Will an AntiVirus get rid of spyware/adware infection?

Question

On my desktop background is says, "Your computer is in Danger! Windows Security Center has detected spyware/adware infection! It is strongly recommended to use special antispyware tools to prevent data loss."
I am scanning my files with Norton AntiVirus right now, & i'm afraid that it won't get rid of the infected files.

Answer 1

Your computer is at very serious risk if that appears in your background. When surfing the net, you must be very careful on what websites you visit. Some anti-virus detect and erase spyware, however NOT all of them do that, since their companies also sell the adware/spyware removal software. Try downloading this http://lavasoft.com/ go to the personal version link. That is one of the best FREE spyware programs. Another excellent program is Search & Destroy, which you can get here: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Good Luck!

Answer 2

EASY FIX

Your desktop has been hijacked which simply means you are using someone's website as your desktop, easy fix,

Right click on your desktop, go to properties then Desktop. You will see a button that says "Customize desktop" click that then hit the "web" tab on top there. Uncheck any box you see then click ok. it should be gone now
all the spyware software in the world won't fix the desktop problem!

Answer 3

Since the questions you have asked is similar to a lot that appear on answers, I have prepared this to aid you. Topics covered are: Anti virus, Anti spy ware, Browsers, e-mail, Word processors, Database, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Drawings and Photo manipulations. All programmes described are free to use, some even for commercial use.

Antiviral.

AVG free. Excellent protection available from: http://www.Grisoft.com

Don't use two antiviral products together as they may be incompatible. If your Antiviral trial has run out, then remove product from your computer and get the AVG installed.

Anti-spyware

Essential products are: Adaware SE from: http://www.lavasoft.com

Spybot SD http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Spywareblaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Windows Defender - from Microsoft downloads.

Office Applications

Open Office has an extremely good free to use and distribute product at http://www.openoffice.org

It contains programmes fully functional in Word-processing, Database, Spreadsheets, Drawing and Presentation. It looks and feels like Microsoft Office and can even make PDF's

Photo-manipulations

For ease of use and management of your photo files try Kodak easyshare software http://www.kodak.com

or Picasso. http://.picasa.google.com/

For advanced and fully functional photographic manipulation gimp2 is very similar to Photoshop and is available from http://gimp.org

Browsers and E-mail programmes.

Can recommend Firefox for browsing and has many safety features installed and is self updating and for a general e-mail programme, Thunderbird is very good. Go to:

http://www.mozilla.com/products/

Fun and helpful programmes

Have a look at Calendar Magic, http://www.stokepoges.plus.com/calendar.htm


it has lots of Scientific, Geometry, Factor and Expression calculators as well as Global distances, Sun and Moon Data, a Pregnancy Calculator, Time Data and Alarm clocks as well as an extremely comprehensive range of Calendars in about 27 different formats from Afghanistan to Vietnamese, including Chinese and Hindu.

C Cleaner.http://www.ccleaner.com/

This will tell you a lot about what is on your computer, such as running programmes,cookies, History, settings etc. and will help you clean up and remove unwanted items. Be careful how you use it as it is a very powerful programme and you should read the help index before you do anything with it.

Hope this information is of help to you and others.

Answer 4

Not really - here is the best thing to do:

To begin, download Ad-Aware SE from Lavasoft at:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/


Once the download is complete – load Ad-Aware onto your computer – follow the prompts to load Ad-Aware, a very simple process. Ad-Aware will ask if it should run, click OK and update the program by clicking the “Check For Updates Now” link. Once the update is complete follow these instructions:

To use Ad-Aware:

1) Restart your computer in “Safe” mode
a.During boot-up, hit the “F8” key until a menu selection appears, then choose “Safe Mode”
2)Click on Administrator
3)Double click on “My Computer”
4)Double click on “C”
5)Double click on “Program Files”
6)Double click on “Lavasoft”
7)Double click on “Ad-Aware SE Personal”
8)Double click on “Ad-Aware”
9)Click the “Start” button
10)Click on the “Use custom scanning options” button
11)Click the “Customize” link
12)Make sure that “Scan within archives” is checked green
13)Make sure all of the options under “Memory & Registry” are checked green
14)Click “Proceed”
15)Click “Next” and allow to run
16)When complete, click next
17)Right mouse click on the first item and choose “Select All”
18)Click Next
19)Click “OK”
20)You’ve now cleaned your system
21)Now Log Off and Log In again
a.Click the “Start Button”
b.Click Log Off
c.Now Click your User name and start over.

Answer 5

No anti virus won't help but you can download a free and good program at www.lavasoft.com, look for adaware se personal, just keep it updated! If your having problems run a full system scan the first time through.

Answer 6

No it wont but go to http://www.trendmicro.com/spyware-scan/

its a free scan that will tell you all types of stuff like security and virus and spyware/malware its really kewl it worked for me

enjoy

Answer 7

I would suggest getting "Spybot Search and Destroy". Look it up in the yahoo engine, click on "downloads" on the main page and download from the "planet mirror" mirror site. I think it's still free and it works well with updates.

Answer 8

I highly recommend "spybot-search & destroy" free spyware/adware (download from Download.com)

Answer 9

on rare occasions... norton wont pick up crap.. sides as long as u dont down load or go 2 porno u should b ok.. its the sites with the popups 2..

spybot works

Answer 10

Try this free anti virus software. You can down load it, it might take awhile depending on your computer speed,but I think it is pretty good www.avast.com use the home version

I hope this is of some use to you, good, luck.

"FIGHT ON"