[jdm]

Got this from Geeks To Go:

Step One: Scan for Spyware/Adware
Ad-aware SE - Download - Home Page
1) Download and install.
2) Run the Webupdate feature. (Click on the Globe icon, Click connect, Click OK, Click Finish.)
3) Set up the Configurations (Gear wheel at the top) as follows:

• General Button > Safety & Settings: Check (Green) all three.
• Tweak Button > Cleaning Engine > UNcheck "Always try to unload modules before deletion".

4) To start the scan, Click > "Scan Now"

• Deselect "Search for negligible risk entries" as negligible risk entries (MRU's) are not considered to be a threat.
• Select "Search for low-risk threats"
• Select "Perform full system scan"
• Click Next

5) When the scan has completed, select Next.

• In the Scanning Results window, select the "Scan Summary" tab.
• Check all objects found in the Critical Objects tab that you wish to remove
• Click Next, Click OK.

CWShredder - Download - Homepage
Run the program. Click the Fix button to remove any malicious programs found.

Spybot S&D - Download - Homepage
Install Spybot and the DSO Exploit Fix. Start Spybot and select Update, Search For Updates, check the box next to each update and then select Download Updates. Next, select Search and Destroy, Check for problems and after scanning is complete, Fix selected problems. Finally, select Immunize and then the Immunize button to block common Spyware programs from installing.

No single program removes every threat. A multi-prong approach is best.

Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites. Unfortunately, many companies have chosen to exploit the spyware problem by releasing questionable software. These programs may be ripoffs of existing free programs, produce false positives to entice you to buy the full version, leave actual Spyware installed, or at the very worst even install Spyware. Use the link above to see if you have installed any of these programs on your system. Uninstall any found.

Step Two: Viruses/Trojans
Even the best antispyware programs are only able to remove about 70% of infections. Also, the line between spyware and trojans is getting blurred. You can never be too careful with these, we recommend at least one online scan.

Ewido Security Suite for Windows 2000 and XP only - Download Free Version (14 day trial) - Homepage
Ewido has been very effective at helping remove some of the more difficult infections. After installed, there should be a icon for ewido on your desktop. Double-click to run it.
Update ewido: From the main Ewido screen, click on update in the left menu, then click the Start update button.
After the update finishes (the status bar at the bottom will display "Update successful"), click on the Scanner button in the left menu, then click on the Start button. This scan can take quite a while to run, but if Ewido finds anything it will pop up a notification, so it needs to be monitored. If notified, select clean and check the boxes "Perform action with all infections" and "Create encrypted backup" before clicking on OK.
When the scan finishes, click on Save Report.

Trend Housecall - Homepage
Even if you do have antivirus software it can be compromised and corrupted by many forms of malware, so an online scan is a good idea.

Run the free online virus scan (tick the "Auto Clean" checkbox).

Here's another free online scan: Panda Activescan

AVG - Download - Homepage
If you don't have any antivirus software on your system, or if your subscription to definition updates has lapsed, install AVG's very good free version of antivirus. This comprehensive package includes real-time protection, scheduled scans, automatic definition updates, and email scanning.

TrojanHunter - Download Free Version (30 day trial) - Homepage
TrojanHunter is the most powerful trojan scanner on the market. Featuring an intuitive user interface and a scanner capable of thoroughly examining your files, system registry, open ports and running processes it gives you all-round protection against trojans.

Step Three: Windows Updates
Windows Update - Homepage - Download SP1a
An unprotected, unpatched Windows XP installation will get infected within minutes of connecting to the Internet.

SP2 NOTE: Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) has terrific security features, and we highly recommend everyone install it, however it should not be installed until your system is free from malware. Installing SP2 with malware present can cause many compatibility problems, or even prevent your computer from restarting. If your system has a malware infection, or if you're unsure, use the SP1a download link above.

[zeugma]

Excellent! Thanks!

[Palladin]

Thanks again.

Bumping up this very educational thread!

Merry Christmas!!

[dsc]

Thanks for the link to Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites. The other day I downloaded Sypware Cleaner, and it claimed (in red letters) to have found several extremely dangerous registry keys, then it hit me up for money to remove them.

Neither Spybot, nor Adaware, nor Panda hit on those keys.

I manually deleted one, and the only thing that happened was I had a hardware error on rebooting.

I've been wondering if Spyware Cleaner generates spurious hits; it appears it does.

[supercat]

SP2 NOTE: Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) has terrific security features, and we highly recommend everyone install it, however it should not be installed until your system is free from malware. Installing SP2 with malware present can cause many compatibility problems, or even prevent your computer from restarting. If your system has a malware infection, or if you're unsure, use the SP1a download link above.

I would like to install a larger hard drive on my computer and reinstall XP. What's the best way of getting everything upgraded and secure, given that all I have for an Internet connection is a slowdem? If I just try to do an install and a direct update, how likely am I to avoid getting zapped before stuff is secured?