I hate spyware. >=|

[Mag-X]

My computer keeps turning it's self off randomly, and then I can't get it to turn back on unless I unplug it for about 10 seconds. Last time it did this, getting rid of the spyware made it quit. Here lies the problem. My Ad-Aware keeps getting stuck, and SpyKiller (which sucks btw) wont even start up.



(Oh, and yes, before you ask, I have have done a virus scan, and came up with nothing. This is the only thing left that I can think of.)

[valbowski1980]

Run it in Safe Mode. Also, let Ad-Aware find like 100 items, stop the scan and delete them and the start it up again. Also, dissable the "auto quarantine objects prior to removal) feature. You can find it by clicking on the gear icon.

Ad-Aware is good but it does miss some stuff. Try Spybot since I've noticed that it picks up a lot of what A-A misses. Also, Hijackthis (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) is great but be careful since you can get rid of some things that you shouldn't.

Lastly, if you have XP or better yet 2000 try using Microsoft's Anitspyware program. It is very good.

[TuuSaR]

Get an Microsoft AntiSpyware
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...n&Hash=L4YX9F4

(I hope link works)

Spybot is usefull to disable start-up programs.

Some viruses will disable antispyware programs.

Other programs I recommend:
zonealarm firewall
avast! antivirus (free)

And best OS is win2k

[Mag-X]

Run it in Safe Mode.
I have. It still happens..

Also, let Ad-Aware find like 100 items, stop the scan and delete them and the start it up again.
I have. After I stop it, it acts as though it has found nothing.

Also, dissable the "auto quarantine objects prior to removal) feature. You can find it by clicking on the gear icon.
I'll do that.

[Mag-X]

I got the Microsoft anti-virus program, and damn did that thing work. It found a ton of crap. (I wish I had a Mac. )

Lets see if this fixed the problem. Thanks guys. You rock.

[valerossi]

Don't forget to disable "System Restore" first...


Start -> Control Panel -> System -> System Restore

[Raven18940]

Stop looking at so much pron and your spyware problems will disappear.

[sethsev7n]

Originally Posted by Mag-X

(I wish I had a Mac. )

yeah.. the pc is a scary place

[Mag-X]

Originally Posted by Raven18940

Stop looking at so much pron and your spyware problems will disappear.

Heh. That's what I use my crappy computer for.. I mean uh..

[cdaly]

Go get linux and you're forever free of spyware, viruses and microsoft...

[Grega]

I.
1) get the latest Windows Service Pack & Windows updates and install them
2) run the updated anti-virus software
3) run updated SpyBoot Search & Destroy software (it's free)
4) run updated AdWare
5) turn on your Windows firewall

6) DO NOT install more than one anti-virus software on your machine.

II.
the other option is formatting your hard drive & reinstalling all the software needed. Don't forget to install the Windows latest service parck and updates and ofcourse back-up all the personal data prior to formatting.

III.
Check the Control Pannel's Power Options ... maybe you have some funny turn off setting there.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by Grega

II.
the other option is formatting your hard drive & reinstalling all the software needed. Don't forget to install the Windows latest service parck and updates and ofcourse back-up all the personal data prior to formatting.

I am a huge proponent of that. Much better to start from scratch.

[valbowski1980]

Originally Posted by cdaly

Go get linux and you're forever free of spyware, viruses and microsoft...

I tried but it didn't work out too well for me. Sadly, I need some of the features that windows has.

That said, I am planning to build a new PC and it will have both linux (Mandrake or Fedora) and WindowsXP Pro (or 2000). My current laptop (old *** thinkpad P3-700) can't quite pull it off.

[zinfandel]

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Keeps stuff off

I also endorse AdAware and Spybot. I find the Microsoft Beta OK but it is slower tha AdAware and no more effective, IMHO.

"HiJack this" is strong medicine to be used carefully.

I've also tried WinPaTROL (FREE VERSION). It can show you what's running
http://www.winpatrol.com/

I agree that in severe cases just do a reinstall on another harddrive. Like getting a new machine

[Alex]

Its also worth using an non IE browser for as much of your web surfing as possible. This is far less likely to allow the downloads of spyware and similar. Unfortunately there are sites which require IE to display properly.

[valbowski1980]

http://www.sunbelt-software.com/CounterSpy.cfm

This has been getting excellent writeups as of late. That and Webroot is also good.

[cdaly]

Originally Posted by valbowski1980

I tried but it didn't work out too well for me. Sadly, I need some of the features that windows has.

What features do you need? I don't need any of the windows 'features': viruses, spyware, permission from MS to use my computer, inability to make the system work better, lack of control over the system... See Rick Moen's Linux Knowledgebase http://linuxmafia.com/kb/index.html for much info on the alternatives as well as http://www.linux.ie/newusers/alternatives.php

That said, I am planning to build a new PC and it will have both linux (Mandrake or Fedora) and WindowsXP Pro (or 2000). My current laptop (old *** thinkpad P3-700) can't quite pull it off.

Your current laptop will quite happily run a linux system. You might want to use a lighter-weight window manager / desktop combination rather than Gnome or KDE.

Originally Posted by Alex

Unfortunately there are sites which require IE to display properly.

But those websites don't get my custom. See "Arguing with the Customer" at: http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Web/opti.html

[Jezzadee]

I use Linux for most web things, and the only security I have is a basic firewall enabled - no anti-virus or any of this other stuff required. Although I prefer it as an OS, there are industry standard programs I need to use that are not available in Linux, so I also have Windows as a dual boot. Because of Windows' inherent vulnerability, I use Adaware, Spybot, Zonealarm, Hijackthis, AVG antivirus, MS Antispyware, Thunderbird for email and Firefox for the web, as well as updating definitions daily. I spent much of this weekend rebuilding someone else's computer that had Windows Messenger type pop-ups with porn links in them, although I know they have never visited a dodgy website in their life, nor opened any dubious emails. That computer had up to date AVG antivirus, firewall and adaware installed, but it still got through - no SP2 installed though. I just wiped the lot and started again. PITA but there we go. I wish more people used Linux, but in reality until it is as easy to use as Windows or Mac OS it won't happen - I take my hat off to the guys who voluntarily create things for it, but for many users it would just be too daunting. In a year or two, who knows? Double click to install something instead of typing code into a console and you're halfway there already.

[Alex]

A friend of mine who does web creation and editing (including stuff for charities which has to meet various standards to allow visually impaired use) has found that it is possible to create a website which meets and passes all the checks and which both Firefox and Opera will not display correctly (or not at all).

[cdaly]

Originally Posted by Jezzadee

Double click to install something instead of typing code into a console and you're halfway there already.

Oh, that's there already but I never use the menus so I don't know where to find it... Anyway, commandline stuff is just so much more fun.

BTW, did you know that Macs now run linux as their OS? Yup, OS X is linux with a Mac interface on top! or is it BSD? Well, anyway, it's an amalgam of a Mac kernel with a BSD based environment...