Gran Salseron]

Glad to help a fellow Texan. :-)

Just be careful when you bring up the task list. It can be tricky if you do not know which of those programs to shut down.