Spyware removal
 

Anybody have recommendations for the best Spyware removal utility? I figure it couldn't hurt to get rid of some of that shit which has surely made its way onto my system by now.

AdAware is pretty good. You can get it at download.com.

I'd have to second AdAware, even though Chimp and Willie have been plugging it forever. It's gotten rid of all the shit my computer had, even that fucking Xupiter bar, which, by the way, the company suggests you download something else to remove it.

SpyBot is also good, however, AdAware and SpyBot will fight each other if you run one with the other installed. ;)

Ok, there's a bunch of different Adware programs on download.com , can one of you gimme a link to the exact one that I should get? I'm running Windows XP in case you need to know.

http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10...age&tag=button

That should be the newest verison.[/url]

LAZY SKULL. >:

adaware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
spybot s&d http://security.kolla.de/
spyware blaster http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html

i use allllll three, spayware blaster is the shit it stops msot of the crap from even being downaldeds :eek :eek

TWO PROGAMS ENTER - ONE PROGRAM LEAVES.
TWO PROGAMS ENTER - ONE PROGRAM LEAVES.
TWO PROGAMS ENTER - ONE PROGRAM LEAVES.

not shit! spyware!

lol @ movies

EDIT: whops i messed that quote up!

I have both AdAware and Spybot and to this date they have not 'fought' or made each other run oddly. Run both, it will save your ass.

Ok I need some help here.

First off:


Is that a lot? 241 objects?

I selected the ones that I wanted to get rid of and I "Quarantined" them, but I didn't delete them yet. Are they still functional when they're quarantined? Or do you have to delete them? I'm just worried about fucking up my computer by deleting the wrongs files.

Any help would be greatly appreciated here.

Quarantining them is Ad-Aware's method of 'saving' them in case one of them has gotten too close to your TCP/IP stack or another program that, upon removal, will fuck up your computer. If you've quarantined them and your computer still works, then this means that deleting them will have no serious effect. But honestly, I wouldn't go out of your way to delete them. I never do and I've never had a problem.

Besides, if there is a bit of adware that might fuck up your system, Ad-Aware will throw you a warning saying 'this might not be wise' and give you the option exclusively. So you should be fine. If you can still do everything on your computer you could before, don't worry.

As for the amount....geez, is this your first time running it? The only time I got that amount is when I first scanned! You might want to hit Spybot as well, just to be safe.

Yeah it's my first time running it. So you really don't think I should bother deleting the files? Just leave them quarantined?

after they are quarantined there is a option to delete them.

You can if you want. If your computer runs fine after quarantine, there's no harm. I just don't bother because I'm lazy. :)

That's more spyware/adware than I've ever had, but I've heard some horror stories that dwarf that amount. Not that the amount matters, quality is distinctly more damaging than quantity when it comes to this.

But really, I'm just posting again to tell you to get Blaster because nobody seems to use it and it kicks the shit out of your mouth. It's not an active program, you just run it and it does the necessary alterations to a few files (such as ActiveX related) so that this shit doesn't bother you.

Quarantining also replaces some files with junk so that it tricks spyware programs into thinking it's already installed on your computer. Sometimes deleting stuff will just make it come back after a few hours of Internet use.

Spybot: Search and Destroy also has a 'immunize' feature in which it does that. Also, it catches a few more things than adware like Trojans and a few worms. I recommend that highly as both keep your computer running very nicely.

Spybot even prevents the downloading of some new spyware, like Advertising.com stuff.