Help with spyware/adware?

Question

Hi! How often should I run spyware and adware proframmes and how do I know what is safe to delete? I'm worried that if I just delete everything that shows up, I could lose something important.

Don't really know what these programmes do, so any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

Answer 1

The programs that your talking about only list the source of the adware. You can safely delete them w/o hurting anything. If you want a harder scrubbing of your HDD get an antivirus program they are made so that you can extract the problematic files. Always backup your system.

Answer 2

Downlaod Windows Defender from microsoft, add AdAware and SpyBot SnD and you will be fine.

Defender runs all the time and will warn you if changes are being made to your system by malware. Run the scans to be totally sure there isn't latent malware (installed but not making any changes at that point). Once a week is fine, by having all 3 of those programs you will have covered all the bases.

Try using a different browser like Firefox as well, it is used by a lot less people and so attckers are less likely to change code to target it. Opera and Browzar are also good alternatives though in my opinion Firefox is the best. IE uses Active X a favourite attack method for malware, this is not part of the 3 alternatives.

Don't worry too much about deleting things that are flagged up, none of the above will delete any system files or programs needed for the operating system.

Also make sure you have all Windows Security updates, download them as soon as they come out (yellow sheild icon next to your clock). These will stop many new known attacks.

NEVER download screensavers, desktop "tools", smiley add-ons etc UNLESS they are from a branded site you knwo and trust. These are popular ways of installing malware. Not sure, use a search engine with the site/program name you want to try and add "adware malware spyware" to the search text. If its bad, likely others will know about it and will have discussed it on the net.


"when ever your explorer is slow then you have spyware on the system"

from user above - not true slowness can be cause dby a variety of reasons only one of which is malware

Answer 3

I run the CCleaner every day [or more after 8 hours].
I run Lavasoft Ad Aware Personal SE every day [or more after 8 hours].
I delete all found files/issues without ever needing to be concerned of 'losing' anything. The backups are never made & nothing is ever quarantined.
I don't really know what these programs do so I just trust that it explains why I must login again after each cleaning. Since I've been in the practice of doing it this way, I've experienced NO problems. Periodically the CCleaner is updated. Every two weeks Lavasoft is updated (not to be confussed with upgraded!).

Answer 4

Depends on the software. If u are using Spybot, Ad-Aware SE, Norton Spyware scan or Yahoo antispy, u can delete every single entries. Hijackthis is a software u don't want 2 mess about. It's a powerful tool, but shows lots of normal things in scan which u shudn't delete, along with the bad one's. In that case, just google the entries.(Don't go to any sites) See the descriptions and remove those which has bad descriptions. Use registry mechanic, registry cleaners all with extreme caution. Once a day or once in two days, u shud run it.

Answer 5

I use Spy-bot,Ad-aware,and Spyware Blaster. The blaster is a program that prevents adware/spyware on your computer getting uploaded .
There is another one called "CLEANUP" that will,of course,clean up temporary files from your computer and free up the hard drive,

I run all programs at least twice a week.

Answer 6

hi. usually adware remover doesn't remove vital components of the system.so u can trust them with what ever they scan n show as threat and go on for deleting it..
but be careful with softwares which scan your registry for errors like registry mechanic..they might remove few important files if they are affected...

so i suggest 2 things..
1) create backup of registry once u install or delete softwares.
2) create system restore points once in every 3 days.

Answer 7

Quarantine what you find then run your pc for a while to check you haven't removed anything vital. Cookies and low risk mru's are probably safe to delete.
Always make a registry backup if the option is there and add the date so you know whats what. Save all your registry backups in one folder, to restore them you usually just double click on the file.
Always read the turorials and help manuals supplied with the programs.

Answer 8

I depends what you install and how often??? I use adaware by lavasoft which is free for the personal edition and I run it maybe once a month as I avoid installing highrisk progs.

Answer 9

I use Ad-Aware program every morning and I delete everything in the end. Nothing has happened to my computer so far, so i think you should delete everything that shows up in the end.

Answer 10

Spyware is a common problem and will affect all computers if your computer is not protected.

Read this forum which details how to use various anti spyware tools, instructions on how to set them up and even provides support if you have anymore questions.

General Spyware advice:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=8.0

Spybot:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21.0
Windows Defender:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=78.0
HijackThis!:
http://www.phx-web.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=57.0