Program for Spyware

[Neo]

what's the best free program to get rid of spyware... or anti virus??

[nocode]

Spybot - Search & Destroy (http://spybot.safer-networking.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download) or Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) work well for spyware.

As for virus protection, I like Trendmicro's (http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/enterprise.htm) virus software. They offer a free online scan at their site.

[redwench]

er.......those are completely different things requiring different programs.

spybot search & destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/)

avg anti virus (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php)

[Cthulu]

Definetly Search and Destroy and AdAware!

lol ! I also run Spyware Blocker for the overkill factor, I abhor spy/adwaware on my system!

[chaosisreality]

spybot -Search and destroy is my favorite.

Don't get put off by the subtitle, "use at your own risk"

[psd#1]

I use Adaware 6.0, but be carefull when using. I've known of a few cases in which people removed the wrong things and messed up their O/S's..... I think Adaware has an option that allows you to make some kind of a backup....

-pSd#1

[The-Bud-Frog]

ya i use adaware and search and destroy and i did mess up my o/s and had to reformat everything tyhat i had and get all the sh** i had on my comp before i was just the way i wanted it and i messed it up totally...... ull never get ur o/s the way u had it before again!!!

[Keeter]

I use everything suggested here, except i use pandasoftware.com for my online virus scan.

AAW6 is great, as long as you scroll through and make sure you know what you're deleting.

[Neo]

What does spyware really do?

[redwench]

it generally makes a nuisance of itself. also sends information from your computer to wherever its programmed to. usually harmless in and of itself, although they can be coded to capture login info and other sensitive information.

[NyGulkuk]

CWShredder should be run first, then Spybot Search and Destroy (update first). If any variety of CoolWebSearch spyware is installed running Spybot S&D or AdAware will complicate its' removal.

I have never had a single problem caused by using Spybot S&D, I run the system internals check as well, but you might not want to use that option because it will reset default folder view etc.

Here is a good two page tutorial on the use of SSD:

http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/index1.php

If you use IE for browsing the web use Spywareblaster and SSD's immunize function for preventing the installation of "drive-by" spyware.

[added]

Add/remove programs should be used to remove spyware containing programs first (reboot after each), then let CWShredder and SSD clean up the leftovers.

[Neo]

hi, thankyou verymuch for all your help ^^

but I'm not really sure how to use Ad-aware
do i just go: scan now->next->and then??

and I'm wondering what is "Show logfile" for?

thankyou..

[uh...ok]

To actually remove items that get detected by AdAware, you have to select them from the list that shows up after the scan finishes. To speed things up, you can also right click on items and select "Select all items of this kind" or "by this creator", or just "Select all." I'd be wary of using "Select all" though, because - as others have warned before - unless you actually scroll through and make sure you're not deleting any registry keys that may be useful to your OS, you may end up deleting something that's actually good, but just looks bad to AdAware.

A logfile is a record put onto a text file of all the activities done by a program. Logging is usually implemented by the program itself. For example: When was AdAware used? What did AdAware detect? What did AdAware remove?
"Show logfile" naturally shows this textfile in one form or another.

[Neo]

could anyone post a direct link ( that I can just right click and go "save target as" ) of SpyBot and Adaware here please? I have some trouble download it from download.com

[C-Money]

You're just being lazy. There are other places to download other than download.com.

1. AVG (www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php)

2. Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/)

3. Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html)

[it_waaznt_me]

Just add Spyware Blaster to the list .. It will stop the known spyware from being installed at first place ...
wwww.javacoolsoftware.com

[Ocean]

links in sig :)

[NyGulkuk]

AFAIK, CWShredder and Hijackthis will no longer be updated to deal with the newer varieties of spyware.

Good time to switch to alternative browsers...

[Neo]

I used Spybot S&D and AdAware... they always find the same spyware or hijacker to delete.. but after deleting them. I run Spybot and AsAware again... I would find them again...
Am i suppose to do run S&D and AdAware in SAFEMODE or something?
If so how do i get to safe mode? does it have anything to do with BIOS?

[Neo]

Everytime I start to connect to Internet.. I run S&D and AdAware, they find these things everytime... even after I delete them, they would come back.

[NyGulkuk]

I used Spybot S&D and AdAware... they always find the same spyware or hijacker to delete.. but after deleting them. I run Spybot and AsAware again... I would find them again...
Am i suppose to do run S&D and AdAware in SAFEMODE or something?
If so how do i get to safe mode? does it have anything to do with BIOS?

What kind of spyware are these programs finding each time?

You can get to safe mode by tapping a key during boot (depends on OS and brand of pc which key), a menu will appear and you can choose safe mode.

You may need to disable system restore (depending on OS) in order to clear your system of malware.

Again I recommend using alternative browsers as I have never had a problem with spyware since starting to use Mozilla and Firefox.

[redwench]

yes, adaware and spybot do tell you to disable restore before removing crap. nortons should as well. if theyre still coming back after youve done that, its a bit more troublesome. its always best to run and remove in safe mode if you can, although it generally isnt necessary.

the other option is that youre continually reinfecting your computer with that stuff. in which case, run spybots vaccinate and download/install spywareblaster from www.javacoolsoftware.com . keep all programs updated and youll prevent the vast majority of the uglies.