Spyware / Virus Recommendations Required

[Bad Ash]

A friends PC has been well a truely screwed up with with some sort of spyware.

I've installed Ad-Aware, Spybot and Avast. I've also told him to use Firefox going forward, but there is still somethings left on there as when he does use IE (i.e. for a Windows Update) random pop-ups are occuring and the Avast flashes up every time he boots up.

Has anyone got any recommendations (other than a re-install).

 

[Scoffers]

Yes, rebuild the machine.

There are tons of programs out there that can remove spyware etc, but if it's a truly fecked as you suggest, you are never likely to be able to completely remove everything.

If that is not an option. I suggest posting to Experts Exchange - The #1 resource on the web for solving technology problems. where you can find an expert to resolve just about anything. It's a subscription site, but I have found it invalueable.

 

[Silent Bob]

Tell him to ease up on the bongo.

 

[vegster]

Lots of people get their pop-up blockers,anti virus etc from different free sites I think its best to have one overall programme that can work together to keep those nasty Chinese hackers out. I recommend McAfee.. I had it pre-installed on the comp and have re-purchased when they get short of cash and you can buy protection for up to 2 years ahead.

 

[Scoffers]

Lots of people get their pop-up blockers,anti virus etc from different free sites I think its best to have one overall programme that can work together to keep those nasty Chinese hackers out. I recommend McAfee.. I had it pre-installed on the comp and have re-purchased when they get short of cash and you can buy protection for up to 2 years ahead.

Doesnt help much if you are already infected though!

 

[butchy]

whats the best free anti-virus software around? is it AVG?

 

[NMH]

It may be that his p/c has an automatic 'back-up' program that keeps reflecting the virus back on after it's been scanned. This can be turned off while scanning, then turned back on again afterwards.
There's also a method to boot up in 'safe' mode, then do a scan.

If this virus is particularly well ensconced, then I'd advise he try loading 'Stinger' from this address; McAfee Threat Center
and run it.

For example, a friend of mine had her 13yearold kid visiting porn sites, and one embedded an icon on the desktop! He told her it was from a link he accidentally clicked on in his mailbox (but let's face it, he was really looking at PORN and WANKING OFF! ). My pal told me when I came round theirs, to leave the thing as she'd had an expert look at it and he "couldn't do anything". I loaded 'Stinger' and it wiped the bugger in one.
It gets the big stuff. 'hi-jack this' is good for seeking out hidden files of an unwanted nature, but you have to know what you are doing to use that one.
It's great if you ever get your homepage hijacked (which will be replaced by a spam site you can't seem to change away from).

Oh - and make sure your friend has a 'firewall' up and running!

 

[Superphil]

You could try Windows Live OneCare clean up,

Clean Up Center - Windows Live OneCare safety scanner


I think that is a free clean up and registry tidier and that.


It seems pretty thorough and combined with a subscription to Windows Live OneCare my PC has been lovely now for the past 14 months.

 

[Bad Ash]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give Stinger a shot, failing that it looks like muggins here will have a fresh install to do.

I did make sure to tell my mate to avoid the dirty websites in front of his girlfriend, so hopefully that should prevent future problems

 

[WalsallFan]

whats the best free anti-virus software around? is it AVG?

AVG free does an ok job but if you get pro it's up there with Norton and McAfee and the up hand they have at the minute is they only slow you comp down by 8% compared to Norton's 11% and McAffe's 14%

 

[Life After Bobby]

I've had success with particularly sticky nasties by using a combination of Spybot, SuperAntiSpyware and a-squared free. Best to run them in safe mode too, some malware loads itself at startup, making it tricky to delete while it's running. Takes a bit of time, but probably quicker than a clean install.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

I got a really nasty one through Limewire, tried everything else with no success but Malwarebytes obliterated it. I would hightly recommend this, it's free.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php