My computer has picked up some spyware. What is it? and how do i get rid of it?

Question

any help please

Answer 1

just go to control panel and find add and remove programs...
there find the program or spyware you want to reamove and remove it.

Answer 2

You need to install and run a software removal tool like Spybot Search and Destroy. I'm guessing you are seeing the Windows XP balloon message telling you that you are infected?

You can download it for free here: http://www.safer-networking.org/

Download the programme. Run it and let is update itself to the latest updates. It will also back up your registry in case removing any of the spyware causes problems. Run the tool to find any spyware on your PC. Remove it taking note of the messages about removing some spyware that is hidden in search toolbars etc which may stop them working.

Once your machine is clean run the innoculation programme. This prevents spyware from getting back on to your PC.

Answer 3

Three things:

Do you have a firewall? If not, get one! try www.zonelabs.com

Do you have anti-virus? Try www.avast.com - only have ONE a/v at a time

Do you have anti-spyware? Try www.lavasoft.com for AdAware SE Personal edition, www.safer-networking.org for Spybot Search & Destroy.

These are all free downloads that work! When you've installed, follow their update procedures, then run the a/v and anti-spyware, that should do the trick.

If you're keen, run your PC in Safe mode, by continually tapping F8 while booting it up, then run your clever new software from there. Then reboot normally.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

All of these are ones that I personally use and all are free.After you install any of them,make sure you update them to get the full affect.

AVG Removes I-Worm/Stration · BackDoor.Generic3.GBB and .GBC · Worm/Generic.FX · Exploit.WMF
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.safer-networking.org/

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!
Make sure after you download any of these, that you update them.

*Be sure to come back to Yahoo Q&A and vote for one of the answers as best answer!

Answer 5

Here is a top list of free antispyware

Spybot S&D
Windows Defender
Ad Aware Se Personal
AVG Antispyware 7.5
SuperAntispyware

If you don't have any antispyware protection,use Windows Defender for
real time protection.

If you need a firewall,use ZoneAlarm Firewall free.It is good.I
tested against Norton(paid) and this is better.

Download Spyware Doctor(Trial version) and do a scan to see what is
on your PC and try to remove as many as possible with the free
antispyware i listed.Spyware Doctor WILL produce false positives
to encourage you to buy it but is not a rogue antispyware program.
Clean your PC as much as you can.And run Spyware Doctor's scan again.
If it detects 3 or less,you are clear.Those are false positives.

Go to www.ewido.com for free scan and removal.

Remember,just like antivirus,run only one antispyware's real time protection and
not both at the same time.

Firewall:RUN ONLY ONE
Antivirus:RUN ONLY ONE
Antispyware:As many as you want,but i recommend 2 is enough.But if
you are a paranoid like me,install as many free software as you can.
But it may slow down your PC.

Answer 6

Spyware is computer software that is installed to collect your personal or Internet usage information, obviously without your consent. This information gets sent to others for advertising purposes.

I believe the new Internet Explorer 7 now has Windows Defender to help prevent spyware: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

To actually get rid of spyware you can try http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Lavasoft are quite good. Hope this helps :)

Answer 7

I can give a few links that offer free virus and spyware removers...!You may be having a virus or spyware installed on your PC. Norton, AVG , Avast are free antivirus software. Ad-aware, Ewido are free spyware removers. You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html
Install a n antivirus and a spyware and scan the PC.

Answer 8

It must be some anti-spyware loaded in your computer that has picked up the spyware. If you don't know if there is an anti-spyware in your computer, you can download this free one, update it and scan your computer:
AdAware SE: http://www.download.com/ad-aware-se-pers...

Answer 9

A good anti virus software like MCAFEE might do the trick. or try this site to find an antispyware software:: www.cnetdownload.com

also be care full as a lot of pop-ups boast of your computer being infected by spy ware and ad ware whereas it might not be infected. these pop-ups are actually links to which if you click you would end up getting infected with spy ware or ad ware.

hope this helps. Best of luck

Answer 10

If you have no anti virus software on your computer / or not using it, and visiting website's unprotected then this is not a smart thing to do,,here is a trusted web address for you so that you can get some sort of protection http://www.symantec.com hope this helps.