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Spyware Program?

There isnt one best one that ive found.

AdAware, Spybot, HiJack This, and WinFix are on my most commonly used tools list. CWShredder is another one I use, as well as regedit32.

Not one single program can cut it anymore I think..So I use a multitude.
 
NotSoSimple said:
There isnt one best one that ive found.

AdAware, Spybot, HiJack This, and WinFix are on my most commonly used tools list. CWShredder is another one I use, as well as regedit32.

Not one single program can cut it anymore I think..So I use a multitude.
Click to expand...

These are all good tools but yea you need more than one
 
NotSoSimple said:
There isnt one best one that ive found.

AdAware, Spybot, HiJack This, and WinFix are on my most commonly used tools list. CWShredder is another one I use, as well as regedit32.

Not one single program can cut it anymore I think..So I use a multitude.
Click to expand...

Add 'Crap Cleaner' to the list. I don't personally use it, but I've heard many good things about it.
 
CrapCleaner does not remove spyware, just temporary files and stuff like that

oldmx
 
OldMX said:
CrapCleaner does not remove spyware, just temporary files and stuff like that

oldmx
Click to expand...

Like I said, I don't use it :p

I personally use Ad-aware SE Plus and MS AntiSpy along with Firefox. I don't have any problems with that.
 
I've had great success with Spy Sweeper. It's replaced AdAware and SpyBot for me... granted, Spy Sweeper isn't free though.
 
I use a hosts file and Microsoft's Antispyware, and I can report that I have not had problems with any spyware for over a year. I even had spybot and adaware give the system a check to be sure, and all they found were a couple cookies from ecommerce sites.
 
Well I ended up purchasing Spyware Doctor. I got the registration email from element 5 which gives my user name and then registration code. It keeps telling me my account is invalid. I purchased the program yesterday, got the error. Thinking it might take a bit for my account to become active I tried it again today and I get the same issue.

Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?
 
Spending money to stop spyware?

Really. Start with the hosts file. It literally takes loads of hassle away from you.
 
www.ewido.net

This program RULES ALL OTHER ANTISPYWARE PROGRAMS as far as the really bad stuff. This thing just slices right through the really maliscious stuff that other antispyware programs can't seem to shake off.

15 Day trial.
 
Gambit said:
I've had great success with Spy Sweeper. It's replaced AdAware and SpyBot for me... granted, Spy Sweeper isn't free though.
Click to expand...


SpySweeper is great!
 
Giant (MS) is totally awesome. I have to use Spy Sweeper multiple times a day at work and... ew. I hate it.
 
[BB] Rick James said:
Well I ended up purchasing Spyware Doctor. I got the registration email from element 5 which gives my user name and then registration code. It keeps telling me my account is invalid. I purchased the program yesterday, got the error. Thinking it might take a bit for my account to become active I tried it again today and I get the same issue.

Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Yeah, first off you paid for anti-spyware software. There isn't any product on the market worth buying, none of them have detection rates high enough. This is why you have to run multiple scanners, if you have to do that, might as well use the free ones.

My recommendation is to return the software, heck you have a great excuse with the error. ;)
 
Here's a guide I wrote last month for some customers:

For Spyware Removal:
1. Clear all the Temp files on the computer. If you are running windows 9x, they will all be in C:\Windows\x - where x is Temp, Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, etc. If you are running 2000 or above, you will need to go to C:\Documents and Settings\Userx\Local Settings\x - again where x is Temporary Internet Files etc. Something to keep in mind is that you will not see Local Settings unless your computer is set up to show hidden folders. This is done by opening a folder, and clicking on Tools from the top menu. From there go to Folder Options, and then click on the View tab. There you will see a checkbox that says "Show All Hidden Files and Folders." In XP & 2000, you must also clear C:\WINDOWS\Temp.

2. Run every legitimate Anti-spyware program you can get your hands on (quite a few "anti-spyware programs" are spyware themeselves, so please use caution.) Here is a good list:
Ad-aware (www.lavasoft.com)
Spybot - Search and Destroy - (www.safer-networking.org)
Microsoft Anti-Spyware (support.microsoft.com) (2000 & XP only)
Ewido Online Scanner (www.ewido.net) (2000 & XP Only)
Spy Sweeper (www.webroot.com) (run this if you are on a 9x system, and can't run Ewido or Microsoft. Also, this is a trial. Use it and remove it.)

3. Next, make sure this system doesn't have a virus. The best thing to do is to pull the drive, and run Norton Corporate on it. Barring that, you can go to (www.trendmicro.com ) and run Housecall.

4. Go to Add / Remove Programs. Run through the list and delete any unwanted programs. (EX: Bargain Buddy, etc.)

5. Go to "C:\Program Files." Delete any unwanted folders / remains of spyware programs that didn't come out with step 4. Also, if you could not remove a program in Step 4, this is the place to do it.

Warning: From here on out, a mistake can cost you the system, proceed at your own risk.

6. Now the fun starts. If you had any program that would not come out in Add / Remove programs, you must also delete it in the Registry. Click Start >> Run >> Regedit. From there go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and Expand the software tab. Delete any folders that are from spyware, or their parent companys. Also go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER and do the same thing.

7. Download and Run HijackThis (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) This detects EVERY startup object, browser helper object, activex control, etc. Just keep in mind that most of the stuff that will be detected is actaully legitimate software. You will need to run through the list, and remove what you know to be spyware / malware.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Optional Steps:
Depending on the severity of the problem, you may also want to run CWShredder. This can also be found at (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html ) In addtion, you may need to run About Buster (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/aboutbuster.html) as well.

