kevs

I'm really interested in finding out what's really the top notch stuff everyone here is using to protect themselves against SpyWare and Adware stuff.

I feel like I see people write or tell me that they use SpyBot all the time to clean out their SpyWare, but I tried that and it messed up my comp in a previous attempt.

I'm okay with what I've got now in terms of firewall and anti-virus protection, but I want something that's safe to run on my XP Pro, won't make apps run slower, and can really clean out my computer from all that tricky SpyWare stuff.

What do ya'll recommend?

Thanks in advance.

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kevs

DarkFury

Honestly, I use Spybot and Adaware 6... with no problems?


How did Spybot mess up your computer? You sure you don't have something else "corrupt" going on in there?

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kevs

I dunno, something about SpyBot like it added in all the files you "weren't" supposed to have, but then it totally weirded out my system for some reason.

I don't remember too much of what happened since it was probably sometime last year.

Thanks, though.

Any other advice?

chrissy

use advent and/or firefox for browsing.

nickel

same here, and i also use CWShredder.

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baggio248

I use those too. Although there is still one piece of Adware running and I can't get rid of it. From what I read in all the other posts over in software it sounds like I might have to reformat.

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bbrian

You should never have to reformat to remove adware.. all they are is DLL's and/or EXE's which can be deleted. IE and/or Explorer load the files into memory, so end-task on all IE's and Explorers and delete the file from a command prompt (use task manager to start 'cmd' so that explorer and IE still won't be running). If you don't know the name of the file, look at your task list and search for each filename in google. Once you know which exe it is, just search for it so you can find the location of the file. You should be able to delete the file from safemode as well.

I just cleaned about 15 of these apps off of my boss's home computer via 'remote assistance'. Both adware and spybot said his machine was clean (as did Norton Anti-virus), when it obviously wasn't.

usedillusion

I use the above scans/programs to find and get rid of the most current spyware, but I still seem to have residual problems from old exes. When my computer boots up, my desktop loads... along with about 20 "missing shortcut" errors, all referring to crazy .exes. I've tried the ol' delete them from startup list trick to no avail.

Using IE may also be contributing to the problem. As I'm using it, 5-10 identical items will insert themselves into my open program list and practically disable my computer until until I end task each one (each time they're a different name).

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Jihforce

I was suggested by a guy at work to run virtual PC and browse thru there. Once you close the session, just make sure to restore to original settings. I have never tried it, but it seems to make a lot of sense.

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Underclocked

A good program to cleanup the registry after running spyware removal programs is regsupreme . http://www.macecraft.com/brief_rs/

It isn't freeware, but the free trial is fully working and will do a great job getting rid of registry trash.

Another good spyware removal tool is from bulletproofsoft.com . Get their spyware/adware removal free trial, update it, set options for max scanning, and watch it go. Also has a functional winsock repair tool and a hijack scanner.

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attgig

with registry cleaning, i personally use regcleaner:
http://www.worldstart.com/weekly-dow...cleaner4.3.htm

it works well for me

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welfareloser

browse around www.download.com ... i use adaware and spyware blaster. but i still have this one, annoying little thing that i can't seem to find... whenever i restart my computer, i get a window telling me that "static.callinghome.biz" wants to dialup. i can't find it to delete, and it drives me batsh**.

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redcolours

spybot, version 1.3 (or the latest they got).

ive been using the older version, and i was going to refrain from endorsing it cuz it couldnt get most of the newer spyware out of my sister's PC, but i tried the new one, and its actually gotten better. granted it didnt take the more virulent ones (maybe 2 out of 156 it detected), but it got my sister back free from pop-ups and much faster speeds again.

it even has a built in protection scheme to prevent what it took out from coming back in, plus it has a new detection scheme as well (tells you if any registry changes were made).

id suggest trying it again with the new one.

or if you really dont wanna use it again, try what PCMagazine recommends (if you must BUY one) : spysweeper.

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redcolours

have you tried doing a search in SAFE MODE?

also, it may actually be under a different file name, so it may not come up with that name search. if youre using XP, go to msconfig, then go to the Startup tab, and see what name it runs under, whether it acts like a background service for windows, or if its a registry entry. either way, it should tell you there whats running after XP boots up. dont just uncheck it though. disable it under Task Manager first. then do a search in all of your C:\ drive. after that, go to regedit, and do a search for that name. if/when you find one, delete that registry key. press F3 to keep searching for the same registry entries. just be careful you dont delete anything else, cuz you may get a BSOD in XP. of course, before you do ANY registry hacking, do a backup first.

Aristo

Agree. Ever since I started using FF, the stuffs that adware finds cut to almost zero (because sometimes I am forced to use IE, for example, getting office suite update from microsoft). I had some problem with spybot before. Just like you stated, it removed files that weren't supposed to be removed. My system would crash. I also did an informal test comparing adware and spybot side by side. Long story short, adware got my pick.