500 spywares on my pc...?

Question

We just had our pc "cleaned" and the guy told my husband we had over 500 spywares from Limewire. How can I check for these myself to save money in the future?

Answer 1

Install anti-spyware software

Here's a free one
http://www.safer-networking.org/
///

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

If you have 500 spyware on your PC you should probably do a fresh
install of Windows. Then stop download crap from limewire, then
get several spyware program, there a good list of free ones here I found pretty helpful, it also teaches you how to avoid spyware.http://www.basicspywaretips.com/getridofspyware.html

Answer 4

First off, download ATF Cleaner and delete all temporary files where malware can hide. Make sure you set your Windows Explorer to show all hidden system files before you run ATF.

Update your antivirus. If you do not have one, download and install AVG or Avast!. They are free.

Also install ALL of these:
1. Ad-Aware SE
2. Spybot Search and Destroy
3. Windows Defender (free from Microsoft)
4. Microsoft Malware Remover (free also)
5. SpywareBlaster
6. Ewido
7. Google Toolbar
8. McAfee SiteAdvisor
9. Firewall like Comodo Personal Firewall or Sygate Personal Firewall
10. CWShredder - there are 2 versions. Make sure you install both the last Merijn version and the latest version from TrendMicro.
11. About:Buster
12. HijackThis
13. SUPERAntispyware
14. EMCO
15. Opera browser - do not use IE (Internet Explorer) unless you are updating Windows or doing online banking.
16. WinsockXPFix - to be used only if you cannot connect to the Internet no matter what you try.

Update them RIGHT AFTER YOU INSTALL THEM.

All the above are FREEWARE. All of them are easily Googleble.

Reboot to Safe Mode and run your antivirus, #1-4, 6, 10 (both versions), 11, 13 & 14.

Reboot in Normal Mode. Run HijackThis (or HJT for short). DO NOT REPAIR OR FIX anything that it will list in its scan log. Just copy the whole log.

Register for free at MCH Forums:
http://mycomputerheadaches.tz4.com

After you register, post your HJT scan log at the above site, specifically at the System Security Forum. Precede your posting with a detailed description of your problem. And use a descriptive subject line. For example:
WinXP: Yahoo Messenger infection

Be patient. OJ, our resident HJT expert, has a life outside of his cyberlife. So just wait until he responds. Do read all the postings at the Announcements Forum to follow what you need to do as an MCH member.

I strongly recommend that you back up the registry before making any changes to your Registry. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified subkeys only. For instructions on how to make a backup of the Windows registry:
How to back up Windows Registry
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/199762382617?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam

Note: If the Registry Editor does not open, the worm has made changes to the registry that prevent it from running. To fix this, download and run the Tool to reset shell\open\command registry keys, which also fixes this problem:
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2004-050614-0532-99

Our sister Yahoogroup is:
MCH Yahoogroup
http://mch.tz4.com

Answer 5

You answered your own question, it seems. Dump Limewire.

Not only are most Items downloaded using Limewire illegal and you could face huge fines if caught for stealing copyrighted material, but the downloads are often filled with spyware, viruses, worms and trojans!

Answer 6

Some antispyware prgrams consider as spyware things that are not spyware thus provide such a high number. I really doupt you really had 500 spyware! You have to be careful because most antispyware programs are spyware themselves!!!

If you want a really spyware free system consider using alternative o.s. such as linux!

Answer 7

Do a search for SPYBOT and download and run program. It will find any spyware on your computer. Also download ADAWARE which kind of does the same thing but I run them both and what SPYBOT does not find then ADAWARE does. They are both free programs. I have put a link to each for you. These definately do a great job. On the AdAware site go to Download and Buy and look for the FREE DOWNLOAD, also the other link for SPYBOT is free. Hope this helps..

Answer 8

It sounds like you've Scare-ware. they warfare to scare you to imagine your pc is contaminated so that you'll damage your pc even more effective by technique of downloading their classes. the suitable component to do is attempt now to not panic lol go into secure mode and Do a equipment restoration. After that commence your pc as you usually would. If that do not artwork then initiate in secure mode with networking. And acquire Microsoft protection needs. It has all the protection function in a unmarried software which incorporates anti-virus, anti-secret agent ware ect And that is one hundred% loose

Answer 9

Download ad aware from www.download.com. Its free and will do the job nicely . Just follow the prompts and youl be good to go. Make sure you have an up to date anti virus program too. AVG do a very good free edition .

Answer 10

Try some of these:

Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Keyloggers, Popups:
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3003-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=tab_rev
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
http://www.download.com/Bazooka-Adware-and-Spyware-Scanner/3000-8022-10247782.html
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html
http://www.safer-networking.org/
http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10379544.html
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/download/
Online Scanners:
http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/freescan.html?
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Keyloggers, Popups Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/104
http://www.download.com/Adware-Spyware-Removal/3150-8022_4-0.html?tag=dir
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/antispyware/setarea
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/Security/AntiSpyware/3-9-0-0.html
Antivirus:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html
Antivirus Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/1
http://www.download.com/Antivirus/3150-2239_4-0.html?tag=dir
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads29.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/antivirus/
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/Security/Antivirus/3-1-0-0.html
Firewall:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=staticcomp_za
Firewall Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/97
http://www.download.com/Firewalls/3150-10435_4-0.html?tag=dir
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads34.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/firewalls/
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/Security/Firewalls/3-5-0-0.html
IP Blocker:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/peerguardian/pg2-050918-nt.exe?download
Browser:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Email, News, RSS:
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
System Cleaner:
http://www.ccleaner.com/
System Cleaning List:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/98
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads12.html
http://www.filehippo.com/software/cleaning/
System Info:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/92
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads9.html
http://www.soft32.com/s/Windows/System_Utilities/System_Tools/3-50-0-0.html