posted on March 22, 2004 09:58:02 AM new
I know others have recommended such programs before, but I failed to bookmark the threads.
If someone would be so kind as to recommend a good spyware removal program, assuming the computer in question is running Windows XP, I'd really appreciate it.
I wonder if it's purely coincidence that my PC starts to be invaded just as the renewal date for Norton Firewall approaches?
GRRRR!!! My next computer will be a MAC.
Thanks so much!
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One learns in life to keep silent and draw one's own confusions. --Cornelia Otis Skinner
posted on March 22, 2004 10:12:00 AM new
jvj, theres lot of them if you do google search. spybot search and destroy works good, but not spyhunter. also ad aware.
while you're at spybot, download and run the spyware blaster JavaCools. It installs and runs itself within Spybot and needs updating weekly as there are always new threats.
I also did download and run ad-aware from lavasoft and was surprised where they didn't used to have an update feature, that they now do. It did find somethings that spybot didn't.
posted on March 22, 2004 11:12:04 AM new
also, once you download and run spybot, click the SETTINGS and choose advanced settings. Under EXPERT SETTINGS check the expert buttons boxes. This let you have the CHOOSE ALL & FIX ALL buttons that are not available in the easy mode.
Under the IMMUNIZE button on the main page of Spybot (once it is installed) make sure to run the Permanent IE immunity.
Right below that is where you will see the JavaCools Spyware Blaster once it is installed. It is just a link that will open a new window to run it.
At the bottom of the IMMUNIZE page are three buttons to lock the pages. If you have the CONTROL PANEL box checked you will not be able to use your IE TOOLS/Internet Options Clear Files Cookies Etc. so DO NOT check that box.
posted on March 22, 2004 12:15:45 PM new
Thanks so much!
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One learns in life to keep silent and draw one's own confusions. --Cornelia Otis Skinner
posted on March 22, 2004 03:37:56 PM new
spyhunter. oh please.
you paid $30.00 for ?
at LEAST see what CNET recomends before you download and install something.
they are one of the ones that tries to trade on Spybot's good name and reputation in Google. That right there says enough for me.
I take that back..they were ONE of the ones. Thank goodness Google finally got rid of that.
"Big fake warning February 2004
For the past two weeks, I got massive complaints from people who saw recommendations for Spybot-S&D on some TV show or heard about it on radio, and tried to go for it through the TV/radios website. Somehow, a bad link to Spybot-S&D is in its way and leading people to think that SpyHunter or SpyKiller would be the recommended Spybot-S&D. People downloading these two are forced to pay to remove spyware, and in the case of SpyKiller are even directed to us for support!
So my warning: please double-check what you've got before you pay anything!
Also, if you were mislead to SpyHunter or SpyKiller through Google AdWords, please contact Google. Google promised me some weeks ago they wouldn't do any more advertisement on my trademarked name "spybot", but I again receive complaints that they do, and this struggle with Google is going on for 4 months now.
Update: I cannot recommend to use the Google search engine any more (seing how many pushed unwanted search results appear on nearly every common term, other search engines have become more efficient in my opinion anyway).
posted on March 22, 2004 04:44:55 PM new
I use Spybot S&D. Three days ago, I downloaded a manual for an item I'm going to list. This was from a third party site as the company is no longer in business. In addition to the manual, I got a beautiful infection of "Comet Cursors". This is a program that makes no less than 15 entries to your Windows registry. I had previously contracted "Gator" which also makes several entries to the registry. In both instance Spybot S&D was able to remove these spyware programs and successfully edit the registry to get rid of them. The point I'm trying to make is that any spyware removal program will be editing your registry if it's to be effective. I would be leery of using some of these off the wall wanabe programs because if they don't work correctly you will be looking at major league problems with your computer. Spybot S&D is the only program I could recommend from personal experience. It is also one of only two programs that AOL will recommend to it's users, the other being AdAware.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on March 22, 2004 05:19:32 PM new
THANK YOU sparkz!
You said what I just didn't have the words for.
The good news is once you run spybot or adaware (or both) and if you have spybot and their IE immunity and Spyware Blaster you almost NEVER get any of these things "accidently" downloaded onto your computer.
My husband is the worst for clicking on unsafe links which finally prompted me to search for a way to keep the computer safe yet still browsable at the same time.
I hate having to set all my IE security on High and having to agree to look at the link.
These days most unsafe links just give me a blank page. I know at that point I didn't want to view what they had to offer anyway.
posted on March 22, 2004 05:32:33 PM new
Glassgrl...The way I got it was I downloaded a zip file and unzipped it on this computer. Since I immunized this machine after the Gator incident, I figured that's the only way it could get in. I ran a virus scan immediately after unzipping and then ran SBS&D and there it was! This was a 16 page manual and I assumed there would be 16 text files in it. There were 16 gif's instead.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
