First, check your Startup Folder under your Start->Programs. Remove everything you can (right click->delete) without breaking anything.
IF YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR REGISTRY AND ARE COMFORTABLE MODIFYING IT SKIP TO THE BOTTOM FOR EXTRA INSTRUCTION. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE REGISTRY DO NOT MODIFY IT. YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR PC IF YOU DO!
Get Adaware http://www.download.com/Ad-aware/3000-8022-10214379.html?tag=lst-0-2.
Also get Spybot http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-2.
Run Spybot first. When installing, be sure to not load extra languages, unless you use your pc with another language. Also be sure to enable the Tea Timer. Tea Timer is a real time Registry protection program.
For both SBot And AdAware, be sure to download the updates available.
After each program has run, remove or quarantine the found spyware items.
TeaTimer will notify you when a suspicious mod will be made to your registry. This is a tricky thing to know when to allow registry mods and when to disallow. If you did something to trigger a registry mod, it may be ok. IE - Installing MS Office, probably ok. Windows Update, probably ok. HOWEVER... if you're surfing or just reading email and TeaTimer pops up and asks to mod the registry... NUKE IT! No way!
A good pop-up killer is from Panicware at http://panicware.com/process_download.html?prdid=PSFREE.
Install this straight thru. No sweat. It catches most pop-ups. Not all.
FINALLY, if you do not want any spyware, DO NOT DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THE CUTESY JUNK OFF THE NET... To include:
ANY helper bars (GOOGLE, YAHOO, MSN, are included in this)
Screen savers
Smileys
Icons
Wallpaper
Bargain Helpers
Password Reminders (GATOR!)
For those who will say, "But I cannot remember my passwords" or "I really like the pictures of tropical islands" or "But Google is a major corporation" I say learn to live with Spyware, pop ups and your PC being PWNED! (That's elite speak for "OWNED!") At that point, someone else is using your PC more than you are!
OK, DANGEROUS STUFF HERE - MODIFYING YOUR REGISTRY
DO NOT DO THESE THINGS UNLESS YOU ARE CERTAIN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
It's probably a good idea to create a back up of your registry. Export ALL settings in case something goes awry.
Start->Run Command->regedit
Find HKEY_CURRENT_USERS Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Run
In the Run Folder on the right hand side of the window, start ripping stuff out. If you cannot look at the item and determine what it is you may not want to remove it.
Do the same for anything in the folders like Run, ie - RunOnce, RunOnceEx, RunServices, etc.
ALSO do the same thing for
HKEY_CURRENT_USERS Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Run*
By removing things from the Run* folders, the worst that should happen is you remove something that SHOULD be started when the PC boots. You may need to re-install some software like a printer or scanner driver.
At times, I have ripped out EVERYTHING in a Run Folder with no harm.
Please do not screw up your PC. I am not responsible for what you do to your PC!
-Ken
I run Ad Aware, Spybot S&D, and my AV program regularly, always ran the 'check for updates' at the start, but found it odd that for a few months that there were no updates for AA and Spybot. Finally I went on my own to the Spybot website and downloaded the newest version. All that kinda makes me wonder if somehow some kind of virus or spyware got past my firewall and had gotten in and 'turned off' or redirected my AA & Spybot. Ever heard of such a thing happening?
I'm just a bit scared to say this, but I've never had (to my knowledge) any of the problems mentioned on this thread. Why do some people get viruses and pop-ups and spyware and others don't?
I don't think I've got any kind of different setup than anyone else.
Thanks for all the info and advice. It is much appreciated.