Spyware/adware

[shazzabell]

Even though I run frequent scans with both Spybot and Adaware, my computer is still laden with spyware and adware! What can I do?

[Ethel]

How do you know? Which spyware etc?

Have you deleted your temp files and cookies, emptied your recylce bin before running those programmes?

If you have, and still have problems, start in safe mode and run the programmes again.

[LeMarchand]

Make sure you have Spybot's "Immunization" turned on and that you are keeping both programs up-to-date.

Also, is it Spybot or AdAware showing items? The latter lists your Most Recently Used (MRU) items as potential threats - which is only really true if you have been looking at/using dodgy items.

[shazzabell]

Thanks for your replies, unfortunately I'm still getting lots of hits (tradedoubler, tribalfusion, questionmarket etc. etc.) from both programs.
I would like to try the 'safe mode' option, but I'm unsure of how to do this?
I wasn't aware of the 'immunization' option LeMarchand, so I ran that. Oh, and I haven't been looking at dodgy items LoL!

[a7x]

What windows are you using?

[sparkyharky]

shazzabell

Just visiting a site like ebay can dump a piece of "...ware" on your PC. Most of these are non malicious and relatively innocent.
When you run Ad-aware, it rates the items it identifies on a 0 -10 scale, usually the scans pick up ratings of 3.
A 3 rating is very low, so don't panic and just let Ad-aware delete the files.
Your web browsing will put them all straight back in, so don't get too paranoid about them.
If your Ad-aware Average TAC Rating is 7 or more then you have some possible nasties.
Keep scanning and deleting them... it's just like hoovering the house - you gotta keep doing it :-)

[LeMarchand]

As well as Spybot & AdAware, I also use Spyware Blaster (free). It needs to be manually updated (unless you pay for it!), but seems to do a good job of keeping the stuff off in the first place. My scans rarely find anything, though I also use Firefox with the NoScript extension as my browser.

P.S. Pressing F8 whilst booting up normally enables you to start your machine in "Safe" mode - only a minimum of programs etc are loaded, thus making it easier to delete nasties that might otherwise be "in use".

[shazzabell]

Cheers for your helpful answers!

[lakey1962]

if your on telewest broadband try pc guard.brilliant for removing adware spyware and viruses. make sure you enable all of of them to remove automatically.good luck.