I don't know if this post fits here nor have someone written one already, I need some help on keeping all these adwares and spywares out of my computer.
I have several programs that i use, which are Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Ad-Spider.
Whenever I turn the computer on, all these icons for these sites show up and i can neither move and drop into the trash can or right-click and press delete. Oh yeah also the shift+delete doesn't work either. If i search the thing through the programs and delete it, it does disappear, but soon it shows up again. Also, I erase and quarantine it EVERY single day and it seems for me that it is impossible to keep all these things off. Every 10 minute or so a popup pops out and whenever I'm playing CS or w/e it bounces me back out to windows, and my computer cannot get back CS on screen after that(I have to reboot). So any people here familiar with these problems and can help me out here? Thanks in advance.

Try Spysweeper www.webroot.com

Well..I do like that it won all the awards and stuff...but I'm thinking more ofFREE stuff and solutions.
Thanks though,

woops i see wrong spelling of spyware on the title...can any mods change it plz for me? thx,

No - I use Firewall and AntiVirus. And Spybot once a week. Running smooth here - no spyware adaware whatsoever... IE 6 SP2.

You could post a Hijack This log....the problem threw me for a second, I wasn't expecting it.

Now you're going to get a bunch of people posting what their vote was. jk

spy sweeper is worth the $30

spysweeper is great, probably the best, but not worth my 30 dollars ;D
also 3rd party browsers rock too, nearly impossible to be infected unless you're a moron

Lol thanks a lot.
I think it is particularly attacking my computer...I don't know... because every time i use internet new adwares or spywares come in so easily...
well i'm a moron

I use linux mostly here, so no real spyware threat.
My XP got pretty bad for a while though, mainly cos family used it

ok..
#1 download spywaresweeper and run a scan AFTER UPDATES
#2 download kaspersky antivirus (1month free trial) run a scan after updates
#3 get a good browser firefox, k-melon, and opera are all great choices (set it to default browser and only use IE for WindowsUpdate - nothing else)
#4 get a firewall. look n stop and outpost are both very good choices
#5 you might wanna consider using spywareblaster and possibly spywareguard from javacool they will protect you before you get infected with spyware

seriously, anyone should use SpywareBlaster, whether you use IE or FireFox, doesnt matter which removal tool you installed, get SpywareBlaster:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
its freeware and get the job done. it has made my Ad-Aware and Spy Sweeper almost useless for nearly two years.

My PC is fort knox. If you are a responsible PC user there is no reason why any spyware need be installed.


1. Hardware and software firewall

2. solid anti virus

3. Spysweeper.

4.Common sence. watch what you install and pay attention to the user agreement instead of just clicking accept. do your homework when it comes to what programs carry spyware.

That's about a crock!!
If there is no reason why any spyware need be installed, why do you have Spysweeper listed, Mr. Fort Knox? Heck, you get adware just from the windows update site. It's called Alexa!!

Everybody using IE should have Spywareblaster, Adaware AND Spybot!! Just to good and to free!!

I may be wrong, but do you have a grey bar in IE if so a link on there somewhere will remove these, they are install with Messenger Plus!

sometimes, after i used IE.

Sounds like these programs are being set to run on startup. This is the procedure I use to get rid of them.
Your computer must be set to show all file extensions. If it isnt, in Windows Explorer go to Tools/Folder Options and on the View tab check show hidden files and folders and uncheck Hide extensions for known file types and hide protected operating system files
Get Codestuff Starter
On the startup tab disable anything you recognise as spyware (google it if you are not sure)
switch to processes tab and check if any of the progs you disabled are running.
Terminate them one at a time. After each termination, find the .exe file and rename it to .bak( some of them restart themselves in which case you will have to find out why). You can find the file easily on Starters startup tab by right clicking the entry and explore file folder
Run Adaware. Depending on what it finds, you may have to reboot.
Delete disabled entries from Starter startup window.
Refresh Starter startup window and check if any entries have reappeared.
Keep running this procedure till all entries have gone then reboot.
If any entries reappear run procedure again.



This sounds like windows messenger service (not the same as msn messenger). To disable it type services.msc in the run box, scroll down to the messenger entry, right click and select properties. If the sevice is running, click stop and then set the startup type box to disabled.

Incidentally, I have'nt had any spyware on my comp for a long time. I use the above procedure to clean up friends computers.
On my system I have :
Sygate Personal Firewall
Avg Antivirus 7
Ad-Aware
Spywareblaster
Spybot S&D with teatimer enabled.

That would be how I know nothing gets threw. you really should think your comments out further before you post. I do make sure my pc is as secure as possible but that does not mean I turn a blind eye to makeing sure thats the case.

check your c:\documents and settings\<username>\application data\ folder (for all users) and the program files folder.

if you see anything that is really obviously spyware (like an exe called 0wnsbeep.exe or something) delete or rename it.
then check your startup files (start -> run -> msconfig; startup tab) for anything that you don't want starting up on boot.

then reboot, and remove the files you couldn't before (if they were in use) and scan once again for spyware.

hate to be a troll

but just stop it from the get go and use firefox ....

i'm known for going to some pretty spyware infested sites, and I just did a ad-aware / spysweeper scan and it found zippo!!

thats prevention not a cure

I used the Spy Sweeper 30-day Trial version and it seems to work...erased 24 adwares detected and 10 cookies. Well I'll see how it turns out the next day because right now it seems clean

Ok, the stuff are coming back at me. I tried your ways and I don't think it is working well. Any more ideas?

Why don't you give a try to Microsoft's new AntiSpyware:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/s...re/default.mspx

still a beta, but decent

This thing rocks!!! I just ran the program, found out the causes, and found that my computer was infected with worm and trojan . I also found out that the search engine icons that showed up came from stupid MSN Messenger Plus. Well I erased them and it's gone now, but now I'm having network difficulties. My Telus ADSL(Canada) is slower than ever, an i think it is closer to the speed of dial-up. I can't even upload 16kb files onto my email. What the hell is that!$#@!$!#! Any help? Thx,

I don't need to point out that the microsoft spy solutions, is from m$ therefore, ppl won't trust it.

My System.

Hardware Firewall
Win XP Pro SP2 - + Latest Updates.
Zone Alarm Pro. 5.5
Symantec Antivirus Corporate Client.
Webroot Spysweeper (Free Version - No Updates Available) - Real Time Shields and Scan - Version 3.0. Before 30 day trial replaced it.)
Spybot S&D - Immunisation and Scan
Spyware Blaster. - Immunisation.

Hijack This - Run Regulary and remove suss traces.

Firefox and Thunderbird rather than IE/OE

And a whole lot of security settings changed.

My Sys is secure, but there will always be something that can get through.

No spyware here, I'm running Linux. Don't get much on my laptop either, which runs windows.
You just have to be smart about it. I use Maxthon and have my IE security settings tightened down.
I have it set to prompt for active x controls.

It can be a pain, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

As you asked for help on "keeping spyware out of my computer", and not necessarily just help with removing, my suggestion is....

Stop using Internet Explorer and use a different web browser, my personal choice is Mozilla Firefox.
Also don't be tempted to install the likes of many of the free screensavers out there, Kazaa or any other spyware infested program.
Nethomehelp.co.uk is a little site with free & open source software downloads which are guaranteed spyware free, NoNags and Webgrid are another couple of my fave freeware sites.

If you find that some of the spyware/malware comes back after removal then you'll likely have a trojan on your system that's putting them back. If you're using XP, disable system restore and do a virus scan with Housecall before running your spyware removal program.

Prevention is better than the cure.