Finally, if you still have some problems, you may need to some advanced registry cleaning. Again open the registry by going to Start >> Run >> regedit. From there navigate to this directory: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Delete anything that looks suspicous. (You may want to back up the registry key first. To do this, while in the registry editor, go to File >> Export. Save the key in a spot where it won't be accidently run, or deleted.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. After you've run all this, run Ad-aware and Spybot one more time. If they come up clean then you should be ok. If not, Run FDISK.


Tips:
1. Spybot has a nice immunization feature. Make sure to update the definitions, and use it.
2. Spybot also has a nice feature for your host file. If you go to the top, and click on Modes, select Advanced. From there go to tools, and you should see something that says "Hosts." Click on that, and select "Add Spybot's Host File." This will give some added protection.
3. Under the advanced option, Spybot also has something called "System Startup." If you don't feel comfortable with HijackThis, or the Registry, this may be a better way to go. It is not as thorough, but it gets most stuff.

I think that's pretty much it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

-jenkins
 
2. Run every Anti-spyware program you can get your hands on.
Click to expand...
I'd edit that to say run the programs in the list you provide. There are several "spyware cleaners" that are in fact, spyware.
 
Very true.

That's one thing I failed to mention in the post, quite a bit of "anti-spyware programs" are in fact spyware themselves. Hopefully this group will know better than the average person, but all the same please use caution. Research everything heavily if your not sure.

Alternately, you can just use that list. Honestly, if that won't remove it, you've got larger issues.

Thanks,

-jenkins
 
Note, alot of spyware is now including rootkits to protect themselves from these tools, so running virus detection software is a must. Windows Defender removes IsPro. The Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, removes them both. For the online version of Microsoft's malware removal tools you can try:

http://safety.live.com/
IsPro:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/encyclopedia/details.aspx?name=WinNT%2fIspro

HackDef:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/encyclopedia/details.aspx?name=Win32/HackDef

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
Spyware Doctor is.


Spyware Doctor is a multi-award winning spyware removal tool software that detects, removes and protects your PC from thousands of potential spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, spybots and tracking threats. Protect your privacy and computing habits from prying eyes and virtual trespassers with the help of Spyware Doctor! It also has an OnGuard system to immunize and protect your system against hundreds of privacy threats as you work.
 
Surprised nobody mentionned CounterSpy, which is a antispyware tool and resident scanner. I own one and it's pretty reliable, easily in the top 5 from some online testing.
 
Using a variety of programs is a must. I recently fixed a PC absolutely paralysed by spyware, and although AdAware, Spybot and Spyware Doctor found 400-odd files between them (not my PC, for the record ;) ), none of them found the problem. In the end, the trojan in question was picked up by AVG antivirus, of all things.
 
For spyware, a combination of things is good. Spybot S&D gets most of the nasty things, and can inoculate IE for further protection.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

To help catch the stuff that Spybot may ignore, Lavasoft AdAware is very good. It may have some false positives, but it's mostly good. I like the googlepack version of the program. The googlepack updater may need human intervention sometimes, but it's still a pretty good updater.
http://pack.google.com/

To help prevent spyware, Microsoft's Windows Defender seems good. It seems to store many settings so that they can be restored in an emergency, so I would recommend only installing it on a system that you knew was already clean, so that those settings are not tainted.
http://microsoft.com/antispyware

PeerGuardian is basically just an updating IP block-list of known people with bad intentions. It won't replace a firewall, but it can be used to enhance it. It can help prevent spyware and viruses.
http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/

If you use Firefox and Adblock, you can prevent a lot of bad stuff too. Using Firefox will probably prevent more spyware than anything else out there.
http://mozilla.com/firefox
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/10/
 
And one of the best methods to prevent getting spyware/adware in the first place is to run under a limited user account when connected to the internet. That seems to be a basic one that a lot of people don't use.
 
I use to be a big supported of spysweeper. When I was a notebook tech I loaded it on over 500 systems. Works pretty good. Since then I've been useing spyware doctor. So far it is the best program I've seen to find and remove junk without much trouble. Hell the group I'm working for is trying to become a reseller of it. We've started loading the enterprise version on our clients machines because we have had such great luck with it. Also they were running a specal the other day where for 10 bucks moure you could get 3 licenses insted of 1(3 for 40). Great deal. Sorry you are having problems registering it. You putting in your code right?
 
My routine (I do this on 20+ computers a week at times. . .).

Run AimFix, AdAware, Spybot, Ewido/AVG AS, Dr. Web CureIt! (little known utility-works great, need to watch what it finds though, as it does target some legitimate software), and a quick scan over a HJT! log (Run VundoFix, SmitRem, etc. where appropriate) and check your incoming/outgoing ports with ActivePorts or AVG AS to ensure there's nothing still trying to connect to random servers and you're good to go damn near every time. :D
 
Xilikon said:
Surprised nobody mentionned CounterSpy, which is a antispyware tool and resident scanner. I own one and it's pretty reliable, easily in the top 5 from some online testing.
Click to expand...


I use Counterspy and think it's great. I switched from Spysweeper a little over a year ago, and stand behind my decision. It's cleaned up some pretty screwed up computers for friends and family.
 
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