How Do You Get Rid Of Spyware?

[arthurracoon]

How Do You Get Rid Of Spyware?

 

[Ryanwb]

http://download.com.com/3000-8022-10214379.html?tag=lst-0-8

Download this baby

 

[Nick C]

I also use Spybot S&D

Spybot S&D

 

[Chaplin]

http://download.com.com/3000-8022-10214379.html?tag=lst-0-8

Download this baby

Ad-Aware all the way...

 

[bratwurst]

Run adaware and then run cwshredder and hijackthis afterwards.

 

[arthurracoon]

Thanks, that got rid of most of it, but there is still this stupid, annoyning toolbar that keeps popping up after I close it.

Run adaware and then run cwshredder and hijackthis afterwards.

Do you have any links?

 

[bratwurst]

HijackThis

CWShredder

I bet you have the "LOP.com" toolbar, huh?

 

[bratwurst]

This surely won't get rid of it.

>>>>>

Next on FTC's hit list: Spyware


By Paul Davidson, USA TODAY

After moving to curb spam with new legislation last year, federal regulators are poised to take on the newest scourge of the Internet: spyware.

The Federal Trade Commission will hold a workshop Monday to study technical and regulatory responses to spyware - programs surreptitiously buried in your computer that monitor your activities. A similar FTC workshop on junk e-mail last year led to an agency recommendation to pass an anti-spam bill. Congress responded.

But with spyware seen as a less clear menace, FTC officials are hesitant to crack down on it. And Capitol Hill staffers say new spyware bills are unlikely to pass this year.

The most common type of spyware is known as adware. It tracks your Web surfing and feeds the data to an advertiser. The adware then hits you with pop-up ads based on your interests. More nefarious versions of spyware can observe your keystrokes in order to steal your credit card information or identity.

"It's taking your information without your knowledge and giving it to a third party," says Dave Baker, vice president of Internet provider EarthLink.

Spyware often comes bundled with other applications, such as music file-sharing programs or free screensavers. Many tell users that by downloading the desired program, they are agreeing to accept the spyware. But critics say the notice is often inconspicuous. At least 20% of home PCs are spyware-infected.

House and Senate bills would require spyware firms to get clear user consent before downloads, identify the pop-up ad supplier and provide an easy way to get rid of the program. The Senate bill is broader, requiring user consent for any software planting.

Howard Beales, director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection, says such constraints could gum up daily Web tasks. "The question is whether there's a way to draw a workable line," he says. "If you download a set of (updates) for Windows, it comes with a bunch of different programs. You don't want to have to go through this every time."

He says the FTC already has authority to prosecute spyware used for identity theft. And while the FTC could bring cases against spyware firms that are less than straightforward with consumers, that could be difficult if the only harm is a bombardment of pop-up ads, he says. The agency, though, might target spyware that hobbles PC performance, Beales says.

Eventually, he says, federal legislation may be needed to preempt a hodgepodge of state laws. A tough new Utah anti-spyware law is so broad it could force minors to give consent before using software to filter pornography, says Andrew McLaughlin, senior policy counsel for Google.

Companies such as Wells Fargo and Hertz are suing spyware firms that show consumers ads from rivals while they are visiting the companies' Web sites.

"It's unfair competition," says Washington, D.C., lawyer Terry Ross, who represents several plaintiffs.

But Avi Naider, CEO of adware firm WhenU.com, says it's a time-tested way to advertise

 

[jw7]

I think I posted this before, but I will second the recommendation of spybot.

Next, download and install a firewall like free zone alarm. This will alert you when some program tries to access the internet and you can nip it in the bud.

I would also recommend going into Internet Explorer, Tools-> Security -> Trusted sites. Set your internet zone to be very restrictive- go thru every option, - no dropped cookies, no scripts running. This will help in stopping random sites dropping junk on your PC. If you visit a site regularly like ASFN, put it in your trusted zone and allow cookies and scripts. This will stop 90% of internet crap being dropped on your PC.

 

[bratwurst]

This looks pretty good - I haven't seen this program before but I think I might give it a try.

http://www.spychecker.com/program/spywareblaster.html

 

[arthurracoon]

I bet you have the "LOP.com" toolbar, huh?

I think so

 

[KingofCards]

I think so

I think I have the same day thing. I have tried to get rid of it like 50 times and it always comes back when I get on the internet.

Plus now my google blocker isn't blocking popups anymore.

It counts them as being blocked but they show up anyway.

 

[bratwurst]

CWShredder I believe will fix that. You might need to uninstall and then reinstall google toolbar afterwards.

 

[KingofCards]

CWShredder I believe will fix that. You might need to uninstall and then reinstall google toolbar afterwards.

I found it with the hijacker thing and deleted it.

 

[arthurracoon]

I fixed it by running the Ad-Aware in safe mode which allowed me to delete the files because they were not running...FINALLY!!!

Thanks Everyone!

 

[arthurracoon]

I fixed it by running the Ad-Aware in safe mode which allowed me to delete the files because they were not running...FINALLY!!!

Thanks Everyone!

 

[maddogkf]

damn...I ran all 3 of those & my computer is running much faster..I had a bunch of regedit crap that I quarantined

 

[jf-08]

damn...I ran all 3 of those & my computer is running much faster..I had a bunch of regedit crap that I quarantined

which 'puter was it? your home 'puter?

 

[maddogkf]

which 'puter was it? your home 'puter?

home

 

[bratwurst]

Not your car'puter?

You must be registered for see images

 

[Beaver]

I downloaded adware and it found 3832 spyware components on my computer! I guess I'll have to stop surfing porn, I mean stop my friends from surfing porn on my computer.

 

[bratwurst]

You have to be exagerating. 3800+? Thats like an all time record!

 

[Beaver]

You have to be exagerating. 3800+? Thats like an all time record!

Aren't cookies considered spyware? I think that is why there were so many. I never clean those out.

 

[AzCards21]

Now I find this thread.

Four hours of trying to clean up my PC at home. That sucked and I know I missed some.

I loaded the free version of SpyHunter, ran it (took about an hour) went to delete everything it found and....walla, The delete feature doesn't work on the free version you must upgrade. Bastards.