OT: Computer adware/spyware removal program?
Bunker
Posts: 3,926 ✭
Can anybody recommend a program that can remove adware/spyware? (Vista 
) I did an internet search and I see there are a few FREE downloads available, but I am leary of those unless somebody knows of a good one.
Thanks!
Rick
) I did an internet search and I see there are a few FREE downloads available, but I am leary of those unless somebody knows of a good one.Thanks!
Rick
My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2 (2003). My son was diagnosed with Type 1 when he was 17 on December 31, 2009. We were stunned that another child of ours had been diagnosed. Please, if you don't have a favorite charity, consider giving to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
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What I would really try first is to go the help and support link on your computer screen . Go back a week or two and that will normally clear up most bugs. Some bugs will prevent you from doing that , as it will prevent you from downloading a spyware remover . You may have to scrubb your system. Hope you saved that disc.---- Sonny
Spyware Blaster
Spybot S&D
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
back up stuff and reinstall
RIP GURU
Adaware
And what I believe is truly the best is malwarebytes
My Sandberg topps basic set
My Sandberg Topps Master set
<< <i>reformatting is only true solution.
back up stuff and reinstall >>
This is the only 100% effective solution.
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2 (2003). My son was diagnosed with Type 1 when he was 17 on December 31, 2009. We were stunned that another child of ours had been diagnosed. Please, if you don't have a favorite charity, consider giving to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
JDRF Donation
<< <i>
<< <i>reformatting is only true solution.
back up stuff and reinstall >>
This is the only 100% effective solution. >>
Although I agree, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware has saved many people from having to do that and at the very least it's worth a shot.
Jeff
Miscut Museum
My Mess
Recently when I bought my new computer, I gave my wife the old one. She thought she was doing the right thing by putting a "spyware" program on it. After doing so, a bunch of pop ups to porn sites came up (That was actually cool, it validates my stories about how porn sites just "pop up", but I digress...). When she asked me how to remove them all, I noticed that a new program called "Malware Protection" had an icon in the desktop. When I tried to remove it, it asked me "Why do you want to remove this program?". No, button or anything, just an actual question with a fill inthe blank box. I died laughing when my wife asked what she should put in the box. Obviously this was the virus. Since it was an old hard drive and fairly small in comparison to todays drives, we went ahead and got a new one.
But, yes, it may cost a little more or take a little more time, but in many cases when downloading free stuff, you get what you pay for
-Michael
Always buying Bobby Cox inserts. PM me.
<< <i>Spybot search and destroy
Adaware
And what I believe is truly the best is malwarebytes >>
I have used malwarebytes and have been very happy with the results.
brian
Shane
<< <i>reformatting is only true solution.
back up stuff and reinstall >>
Absolutely true statement.
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
<< <i>reformatting is only true solution.
back up stuff and reinstall >>
It all depends on how bad the infection is... for a light to medium infection you can clean it fairly easily if you have the know how. But for major infections or the nastier viruses, then format/reinstall is the best option. You also failed to mention that if you just back up the stuff, without running a virus scan on it, you risk just copying the infected files back onto the cleanly installed computer
As a computer tech for the last 12 years I will also recommend MalwareBytes as others have. Run that and also run Spybot Search and Destroy. Run them in Safe Mode. Depending on how comfortable you are with your computer you can also run ComboFix, but would only recommend this for more experienced users, and would recommend backing up important files before you do so.
I've cleaned 100's of infected computers without having to format and reinstall and not had them come back reinfected (unless the person goes somewhere they shouldn't and reinfects it again).
~WalterSobchak
<< <i>
<< <i>reformatting is only true solution.
back up stuff and reinstall >>
It all depends on how bad the infection is... for a light to medium infection you can clean it fairly easily if you have the know how. But for major infections or the nastier viruses, then format/reinstall is the best option. You also failed to mention that if you just back up the stuff, without running a virus scan on it, you risk just copying the infected files back onto the cleanly installed computer
As a computer tech for the last 12 years I will also recommend MalwareBytes as others have. Run that and also run Spybot Search and Destroy. Run them in Safe Mode. Depending on how comfortable you are with your computer you can also run ComboFix, but would only recommend this for more experienced users, and would recommend backing up important files before you do so.
I've cleaned 100's of infected computers without having to format and reinstall and not had them come back reinfected (unless the person goes somewhere they shouldn't and reinfects it again). >>
Agreed that not all malware requires a complete wipe. The problem is that most non-tech users would have little to no clue if the malware remover they chose successfully removed everything. In my experience, they all miss different ones. Yeah, I'd start with Spybot, but I'd probably recommend they get someone savvy to help.
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
<< <i>
<< <i>reformatting is only true solution.
back up stuff and reinstall >>
It all depends on how bad the infection is... for a light to medium infection you can clean it fairly easily if you have the know how. But for major infections or the nastier viruses, then format/reinstall is the best option. You also failed to mention that if you just back up the stuff, without running a virus scan on it, you risk just copying the infected files back onto the cleanly installed computer
As a computer tech for the last 12 years I will also recommend MalwareBytes as others have. Run that and also run Spybot Search and Destroy. Run them in Safe Mode. Depending on how comfortable you are with your computer you can also run ComboFix, but would only recommend this for more experienced users, and would recommend backing up important files before you do so.
I've cleaned 100's of infected computers without having to format and reinstall and not had them come back reinfected (unless the person goes somewhere they shouldn't and reinfects it again). >>
Agreed that not all malware requires a complete wipe. The problem is that most non-tech users would have little to no clue if the malware remover they chose successfully removed everything. In my experience, they all miss different ones. Yeah, I'd start with Spybot, but I'd probably recommend they get someone savvy to help.
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
<< <i>Can anybody recommend a program that can remove adware/spyware? (Vista
Thanks!
Rick >>
You may have recently gotten a "problem" that infected your registry - With Vista, this should be able to be quickly eliminated with an easy to do restore.
Try the following:
See the "start" icon in the lower left and click, below you'll see "start search" - type in restore. At the top click "systems restore", they'll be a windows popup, click "continue". Click "choose a different restore point" if you think you got the virus prior to the other date listed. Click "next". You can also choose a restore point older than 5 days if you want by checking the little box stating that. Click "next". Your computer will now automatically do the restore - takes around 5 minutes or so. Likely the virus will be gone. If not, you may need to do a complete restore that cleans everything as though you just bought the computer, and as noted make sure you backup important programs - using one of those little "Verbatim" sticks will work well for doing that.