Computer Question:How can i get rid of spyware?

Question

Can anyone give me some suggestions i have tried alot of things such as puttingthe computer in safe mode running a scan than deleting remaining malaware nothing

I tried to use the system restore option i have a windows xp computer

If anyone can help please do thank you for your time

Answer 1

99% of all internet problems can be attributed to the wrong set of Web browser and Email clients in coordination of the
AV/ Spyware / Firewall software.


Get the following, all are free for a safe surfing experience, with proven track records and do not take up
system resources like Norton or McAffee.
install in SAFE mode with networking ( hit F-8 at boot time ), run them all in SAFE mode
with networking as you'll need it for the updates all the programs below will need.
Turn off RESTORE and the RECYLE BIN temporarily as virii can regenerate / reinfect even if you delete
them with both services on. After all the scanning and cleaning after a 2nd reboot and one last
scan do you turn both of them back on.

ANTI VIRAL

AVG (free) http://free.grisoft.com/


FIREWALL

ZoneAlarm http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

WEB BROWSER - http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox

EMAIL use thunderbird. It has a good built in spam filter and learns when you teach it. http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird

SPYWARE

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Once you set it all up create 3 email accounts..

a hotmail or yahoo account for web "verification", this account you will not care if it get spammed

a sub account ( from the master account )to your ISP that you use for logons, this is the one you use for personal
emails only to trusted people and banking, ebay and paypal. Never use the account for anything else than that,
you find spam is low to non existant if you follow this rule, and even if it does become spam laden, then you
can delete the account and create a new sub account and do all the email updates to ebay, paypal, banks and your
freinds.

finally your master account from your ISP, this one you NEVER use, it's only kept for creating sub accounts since
changing the master account is a real pain.


and if you have a wireless router follow these tips,


1. Use WPA encryption (WPA-PSK) it's less crackable then WEP.

2. Make a passphrase that is upper & lower case and has some numbers thrown in there as well, again harder to crack.
some like mAkE1t5eCurE0rel53 and as long as possible.

3. Use MAC access control so only you or authorized PC's can connect (even if you do have encryption turned on)

4. Turn off DHCP use static addresses.

5. Turn off SSID (and change it) unless your card really needs it (some do)

6. Change username/password of access unit front end

7. Ensure you have the usual firewall enabled on your PC.

8. Paranoia rules, turn WLAN off if your not using it :)


one last tip
control panel---administrator tools--services--messenger

right clik on it
stop the service
then disable it
save changes

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Try some of these. This is a list I have compiled of what I feel are the best free-anti-spyware/anti-malware websites. When I use them together on my system it does an excellent job in keeping it clean.

Advanced Windows Care http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html?Str=download

Ad-Aware 2007
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

Advanced Spyware Remover
http://www.evonsoft.com/Download.htm

EMCO Malware Destroyer
http://www.tucows.com/preview/414285

Malware Sweeper
http://www.malwaresweeper.com/download.html

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Spyware Begone
http://www.spywarebegone.com/download.html

Super Anti-Spyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

Answer 4

I will tell you three amazing programs that are great for removing spyware and any other junk built up on your computer.

Please not that there are trial versions of these programs and they do help, but full retail versions will do the trick.

1. Ad-Aware - made by lavasoft, it has many ways of scanning your computer. It is very effective at removing spyware, you can find it at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

2. Spybot Search & Destroy - this program picks up what ad-aware misses, bots and programs that track your computer, change options and are potentially hazardous to your computer, with lots of updates being created and an easy to use interface, this program is great, you can download it here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

3. Registry Mechanic - This program picks up the pieces after spywares damage in your registry, simply run it, it will create a restore point for you, and it will clean up your registry from nasty changes, you can download this program here:
http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/?ref=afl_onenetwork

These three programs run one after the other (approx 25-30mins of scaning) will clear up any issues resolving, spyware, adware and their effects.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

You need to know what your dealing with before you can plan a method of cleaning.

Cleaning is not 100%, and you will not find a 'single' product that is 100% with all spyware/malware.

100% for sure method is to format the hard disk and reinstall the OS.

Do not download spyware cleaners unless you are 100% positive they are not spyware or crapware (software that doesn't do anything except create more problems).

Answer 6

Use Ad-aware or Spybot S&D.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Both are free and the best in the business. Do not pay for programs which claim to do a better job. Almost all are scams.

Answer 7

Download and install:

Spybot SD: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Adaware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Please note that those are the OFFICIAL sites. Searching for Spybot, especially, will lead you to many sites which are NOT Spybot SD and will ask you to pay for something and may even install spyware!

You should also install Windows Defender (Microsoft): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en

All of these are free and all can (and should) be run together.

You should also be using a good firewall (Zonealarm Free is one I recommend: http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=&lang=en&lid=staticcomp_za ) and good AV software (try Grisoft's AVG Free: http://free.grisoft.com/).

Note: Registry Mechanic (mentioned by another answerer) is useful but not usually essential - and it will cost you around $40/£20 to get full functionality: http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2200073/pc-tools-registry-mechanic

Answer 8

Download spybot and ad aware.
You will need to run one after the other because neither catchs all of them.
But uninstall Limewire first!

Answer 9

Have you run any good anti spyware programs. If not here are a couple of links to sites that have good, downloadable programs that are free.

Adaware

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

Spybot S&D

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022-10122137.html?part=dl-spybot&subj=dl&tag=but