Need Suggestions: Spyware, Adware Problems.

[Starcrystal]

I Posted here sometime back about this but its far worse now. Every 2 - 3 weeks I am forced to reset my computer to an earlier time in order to beat spyware and adware thats installing itself on my computer like crazy. We got Zone alarm firewall which worked fine when it was free, then when it expired and we bought the program, its not working as well, even though we bumped up all the settings to max.

We've tried spybot, spydeleter, and a couple other spyware removers (spysweeper) and they just don't get it all. After 2 weeks or 3 at most we must reset the computer, thus losing the programs we installed or having to reinstall them which takes too much time and between the slowness of the computer due to installed spyware, and the reinstall times we have no time for actual internet use.

We know internet explorer is evil and invites spy & adware, yet someone last time I posted here suggested Mozilla, I installed Mozilla and it wont work at all. I am left with nio choice but to use internet explorer because other browser/ internet programs will install but wont access the internet.
We have Windows XP so this should be simple, but its a neverending battle.

Are there any really good programs I can install to REMOVE the spyware, and to block further intrusion?

A note about Zone Alarm. Even though it blocks a lot if you are using Internet explorer it will ask if you want to allow internet exploerer and components to access the internet. If you decline then you cannot continue what you're working on. If you click allow, it opens the gateway for spyware to install.

 

[MichaelFJF]

My kid installed Spybot and Ad-Aware 6.0. I run them about once a week and have no problems.M

 

[rdale]

Are there any really good programs I can install to REMOVE the spyware, and to block further intrusion?

I'm not being lazy here, this'll just be the quickest way for you... go to
The Getting Rid of Spyware HOWTO and download the programs that are linked there. Follow the instructions on that page, then let us know how you're doing.

Better, I'd bet...

 

[rdale]

well, I just tried the link, said it wasn't good... weird...

the link was :
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161872

or just go to :
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=18

and look for the first sticky up on top called "The Getting Rid of Spyware HOWTO"

 

[Sid]

I use spysweeper. IMO, its the best out there.

 

[SAPguy]

Download adaware and run it. (Then run it at least once a week and be sure to check for updates)

Download cwshredder and run it.

Disable Windows Messenger (NOT THE SAME AS MSN MESSENGER)
-search on google under "disable windows messenger" to find directions for your OS.

Run Windows Update to make sure you have all current updates.

A lot of the spyware removal programs out there actually add spyware to your system. They are not worth it.

 

[Chakotay]

I use the Opera browser (the free one), have Ad-Aware 6.0 and Spybot installed. Plus I have my Norton firewall security settings at high. I've run the two spyware programs a couple of times now and nothing comes up.

 

[Starcrystal]

Ok first of all when I had spybot & adaware together, spybot said adaware was a stolen copyright of spybot and I had to delete it. Also spybot could not get rid of several "default home pages" that installed themselves. I reset the computer to an earlier time and even after a month those default pages got through zone alarm, norton antivirus & spysweeper! Its a big yellow & red page that is trying to sell spyware remover. Piggybacking on it are full screen adult links and clock sync install, and at-games install. If you try to click out of these they begin installing themselves. The computer bogs down to a stop and then I must reconfigure to an earlier time, and lose all my installed programs as well. Its been the ONLY way to get rid of it. I lost spysweeper last time I reset the computer, but it couldn't remove those default home pages anyways.

I did get the Mozilla browser to work, so maybe that will help. Thanks for your suggestions.... My computer may be more high target than others because of the amount of sites we visit, and also credit card & banking.

 

[Starcrystal]

Rdale04, I tried all 3 links, and got "Hmm.. Sorry, we can’t seem to locate that page" on each link.

 

[rdale]

Rdale04, I tried all 3 links, and got "Hmm.. Sorry, we can’t seem to locate that page" on each link.

I got the same, sorry, don't know what's up with that... anyways, if you were able to go to that page... try this :

go to : http://www.sitepoint.com/forums
then : Community Center
then : Computer Help Desk
final then : click the top thread, it's a sticky and it explains everything...

If I were to guess... I'd say that you've been hijacked. HiJackThis is a program that's listed on the sitepoint link that I was talking/trying to reference earlier it's at : http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/

After downloading, and installing it, you can find someone to make sense of it over at : http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

Also, make sure that you've downloaded, installed, and used these :

Spybot - Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/

Lavasoft's Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/



are we having fun yet ?