Check for Spyware - How - to's
First, install the respective programs and then update them immediately,
so that they have the current versions, and definitions. Read the Help
Files and Tutorials.
Run them one at a time. With Ad-Aware you may have it
generally clean whatever it finds. The same applies for CWShredder.
Spybot S&D requires special attention (listed below), as does HijackThis
(Only more so. Details listed below) The programs are listed in order of
their general strength, safety, and purpose. It is perhaps best to install
and run these in this order of appearance. All are freeware programs,
but if you are pleased with the results and quality of the utilities,
donations to the respective Authors are cheerfully accepted.
*Most important* - Before you try to remove spyware using any of the
following programs, realize that the process of cleaning and removing
certain spyware and malware may possibly interrupt and kill your internet
connection.
Therefore, you should obtain a copy of LSPFIX, which will then make it
possible for you to re-establish your internet connection should it be
terminated.
Download LSPFIX from either of the following sites:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html (For Win2k or XP)
Another thing to consider doing is to run a program (only run one program
at a time) a few times consecutively. The reason for this is that the first
pass may kill certain Spyware programs, but may not be able to terminate
and kill all files and programs which may be running at the time.
That is why a second pass > may be necessary to be thoroughly effective.
Also, under the most stubborn cases, running the programs in Safe-Mode
will allow for the best cleaning conditions, as there will be a minimum of
interference from processes running in the background.
Ad -Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
Ad-Aware Tutorial (might help if you look through this)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=48
CWShredder (cleans all Cool Web Search malware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html
CWShredder Tutorial
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=47
Coolwebsearch Smartkiller
http://www.safer-networking.org/files/delcwssk.zip
The above item is sometimes necessary if CWShredder detects a SmartSearch2
variant on your PC.
Spybot S&D
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download
Spybot Tutorial (Must Read)
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=tutorial
Other tutorials for Spybot S&D (Also must read)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=43
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index1.php
http://tomcoyote.com/SPYBOT/index2.php
The item below, SWB, is designed to *prevent* installation of malware and the
like by comparing known CLSID's of these "bad guys" with what is in its
definitions. By enabling a *Kill Bit* it prevents known malignant ActiveX
from being installed or run on your machine. It doesn't remove anything,
nor will it fix anything that is already in your PC. Rather, it will prevent
installation or re-installation of the item once it has been removed
either > manually, or by the use of another program which will perform
the duty of removing the spyware.
SpywareBlaster (prevents installation of spyware, Trojans, etc.)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
SpywareBlaster Tutorial
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=49
SpywareGuard (companion program to SWB, above)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
SpywareGuard Tutorial
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=50
If you use Spybot S & D, be sure to clean *ONLY* the items displayed in
*RED*. DO NOT clean any items displayed in Black or Green at this time.
Lastly there is HijackThis. Hijack this is a very powerful, last resort
type of program which is generally best used in conjunction with help from
those > who deal with the findings of the log created by the HijackThis scan.
It does nothing in the scan itself; it merely says what is in and running on
your PC. The items must be checked-marked to be "cleaned". You must
know *exactly* what you are checking-off before you proceed.
If you don't, you can quite possibly disable many useful and vital functions
of your PC. Remember; read the Tutorials, and seek help at SpywareInfo
Forums, Net-Integration, or TomCoyote forums for safety's sake.
HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
If the preceding site is down, you may get HijackThis from Major Geeks
(amongst other sites as well)
Hijack This (from Major Geeks)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
HijackThis Tutorials **(MUST READ)**
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42
http://hjt.wizardsofwebsites.com/
Where to seek help with your HijackThis scan log
SpywareInfo Forums
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
other help forums for HijackThis:
Net-Integration
http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?c=19
TomCoyote
http://forums.tomcoyote.com/index.php?showforum=27
[email protected] said:Running Internet Explorer 6.o on Windows ME. I cannot
access Internet and get the following message "Explorer
has caused an error in unknown. Explorer will now
close". Reboots get me nowhere.
Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?
You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.