help! need a good spyware/adware removal tool,preferably free!! :(?

Question

somehow,i got some tracking cookie crap on my computer!
i dont surf evil sites u know.
i dont know how it got on there,but its there all the time.
the only tool i have that recognizes it is called adaware.it says it deletes it,but the next time i start my pc again.its right back,+ it drains some of my web surfing!

can someone recommend a good tool to get rid of this crap for good???

Answer 1

Adaware SE

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

You probably use Internet Explorer 6. If so, then it is natural to get tracking cookies, they don't necessarily come from bad sites. I suggest that you switch over to Mozilla Firefox, free download from the given link: http://www.mozilla.com/ .
It is much safer, and you get fewer or no tracking cookies by using this.

Tip: Always keep IE as your 'default browser', though.

P.S. AdAware is a very good free anti-spyware, but one anti-spyware is never enough(not even paid ones!). So, better get this free anti-spyware too. It has real-time scanning with HIPS which will altogether protect your computer from getting malware. And what more, it also has got an embedded anti-virus, which can be used to keep viruses at bay! But activate this anti-virus only if you don't have one, because using more than one AV at a time is not a good idea.
Spyware Terminator: http://www.spywareterminator.com/

Hope this solves your tracking cookie problem.

Some security tips:
1.Never use more than one anti-virus or firewall. There is a good possibility that they will fight each other. However, you can use as many anti-spywares as you wish.
2.Always keep the real time scanning/resident shield of your anti-virus and any one of your anti-spyware active.
3.Keep all your security software updated, and scan your computer for spyware every 4-5 days and for viruses every 8-10 days.

Answer 4

The more free anti-spyware programs you use, the better. Just make sure the ones you do use aren't on this list.

http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Many of the great free spyware programs have already been listed, but i'll throw in my two cents.

Ad-Aware SE
Spybot S&D
SpywareBlaster
SUPERantispyware
Windows Defender

And the others may include antispyware programs incorporated into your browser tools, like Yahoo tool bar which uses Anti-Spy which is a tool controlled on the PestPatrol program or Norton Anti-Spy, both you can find on Yahoo tool bar.

Do not use the SpywareTerminator, as it's still unclear if this is a Rogue/Suspect program that embeds spyware/adware itself. See the link i posted above about that program.

Answer 5

Spybot Search and Destroy is by far the best spyware removal tool I've ever used. It picks up things that Norton's and AdAware don't catch and has descriptions of the stuff it finds. It also has an immunize feature that lets you protect your computer from some common spyware.
You can download it here:

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10401314.html?tag=lst-0-1

Keep in mind that a lot of websites (and not just porn sites) have tracking cookies that you will pick up every time you go to those sites. The only thing to do is run your spyware removal tools on a regular basis to make sure they don't build up.

Answer 6

Don't use Ad-Aware by itself, as it won't get rid of everything. Download AVG Anti-Spyware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Spyware Terminator. Boot your computer in Safe Mode (keep pressing F8 as the computer boots up to get into Safe Mode), and then do a COMPLETE scan with all of them.

Also, install Spyware Blaster, as this will block cookies and malicious sites automatically in future, as will the Immunize feature in Spybot.

Answer 7

You should go to Download.com and search for Spyware Remover. They have a list of different softwares that could help you and they list whether the software is free or if it's free to try.

In my personal opinion Spy Sweeper is the best for that type of problem. Unfortuntely it's not free, but you can get a trial version on Download.com

Good luck with your spyware troubles.

Answer 8

You need to understand that Cookies are normal. The only sites that can use a cookie is the site that puts it on your computer.

Every time you turn on your computer you will immediately get cookie put on your computer by program you have installed on it.

One program that is excellent at blocking many cookies from being installed is SpywareBlaster. I use it and get about 10 cookies a week that get past it. Without SpywareBlaster I get about 50 regular cookies each day. You can get SpywareBlaster here:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_spywareblaster/

Answer 9

You are getting very upset over nothing. Cookies are simply small text (.txt) files that in themselves can do no harm to your computer. Almost every website you go to will place a cookie (or more) on your computer with each and every visit. It is normal.

You do not need a tool to delete all your cookies. In Internet Explorer go to tools > internet options > general > delete cookies. All your cookies will be gone including the so-called tracking cookies, until you go to a website when the process will start again.

Answer 10

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

Answer 11

most virus are spread through IE. IE is not a safe browser. you should use a more secure browser to protect your PC from virus.

i recommand you to use firefox with Google toolbar. firefox can block any any popup and disable any virus and adware, spyware on webpage, so, firefox is much safer than IE browser. as you know, most of virus spread throught internet and webpage.

besides, firefox is much smaller than IE, so it run faster than IE.

download firefox for free, Just have a try:

http://www.toolforyou.net/firefox/

Good Luck, Happy NewYear!!!