Techie: idiot's guide to spyware/ virus removal

[fudgeflaps]

My computer has spyware and the 'latest trojan virus' apparently. Upon startup, I get a 'your computer is infected' message (and a flashing icon beside the system clock), Spyware Quake pop-ups a-go-go (289 threats), and frequent porno pop-ups.

-Where are the best sites to get software/ freeware to combat the problem?

-What browser should I use from now on: Opera, FireFox, Zone Alert and where do I get them?

-As I am a bit crap, and if you are kind enough to help, could you be pretty idiot-proof in your instructions?

Thanks ever so much,

Despairing of Northern Britain.

!nerd!

[Cactus Jack]

Run Ad-Aware. Find via Google.

Once that's been done, run Spybot Search & Destroy (again via google) to pick up anything that ad-aware might have missed.

After that, use Firefox, and that should solve your problem.

[Porn crackers]

I used download.com to get Ad-Aware and Spybot





They are both free but you must remember to regularly "search for updates" and then run "search and destroy" on ths SpyBot

And on Ad-Aware SE click the "Check for updates now" after that click on the scan.

These only run when you tell them (No scheduling available on these freebies) and again no automatic checking for up to date definitions/updates.

I use both and they have found many cookies/data miners and even a Trojan or two.

PC

[fudgeflaps]

Ta guys.

Ran the Ad-aware- fantastic program.

Spybot stalled at a certain point on its scan; rebooted the computer.

When I restart and use spybot, my CPU usage goes up to 100%!! and my system runs at a crawl. The CPU seems a bit overpowered just now........ any ideas?

[Ned]

Never run anything else when using Spybot. Don't be online or anything like that. Get it going then go and have a cuppa, as it should only take 20 minutes or so to scan.

I've had the occasional crash running Spybot, but it's rare. If your CPU is running at 100% it does sound like something else is active.

Have you tried running AdAware again, to make sure it cleaned the problem properly? A lot of Trojans can be very difficult to remove.

Try putting the name of the Trojan you had into Google, to see if there are any specialised cleanup tools available from Symantec or similar sites.

There are a couple of programs you can get hold of to examine what's running on your computer. One is called ProcExp, which lists every running task on your PC, its origin and CPU useage. The other is called Autoruns and lists all the programs that are set to boot on startup. These might help you find something sneakily running in the background.

Anything you do find, check it out using Google to make sure it's not supposed to be there before trying to zap it.

And finally... what anti-virus program do you use?

[fudgeflaps]

Thanks, Ned- top tips there!

I use Norton.

The CPU is back to normal- the spybot scan must be quite intense.

[Shaun TM]

With Firefox, there are plenty of extensions you can download. One is called Ad-Block Plus which as its name suggests blocks ads, another extension worth DLing is Blocksite, you'll have to add the sites you want to block yourself but once done and running you will still get the sites popping up but there will be no data received, just a blank page.

[Jock Strap]

I sympathise Fudgey.
Just had to re-install Windows.

[Deano!]

Jock Strap wrote:

> I sympathise Fudgey.
> Just had to re-install Windows.


Isn't that a wank of a job too!

I notice that Microsoft is boasting that its new operating system - Vista - will be much more stable and secure than XP. My memory's good enough to remember that the same promises were made about XP being rock solid.

[mike johnson]

One of my newest PC mags reports that Firefox is getting hit almost as much as IE nowadays. Opera 9.02 is supposed to be much safer, but NB, haven't used it myself.