HELP! Riddled with adware!

[VigilanteHamster]

Okay, I am seriously ticked off at my computer. I want to dropkick it from here to Lithuania! This problem I'm having has gotten SO bad that I'm about ready to throw my hands up in the air, completely wipe my hard drives and reinstall Windows all over again! (I don't have much except a few Diablo II game saves, anyway. )

Anyway, just recently my computer has gotten infected with TONS of adware-- including some NT Search thingy that makes surfing the Internet absolute hell because it keeps highlighting key terms with a link to its search engine to look for that specific term. This plays havoc with certain forum titles and makes it so I can't even access them. I even get popup ads when I'm not even surfing the Internet! AAAAACK!

Anyway... help? I tried going through my computer and deleting the offending files, but they won't show up when I go to 'My Computer' and look for them! I've tried defragging my hard drive, running Norton Utilities/Norton Antivirus, and I'm about ready to pull a shotgun and blow this dumb computer to smithereens! Which would be a bummer because then I couldn't access CF.

Unfortunately, seeing as I'm an 18-year-old girl and have no stinkin' job yet (I live with my mom, and she's more clueless about computers than I am) I really can't go out and buy any fancy ad-blockers. Though recommendations would still be very much appreciated... unfortunately, my computer has a very bad track record with software and likes to crash 50000 times a day after I install something.

HELP!

 

[WeakButHopeful]

Have you tried Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy? I believe they are free downloads for personal use.

 

[VigilanteHamster]

YAY! I just downloaded Spybot S&D, and I think it's working! I'm just gonna see how this goes for the next few days... my computer is already feeling much better! No popups! Muahahahahah!

Thanks for pointing a clueless girl in the right direction!

 

[SirKenin]

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

This is the link for adaware personal. It is very effective and I highly recommend it.

Also do a scan of your computer at http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

 

[TerabyTe]

Hmm..I thought that usually when people know what adware is, they also know what Adaware/Spybot are. But I guess that's not always the case

 

[paging_jonah]

I switched to the Mozilla Firefox browser and I haven't had any popups ever since the switch. Not only that but Firefox takes up less system resources than Internet Explorer and it has some cool features such as tabbed browsing. You can download it for free at http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Try it out. You'd be surprised.

 

[Ave Maria]

Also, go to www.webroot.com and download a trial version of Webroot Spysweeper. Make sure you update all adware/spyware scanners before you scan for spyware because if you don't, they won't detect everything. Webroot Spysweeper is one of the most effective spyware scanners I have found. It got rid of spyware on my computer that other programs wouldn't. I highly recommend it!

 

[SirKenin]

I switched to the Mozilla Firefox browser and I haven't had any popups ever since the switch. Not only that but Firefox takes up less system resources than Internet Explorer and it has some cool features such as tabbed browsing. You can download it for free at http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Try it out. You'd be surprised.

Not that your bias isn't appreciated or anything, but Firefox won't stop spyware from popping up garbage on your computer.

Actually, come to think of it, Internet Explorer 6 with XP SP2 is more effective at stopping incoming malware, spyware and popups. Also, many pages on the Internet are coded specifically for the two mainstream browsers, Netscape and Explorer, and won't display correctly with browsers such as Mozilla.

Probably best to keep the bias to the "what is your favorite browser" threads.

 

[Gatsby]

Not that your bias isn't appreciated or anything, but Firefox won't stop spyware from popping up garbage on your computer.

Actually, come to think of it, Internet Explorer 6 with XP SP2 is more effective at stopping incoming malware, spyware and popups. Also, many pages on the Internet are coded specifically for the two mainstream browsers, Netscape and Explorer, and won't display correctly with browsers such as Mozilla.

Probably best to keep the bias to the "what is your favorite browser" threads.

yeah... I've tried Mozilla, Netscape, Opera, and IE; Internet Explorer 6 with the service pack 2 is by far the best for viewing, use, and protection.

 

[mnkyboy]

Firefox still gives pop-ups? Thats very strange!!

I haven't had a single one. I also am assuming that you are talking about pop-ups and not netsend?

I prefer IE when using forums due to the better "feel" - but for security I stick to Firefox. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[SirKenin]

but for security I stick to Firefox. Different strokes for different folks.

Security? Are you sure you know what you're talking about? Or have you even used the latest version of Internet Explorer...?

 

[mnkyboy]

LOL IE secure!Thats an oxymoron isn't it? It might be secure this week.

My 'percieved' security is based on the amount of hacks / trojans written for either program; Also the amount of security issues I've had with either. I know there was a recent hole found in Firefox but compared to the amount in IE is horrendous, wether now or in 2 weeks when someone discovers a new way to expose a hole.

I administer 4 small-medium networks, 3 corporate and 1 school, For general security give me Firefox any day of the week. I have managed to convince 2 of those networks to change over.

 

[SirKenin]

Well you slightly misled them because of your bias.

IE with SP2 is plenty secure. It has really been tightened up. Not to mention MS is very quick to respond to exploits and release a patch.

 

[mnkyboy]

I also question your IE bias if you laugh at firefox over an issue of security

IE with SP2 is secure - but for how long - why use a browser that seems like it needs updates every week.

 

[SirKenin]

It's not Microsofts fault they are more popular than any of the competition, thus making them a more likely target. It's bound to happen.

 

[Chuck_Darwin]

You could also consider upgrading to a Mac. My household has 2 of them and I have never had a Virus or adware attack. I get almost no pop-ups. Compare this with my work PC, which has a full time IS staff and I still get a problem about 2-3 times a month.

By getting a mac not only do you have less issues with virus and adware/spyware, but you get the enjoyment of using the best computer OS that there is.

 

[skysthelimit]

It's not Microsofts fault they are more popular than any of the competition, thus making them a more likely target. It's bound to happen.

I agree. The reason IE is the one getting patched the most is because it's still the most popular browser out there. While I love Firefox and will never use anything else, the majority of computer users will stay with IE. I know many of my friends don't even know what firefox is. If everyone magically flew over to firefox and IE wasn't the top browser anymore, I bet you that Firefox will start needing patches because all the hackers and malicious coders will target that browser now.

 

[Data Storage]

google spybot search and destroy its free and the best.