help....

[chimpy]

I have tried to resolve this solution with suggestions from this site but to no avail. My computer is running very slowly and is now constantly being pestered with adware / antispyware pop ups which are annoying. I have panda anti tovirus but for some reason I can scan with it but not update it to higher level security. I tried a recommended link from here which was supposed to be free which said I had 202 problems and that it would be 40 dollars to fix. Are there any free sites where I can download something to help me.....if not I dont mind paying.....anyone know of somewhere I could take in north London who could help me....sick and tired of this now...and so useless in these matters as you may have sussed for yourselves....

[Catso]

I would believe the 'free' advice; they're hardly going to tell you if nothing's wrong, are they? Use stuff with a reputable name EG Symantec, Dr Solomons.

It sounds so bad you might be better rebuilding it. Make sure you get good protection next time.

[Ethel]

Have a good read of this link. All the utilities are free and excellent.

http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUs erPage&userid=cuddly-hippo

Especially look at Spybot, Ewido, X Cleaner and Ad-aware.

[chimpy]

Ethel....thank you...the Ewido one really helped and got rid of lots of stuff,but still getting the same one coming back...it is antispyware.net......and just takes over my page...any ideas....thanks again

[LeMarchand]

Try booting into safe mode (usaually press F8 during the boot up) and running Ethel's progs.

[oligopoly]

without sounding like a twit, dont visit dodgy websites in the first place - that will significantly reduce the chance of this happening again

[dodgyshirt]

Not just a twit, but a pompous one at that. People use this site to get help, not criticism.

The volume of virus and general malware attacks currently at large on the net do not even require site visits to infect an inadequately protected PC.

`Driveby' attacks are prevalent and surfers can only ensure safety by installing good anti-virus, firewall and spyware programmes such as the ones suggested by Ethel.

I always install all of these or variants on my customers PCs

. A work colleague trusting only the trialware supplied with a new PC from PC World caught over 600 infections in his first evening of broadband surfing. Some of it so deeply embedded that only a re-install of the OS cured it.
How many first-time customers such as he, would even consider that a brand-new PC was not up to the task.

[oligopoly]

dodgyshirt - by offering advice i preempt the situation occuring again. maybe happening even worse the next time. surely thats a good 'answer'? the poster stated he has tried 'suggestions' from this site - mine is merely adding to this list -and serving as help for other readers of this topic.

it would be difficult if not impossible to completely protrect one's online pc from the threat of infections that swarm the internet. typically i have found that a computer is more at risk from popups and spyware when surfing dodgy/illegal sites.

there is no definitive answer to this poster's question; he is looking for advice and suggestions. i have tried to offer that. perhaps you have the cutting edge in computing security up there on your high horse, dodgyshirt?

what dodgy sites was your dodgy work colleague surfing then, dodgyshirt?

another tip - your horse could construct a more sound computer than pc world

[LeMarchand]

I'd agree that "dodgy" sites are more likely to carry a risk, but what would seem perfectly innocent sites can be bad (a lot of lyric sites seem prone to spyware attacks). A lot of computer novices will also get caught out by those lovely "free screensaver" or "free searchbar" offers.

As for PC World, true - but again not only would most people be unaware of this, I doubt that many of the machines they sell are actually built by them.

[oligopoly]

yeah - what is it with lyric sites?! good catch LeMarchand. I find google toolbar good for catching popups. its a simple and free prog to get