- Joined
- Feb 25, 2001
- Location
- Iowa
Getting Rid of Spyware/Adware/Trojans
Moderator Note: This sticky is an amalgamation of several sticky worthy posts which fall under the category of "Spyware/Malware & Security". Below is a table of contents for this sticky, as well as links to the full original threads the posts appeared in. Please direct any comments and questions to the original thread -- any new posts appearing in this thread will be deleted.
Programs Needed:
Download AdAware SE
Download SpyBot Search & Destroy
Download X-Cleaner
Download SpySweeper
Download CWS Shredder
Download HiJackThis!
Download TDS-3
Download Spyware Doctor
Microsoft has released a beta of it's new Spyware tool, called AntiSpyware. Here is a link to an overview of the beta, and you can download it here: Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta). Please be aware it is in BETA form - it may have bugs, use at your own risk for now!
Quick Instructions:
Disable System Restore first. Then download and run the programs, get the latest update files for each of them, then restart into safemode. Do full scans with each of them, deleting any spyware/adware found. I find X-Cleaner (which also cleans some temp files out), then Ad-Aware, with Spybot next, and finishing with SpySweeper and Spyware Doctor, and TDS-3 for good measure - cleans 99% of infections.
Finish up with CWShredder for good measure, and finally HijackThis if nessecary.
Please be aware, that if you are using shareware or other programs that are supported by ads/spyware, they may not function correctly, or possibly not at all, after removing spyware entries from your system with these programs.
Other Helpful PC Computing Tips:
If you're having trouble with long boot/load times/slow system response times, try some of the following:
Make sure that you dont have any unnecessary programs running in the background. WindowsXP is a resource hog anyway, you definately dont want/need more programs slowing you down, especially if you dont need them running all the time. type "msconfig" in the run box, and disable any programs you know you dont need in the "startup" tab.
Do a virus check, with the latest definitions if you havent already done so. Trojans and Virii run rampant on the 'net. Below are links to free, online virus scanners.
If you're running Windows 2000/XP, disable any unnesessary services. check out www.blkviper.com - for a great guide on which services you dont need, and how to keep them from running.
If you're running Windows XP, download and run the BootVis.exe tool from MS. you can find it by doing a search on their site, or on www.google.com. This program can improve your boot and restart times considerably.
Download RegCleaner from www.jv16.org and use it. It cleans up your registry and removes unnessecary file fragments.
Using HijackThis:
Here is a great guide for how to read HijackThis! log files (Thanks to Kendan for the link!):
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/jrmc137/hjttutorial/tutorial.htm
Online Virus Scanners:
Trend Micro Housecall
Symantec Security Response
Panda ActiveScan
BitDefender Online Scan
Computer Associates eTrust Online Scan
There are also stand-alone virus removal tools - if you know which infection you have, available here. (Thanks Cowboy X)
Other Useful Programs:
KazaaBegone
LSP-Fix
Moderator Note: This sticky is an amalgamation of several sticky worthy posts which fall under the category of "Spyware/Malware & Security". Below is a table of contents for this sticky, as well as links to the full original threads the posts appeared in. Please direct any comments and questions to the original thread -- any new posts appearing in this thread will be deleted.
- Posts 1, 2 -- Getting Rid of Spyware/Adware/Trojans (original thread)
- Post 3 -- Malware Warfare - A Step-By-Step Infantry Training Camp (original thread)
Programs Needed:
Download AdAware SE
Download SpyBot Search & Destroy
Download X-Cleaner
Download SpySweeper
Download CWS Shredder
Download HiJackThis!
Download TDS-3
Download Spyware Doctor
Microsoft has released a beta of it's new Spyware tool, called AntiSpyware. Here is a link to an overview of the beta, and you can download it here: Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta). Please be aware it is in BETA form - it may have bugs, use at your own risk for now!
Quick Instructions:
Disable System Restore first. Then download and run the programs, get the latest update files for each of them, then restart into safemode. Do full scans with each of them, deleting any spyware/adware found. I find X-Cleaner (which also cleans some temp files out), then Ad-Aware, with Spybot next, and finishing with SpySweeper and Spyware Doctor, and TDS-3 for good measure - cleans 99% of infections.
Finish up with CWShredder for good measure, and finally HijackThis if nessecary.
Please be aware, that if you are using shareware or other programs that are supported by ads/spyware, they may not function correctly, or possibly not at all, after removing spyware entries from your system with these programs.
Other Helpful PC Computing Tips:
If you're having trouble with long boot/load times/slow system response times, try some of the following:
Make sure that you dont have any unnecessary programs running in the background. WindowsXP is a resource hog anyway, you definately dont want/need more programs slowing you down, especially if you dont need them running all the time. type "msconfig" in the run box, and disable any programs you know you dont need in the "startup" tab.
Do a virus check, with the latest definitions if you havent already done so. Trojans and Virii run rampant on the 'net. Below are links to free, online virus scanners.
If you're running Windows 2000/XP, disable any unnesessary services. check out www.blkviper.com - for a great guide on which services you dont need, and how to keep them from running.
If you're running Windows XP, download and run the BootVis.exe tool from MS. you can find it by doing a search on their site, or on www.google.com. This program can improve your boot and restart times considerably.
Download RegCleaner from www.jv16.org and use it. It cleans up your registry and removes unnessecary file fragments.
Using HijackThis:
Here is a great guide for how to read HijackThis! log files (Thanks to Kendan for the link!):
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/jrmc137/hjttutorial/tutorial.htm
Online Virus Scanners:
Trend Micro Housecall
Symantec Security Response
Panda ActiveScan
BitDefender Online Scan
Computer Associates eTrust Online Scan
There are also stand-alone virus removal tools - if you know which infection you have, available here. (Thanks Cowboy X)
Other Useful Programs:
KazaaBegone
LSP-Fix
Last edited: