Spyware problem

[Bruce]

About a couple of weeks ago, I started getting a problem with spyware on the
computer. I ran a check with Norton Antivirus and it found several adware
files and registry keys. I was able to manually delete those files by using
instructions from Norton. I still continued to have a problem, so I
downloaded a program called Lavasoft, only because it was it was linked to
the Microsoft site. I have run a scan and it detected other spyware entries
and deleted them, but I keep getting new ones. I have run the software
today 4 times and found new spyware entries each time. I'm wondering if the
Lavasoft software could be part of the problem. I would like to end this
problem. I am running XP service pack 2, which I just upgraded this
morning. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kony]

About a couple of weeks ago, I started getting a problem with spyware on the
computer. I ran a check with Norton Antivirus and it found several adware
files and registry keys. I was able to manually delete those files by using
instructions from Norton. I still continued to have a problem, so I
downloaded a program called Lavasoft, only because it was it was linked to
the Microsoft site. I have run a scan and it detected other spyware entries
and deleted them, but I keep getting new ones. I have run the software
today 4 times and found new spyware entries each time. I'm wondering if the
Lavasoft software could be part of the problem. I would like to end this
problem. I am running XP service pack 2, which I just upgraded this
morning. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

No, Adaware is not part of the problem.

First, are these "new" spyware entries actually spywae or
just innocuous things like cookies from tracker 'sites or ad
servers? (might be called "data miner")?

In the "scanner results" windows, what typies of entries are
there in the "type" and "category" column?

After determining the extent of the problem, then determine
the entry point. Cookies can be disabled or restricted by
if that's all they are, it might be better to look at the
OTHER ways you had prior spywares, first, and correct those
more significant security holes before worrying about
cookies (IF that's what they were).

Also, between scanning with adware and then removing the
entries, note what you're doing with the system in the
interim. For example, if you'd ran a certain piece of
questionable software <cough>warez</cough> it might be
necessary to stop using it. If you'd visited same websites,
perhaps there's a need to recheck the browser's settings and
tighten those a bit. There are online guides to improve
security for most popular softwares, a Google search should
find some.

If you have contracted spyware 4 unique times today I'd
suspect you've either got another backdoor trojan (virus) on
your system or it's just a false-alarm, the typical cookies
I mentioned at the beginning.

 

[Bernhard Kastner]

About a couple of weeks ago, I started getting a problem with spyware on the
computer. I ran a check with Norton Antivirus and it found several adware
files and registry keys. I was able to manually delete those files by using
instructions from Norton. I still continued to have a problem, so I
downloaded a program called Lavasoft, only because it was it was linked to
the Microsoft site. I have run a scan and it detected other spyware entries
and deleted them, but I keep getting new ones. I have run the software
today 4 times and found new spyware entries each time. I'm wondering if the
Lavasoft software could be part of the problem. I would like to end this
problem. I am running XP service pack 2, which I just upgraded this
morning. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

don't use IE any more

 

[Orrie]

I'll second that! Forget IE, and use Mozilla FireFox or Opera. Also, since
Outlook Express is so tied up with Internet Explorer, you might want to use
a different e-mail program, such as Mozilla Thunderbird or Eudora.

I used The Bat! for years, but found the support setup odd and not too
helpful. Otherwise, it was a great program.

 

[S.Heenan]

About a couple of weeks ago, I started getting a problem with spyware
on the computer. I ran a check with Norton Antivirus and it found
several adware files and registry keys. I was able to manually
delete those files by using instructions from Norton. I still
continued to have a problem, so I downloaded a program called
Lavasoft, only because it was it was linked to the Microsoft site. I
have run a scan and it detected other spyware entries and deleted
them, but I keep getting new ones. I have run the software today 4
times and found new spyware entries each time. I'm wondering if the
Lavasoft software could be part of the problem. I would like to end
this problem. I am running XP service pack 2, which I just upgraded
this morning. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

The default behaviour of AdAware is to quarantine files and not delete them.
These files will be found in C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Personal

AdAware is not spyware.

Download, install, update and run the following tools as well:

SpywareBlaster www.javacoolsoftware.com
Spybot S&D http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Try Firefox 1.0, a browser immume to a lot of the problems which plague IE6.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

 

[George]

About a couple of weeks ago, I started getting a problem with spyware on the
computer. I ran a check with Norton Antivirus and it found several adware
files and registry keys. I was able to manually delete those files by using
instructions from Norton. I still continued to have a problem, so I
downloaded a program called Lavasoft, only because it was it was linked to
the Microsoft site. I have run a scan and it detected other spyware entries
and deleted them, but I keep getting new ones. I have run the software
today 4 times and found new spyware entries each time. I'm wondering if the
Lavasoft software could be part of the problem. I would like to end this
problem. I am running XP service pack 2, which I just upgraded this
morning. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Lavasoft is certainly not the problem. Your main problem is that you are
using IE. After you clean up the mess it would be to your advantage to use a
much more secure browser such as Firebird available here
http://www.mozilla.org

 

[Noozer]

Lavasoft software could be part of the problem. I would like to end
this

Lavasoft is certainly not the problem. Your main problem is that you are
using IE. After you clean up the mess it would be to your advantage to use a
much more secure browser such as Firebird available here

....and this is related to hardware how?

 

[ric]

Lavasoft is certainly not the problem. Your main problem is that you are
using IE. After you clean up the mess it would be to your advantage to use a
much more secure browser such as Firebird available here
http://www.mozilla.org

Firebird? Is that a combination of the "Firefox" browser and the
"Thunderbird" mail reader?

 

[Shacky]

I had a similar problem recently. I am accustomed to using Ad-aware,
Spybot, and HiJack This. What REALLY worked and what I am completely
sold on now is this: http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/index.html

This program shows you information about each process and makes the
whole this alot easier. There is a demo program that should certainly
bail out someone who has spyware problems.

By the way, I hate it when you post a problem and people tell you to
switch from that Microsoft program you have. I understand that
hackers target them because it is what most people have, but believe
it or not, some of us actually LIKE Microsoft and their products and
don't want to switch. I don't want to get into the holy war about
this, but just thought I would mention it.

 

[Jeff]

Ad-Aware from Lavasoft does report at least a few false positives. They
would love it if you would upgrade from the free version to the upgrade
version for $$$. It would probably cure those problems the free version
reports.

 

[ric]

[top posting corrected]

Ad-Aware from Lavasoft does report at least a few false positives. They
would love it if you would upgrade from the free version to the upgrade
version for $$$. It would probably cure those problems the free version
reports.

Which has *what* to do with my comment to George regarding "Firebird" ??
Or with George's recommendation of "Firebird", for that matter?