do i have a spyware in my computer?

Question

my computer has all the symptoms of a spyware in it yet when i scan with norton security it comes up clear even windows defender say its ok so why do i have the symptoms like unwanted ads, slower system

Answer 1

use a program like spy-bot search and destroy or Ad-aware... there free to download

Answer 2

Try booting in Safe Mode and run Spybot Search and Destroy, then Ad-Aware SE Personal. You have an anti virus but you also need an anti adware and an anti spyware/trojan!
Then reboot and run Ccleaner, use the Issues tool then the Cleaner.

To get into Safe Mode repeatedly press the F8 key after the bios screen loads but before Windows loads. You'll know if you made it because the screen will be at 800 x 600 and your pc will be slow.

You need all three anti spyware programs;
http://www.ewido.net - AVG(Ewido) anti trojan.
http://www.lavasoft.com - Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware. Use the Teatimer settings to protect Internet Explorer, and the Immuniser to stop malware getting on your pc.
Also use Microsoft Defender and their online scans.

And these are useful utilities;
http://www.mozilla.com/ - Firefox web browser.
http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool
Winpatrol is a handy utility that tracks cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com
Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
http://www.siteadvisor.com -MacAffee Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.

If you are using Noton '05 or '06 that will slow your pc. And a few people have found Windows Defender also slows their pc.
Since its a free download try using Spybot S&D for a month instead of Defender.

Answer 3

do wot ever u whant scan how much u whant remove n e thing u whant it still wil be same.
1. u have instaled some kind of program wich slows down ur computer. romove somestartup programs (RUN > msconfig>startup)
then if it didnot helps then its ur windows
u have been using it for a long time (removing and installing new programs)
and now ur system is crashed. and takes long time to work out.
my sujestion is reinstall windows and do not install n e antyvirus.
it slows pc verry much.
use windows defender good program from microsoft. easy to use.
(if u gat a virus ur antyvirus wont help n e way it will remove virus but ur system will be crashed
best defence for viruses is to wipe the whole system and reinstall wndows.
but beckup ur files...
create new partition where u gonna keep ur files.
and every time u gonna have this kind of problem just reinstall windows.

Answer 4

I suggest that you try to carryout system restore to a day previous to the day when there was no virus or any problems. It may be a few weeks or months back. You have to decide the date. Detailed instructions are posted at http://fixit.in/systemrestore.html
The problem is likely to be solved. Then,You insatll a standard antivirus soft ware such as Norton, AVG , Avast ( free antivirus software and Ad-aware, Ewido ( free spyware removers). You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

Answer 5

You need anti spyware exclusive programmes . Try one for free of cost at www.download.com

I tried webroot and it really worked very well. After all spywares are removed, I am continuing fine with just norton. But it is always better to have both antivirus and anti spyware

Answer 6

I'd go with Ivan R on this. Download & install the freebies he mentions, then update 'em on line before you run them. Norton isn't terribly efficient.

That sort of thing now excluded, it could be other problems. Try cleaning and defragging your drive(Start - All Programs - Accessories - System tools).

Your isp should have provision for controlling web pop-ups (in AOl it's in Safety).

You might also like to visit www.crucial.com for a check of your system - it might advise you to get more RAM.

Answer 7

Hello,

If you suspect you have some kind of malware or spyware, or adware running some where on your system then dont ignore your hunch. I use the following freeware programs/tools to scan my machine & detect nasties that have sneeked past my firewall.
I can highly recommend ALL or any of these programs they are extremely reliable.

No.1 AdAware SE by Lavasoft
http://www.lavasoft.com/

No.2 A2Squared (anti malware scanner)
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

No.3 SpyBot Search & Destroy (anti malware scanner)
http://www.safer-networking.org/

No.4 Ewido (anti malware scanner)
http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_downl.htm

No.5 AVG Free version 7.5
http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_downl.htm

IR (10yrs+ in the IT computer industry, trained to MCSE)

Answer 8

If your computer gets slower than u really have spyware. U need to get a anti spyware software.

