SPY WARE!

[fishnxtc]

I have some spyware on my computer how do I get it OFF. This is driving me nnnnnnnnnnnnnuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttttsssssssss sssssss..........................Chris

open seat for anybody that can help!!!!!!!

[Pyramid]

I hate to admit this, but how can you tell?

[ampersat]

First, get
Spybot - Search and Destroy
Install, run, select "Check for problems" then "Fix"

Next, get Zone Alarm . This one will take a little tweaking to get it to work properly with all your stuff, depending on what web stuff you do. It's time well spent though.

Third, whatever your antivirus program, get the latest virus definition files and schedule your scans to run in your off hours. Most come with an "on-access" scanner. It eats some processor time and memory, but again it's well worth it.

So, when do we go fishing?

[FishOrDie]

I have been using a product called spykiller that seems to keep my puter running good. I run it about once a week. you will be surprised how much of that crap you pick up from the web.


Just a thought


FOD

[ampersat]

I used to have a pretty cavalier attitude about my PC and the 'net because I run behind a Unix firewall at home. Then, one day the home page in my browser was hijacked and pointed to a local file that told me my PC had been violated and provided me with a link on where to go to get cleaned up (gee thanks guys, from the same folks who infected my PC no doubt). I had some other symptoms as well (shortcuts appearing from nowhere, "policies" preventing me from configuring my browser settings in a certain way).

Most of what I found after scanning through my PC were trojans. Unlike viruses and worms, these don't self-replicate. You bring them into your PC when you access certain tainted pages, like "whack a penguin" games. While you're busy whacking things senseless, they're doing their nasty work on your precious PC. But they can only get in if you let them. You can still whack all the penguins you want, after you get done doing the system maintenance stuff. Like it or not, this is stuff you really have to do.

PS: if you're on high-speed, go to www.windowsupdate.com and patch up your PC (it's a Microsoft page so it's safe). If you're on dial-up don't even try it. You're just going to have to hobble on as best you can behind your firewall.

[HeavyMetal BankFisherman]

What Ampersat said. Run Spybot and then Fix.

Those toolbar add-ins and all those other doo-dads that are supposed to make your computer experience easier are nothing more than ways for carpetbaggers to install crap on your computer.

Never intall that junk. Always run antivirus software in real time protection mode. Install firewall software, disconnect your internet connection when not online, inspect e-mails before opening attachments.

I look at firewall and webserver logs everyday. Not a day goes by that there is not some kind of probe or attempt at compromising these systems. If you are online , there are ways to access your computer.

[Fast Water]

I run Spybot and Adaware6.


Remember, if you use the freeware version you are cleaning your computer after the fact, though if you run the utility every day you are doing some good for sure.

Buying the full program offers on-line protection from data mining.

:smile:

[Bendman]

Adaware6

[Wak]

What is Spyware? Never heard of it.

[crabbait]

"Spyware" are little "data miner" programs that track where you go on the internet...among other things...and report back to whoever installed them on your computer while you were visiting a site.

I use Spybot, Adaware6 and Stopzilla pop-up blocker. If you surf the net you will pick up spyware like leeches in the jungle.

[Barviewrocks]

Spyware: To get rid of what you have, run spyware or Ad aware which you can download at - http://download.com.com/2001-2018-0.html?tag=dir

To prevent getting more:
Bring your browser up
Go to "tools", "Internet options", click on the privacy tab, click the "advanced" button, check the box "overide automatic cookie handling", check "prompt" first party cookies, "block" third party cookies, always allow session cookies.

When prompted to accept cookies, you can choose to accept or not. In general, I reject the cookies and apply it to the site in question.

Good luck! Now on to pop ups!

[sparkleboy]

I use a program called Adsgone. No popups, automatically removes all spyware from your computer. For a good yearly price, too.
I've had no popups or spyware problems since I've installed Adsgone.

[TheTexan]

I had the same issue last week. See topic

I had the Google toolbar with pop up blocker turned on. I downloaded the Adaware and Spybot, but neither found my problem.

Somehow a program had loaded a program into my registry and I had to remove it. The way that I found it was to search for any files or folders that had been modified since you started getting pop-ups. The list was long and it took a while to look through it, but I finally found a executable file that I didn't load. To delete it I had to start up in safe mode. If you need more information let me know and I will try to go into more detail.

[Pilar]

Popups are easy, change your windows hosts file and reroute popups to oblivion. There is a website called everything isn't under control. It's out there as far as sites go but the banner ad blocking project is for real. This guy has a 'hosts' file that you can install and block popup ads, you'll love it. Simple and works well.

Visit www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html

Or go to the main page at everythinginst.com and check out the Taser cell phone ... 48 hour battery life as a phone or two good shocks ...

BAh ha ha ha ha ha hha

[Big TULE]

So how do i clear my browsers cache???