Spyware slowing computer - ad aware fixed it (not a commercial)

Lavasoft and me ^ | Me

[BJungNan]

Sorry if this is viewed as a vaniety. Just trying to pass along a bit of information in case anyone is having slow computer problems.

First, I have a dial up so it is slow anyhow. But for the last couple of days it has been crawling - nearly usable. So, for the heck of it, I ran an ad aware scan (lavasoft).

Amazing. As soon as I got rid of the spyware it detected, my computer sped right back up to normal. All I can figure is the spyware was hogging up the line.

Maybe some of you have a better handle on this and can tell me what happened. Anyhow, if you are having similar slow, slow, slow connection, you might give it a try.

[Pikamax]

Adaware does rock

http://lavasoft.element5.com/support/download/

[dts32041]

I use it in conjunction with spybot, nothing gets past those two.

[steplock]

Computer-Security
1.  Security Test 3.  Download AVG AntiVirus 5.  Check for Virus Hoaxes		2.  Download Zone Alarm 4.  Download Ad-Aware

[TFMcGuire]

ADAWARE IS ONE OF THOSE FREEWARE PROGRAMS THAT WORKS EXACTLY AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I LOVE IT!

I RANK IT UP THERE WITH ZONEALARM FIREWALL WHICH IS ANOTHER TERRIFIC FREEEWARE PROGRAM.

BIGFIX IS ANOTHER EXCELLENT PROGRAM WHICH COSTS NOTHING.

[1rudeboy]

I've tried to install AdAware on two separate PC's, and all I get is a message that says some .DLL file is missing. However, when I've gotten it to install, I've been pleased.

[Servant of the Nine]

My results haven't been that dramatic, but it does keep things clean and I run it regularly.

So9

[CedarDave]

Yup. Works as advertised. Make sure you update the program and run it regularly.

[krb]

Sorry if this is viewed as a vaniety

And a bunip to the top for this vaniety. :-)

[tubebender]

I thought it was just Cox.net when I started to see a slowdown and tonight it ceased to function so I read some magazines. Just tried getting on line again and come across your post. Darn thing is I ran a speed test last night and I'm getting 2616 kbps down loadload. Will these programs work on a Mac running OSX?

Another reason I thought it was Cox is because I bought a 20 Sharp LCD TV for my desk from Costco Friday and any action (Nascar football baseball etc) is blurred. I was told by a Freeper the broadband too slow for the tv...

[dvan]

I had the same problem with spyware from www.igetnet.com
Ad-Aware detected it but couldn't remove it using igetnet's unistall. Finally had to uninstall Ad-Aware. Apparently it created a file. Finally found it and was able to delete it. Took about 2 weeks.

[KineticKitty]

bump

[F16Fighter]

bump

[First_Salute]

http://forums.techguy.org/t110934/s75b02c57fbb595a017a6a95c081019bc.html

That link will help you with understanding what all has happened.

The techguy recommends two app.'s, StartupList and SpyBot

Good luck.

P.S. Strongly recommended, also: Zone Alarm Pro or Kerio Personal Firewall (look 'em up online)

[moondancer]

anyone know how to detect if your computer is being hacked and is spy ware something someone has to download physically to your computer or can it be sent via email ect? another Q-is it normal for you mouse to go off on its own, to say your documents ect?? weve had lots of computer problems over the years, we had norton, but somehow it got disabled without our knowledge..we dont know how long weve been unprotected. both of us also will get odd messages when attempting to access email or our stock page such as "access denied, too many attempts at an invalid password" when we havent accessed it for days. any suggestions would be great at how to peek in my computer:)

[lwoodham]

yep, Ad-ware is cool. I have been using it for about a year and helps at times. Some of the spyware will get right back on your machine though. Depends on sites you visit.

[lwoodham]

Spy Ware gets put on your PC just by visiting certain websites. It should be outlawed.

[Sir Gawain]

Spybot works better but they're both good.

[anymouse]

You've got problems.

Download and load up Zone Alarm (link above) to detect if someone is trying to access your computer without your knowlege. Likewise download Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware to check for spyware. But most importantly reload Norton Anti-Virus and check to see if you have any virus. Make sure you have the latest MS Windows updates as well. Bigfix will help with that, but the MS Internet Explorer update windows option will let you know what you need to update.

The mouse skitter may just be a dirty mouse ball. Also run scandisk and scanreg.exe /fix and defrag regularly.

[lwoodham]

I really believe that this is a malicious intrusion on privacy and have thought about writing some "special" protection software to stop it completely )