Answer 9

Virus Checkers only can find viruses they are already familiar with. On top fo that, it's easy enough to "pack", modify a trojan so that it''s no longer recognizable.

You need to find the viruses startup method and remove it that way. Try these programs:

Some useful appps, inlcuidng HijackThis a registry cleaner:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php

Sysinternals, a VERY useful collection of programs:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx

Answer 10

Make sure you know all your passwords, then delete all your cookies and history. With Firefox, you'll find the options under
Tools>Clear Private Data.
With Explorer it's under
Tools > Internet Options > Browser History > Settings

Answer 11

There are a multitude of reasons your computer is slower and most have nothing to to with Spyware. The number of programs running from start up, disk needing defragmenting are just two.

If you have unwanted ads then you have adware on your computer. Adware is installed by Trojans.

The programs I list in these steps are the best Trojan remover and best adware remover. You can also run your Norton and WD using these steps.

This procedure works for all Malware. Use any AntiVirus or AntiSpy program you choose.

Download and Update Ewido (now called the AVG Antispyware). Do not run:

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/...

Download AdAware SE and update. Do the setup. Do not run:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/

AdAware SE Setup:

1. Select "use custom scanning options" then select "customize". Make sure the following options are enabled: "scan within archives," "scan active processes," "scan registry," "deep scan registry," "scan my IE favorites for banned URLs," "scan my Hosts file."

2. Select the "tweak" option. Under "scanning engine," make sure "unload recognized processes and modules during scan" is enabled. Enable "scan registry for all users instead of current users."

3. Under "cleaning engine" turn on "always try to unload modules…," "during removal unload explorer and IE if necessary," "let windows remove files in use at next restart," and "delete quarantined items after restoring."

4. Use the "select drives and folders to scan" option to ensure that your entire hard drive is scanned (if you have more than one hard drive, scan all of them (of course, do not include floppy and CD/DVD).


TEMPORARILY SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS.

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.

3. On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click "Show hidden files and folders", and clear(uncheck) the "Hide protected operating system files" check box.

IMPORTANT: Files are hidden by Windows for a very good reason. It is not wise to experiment with these files. Unfortunately, to successfully remove modern spyware we must turn this protection off temporarily. Please turn the protection back on when you have finished cleaning your system.


EMPTY INTERNET EXPLORER BROWSER CACHE:

1. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2. On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button. Select the Delete all offline content check box in the confirmation dialogue box that appears, click OK. Click OK again.

RESTART IN SAFE MODE:

To do this you need to hold down or repeatedly tap the F8 key while the computer is booting (when the computer is displaying a black screen with white text). When the boot menu appears, use your keyboard arrows to select "Safe Mode."

Safe Mode can look quite ugly. The color may look bad, and all of your desktop icons will be very large. This is normal.



START THE SCAN WITH YOUR ANTI-VIRUS OR ANTI-SPYWARE PROGRAM.


When the scan and removal are completed REBOOT COMPUTER. This will restart you in normal mode. DON'T FORGET TO RESET HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS.


NEW RESTORE POINT.

The RESTORE POINTS may be infected with the Malware and cannot be used.

HERE'S HOW:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Click Performance and Maintenance, click System, and then click on the System Restore tab.

3. Select the Turn Off System Restore check box, click Apply, then restart your computer.

4. Return to the System Restore Tab and turn System Restore back on.


TO SET A NEW RESTORE POINT:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Point to Programs, then navigate to Accessories, then System Tools, then click System Restore.

3. Choose Create a restore point, and then click Next.

4. In the Restore point description box, type a name for your restore point, and then click Next.

5. Click OK.

NOTE: If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and are unable to access the Internet after removing Malware, there is a command that may fix the problem. It works by resetting the winsock catalogue. Click on Start, then Run and type CMD in the box. Click OK. Type "netsh winsock reset" (no quotes)into the DOS window that appears.


ADDITION INFORMATION ABOUT TROJANS:

There are Trojans that fall into the Smitfraud family. These require the use of a specialized program for removal. Here are two sites that specialize in removing these:

http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm

http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix_En.php