How the f*** do you get rid of Spyware?

[Safeway]

I've downloaded both Ad-Aware and Spy Sweeper but no joy. I do 'sweeps' and it finds CoolWebSearch and the like, so I quarantine and delete them, but next time I open a new browser window it's still there.

It's a right C U N T.

 

[Beach Hut]

I've downloaded both Ad-Aware and Spy Sweeper but no joy. I do 'sweeps' and it finds CoolWebSearch and the like, so I quarantine and delete them, but next time I open a new browser window it's still there.

It's a right C U N T.

Ask on NSP

 

[Gullet]

A similar thing happened to our computer. The spyware attached itself to our system startup which meant that even when we thought we'd cleared the problem everytime we restarted the computer the spyware relaunched itself. It attacked all our security making it useless. In the end we had to get a computer "boffin" to completely clear the system (taking the computer back to the state it was when we first bought it) wiping the memory which was the only guaranteed way to get rid of the spyware.
Only problem was that it took him a day to do it and it cost us 50 quid!!!

 

[seagulls4ever]

Only problem was that it took him a day to do it and it cost us 50 quid!!!

When i brought my PC i got a floppy disk with it so that i could do that. You can also download it of the internet for free...somewhere.

 

[Beach Hut]

I had problems with it and a clever person came round and purged my PC of that crap software.

Invest in Norton much better.

 

[Shizuoka Dolphin]

Only problem was that it took him a day to do it and it cost us 50 quid!!!

Not much of a BOFFIN if he takes a DAY to restart your PC! I did it to my laptop in two hours the other day, and I know JACK about computers. I should go into business!

 

[Kryten]

I've got mysearchbar (or whatever it's called) and it's a righ nuisance. Even went back to the state the computer was when we got it, but that didn't get rid of it

 

[disgruntled h blocker]

Use the 'Adaware' tool available from the Lavasoft website. Does everything you need, and it's free!

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

This one gets rid of some of the crap:

http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_cwshredder.html

Also, if you're on AOL broadband you can install Mcafee Personal Firewall for free. Which seems to trap a load of stuff and shows you the stats. Sort of brings it home that you're being zapped by all sorts of shit all of the time that you wouldn't otherwise notice.

 

[Wardy]

The main problem with this type of spyware is that it writes itself to the system start-up. The only way around it is to turn off your system restore option, then run your spyware program. Also a good idea to run your virus checker as well. Then once it is gone, turn yous system restore back on and create a save point.

 

[Safeway]

Ended up restoring the PC to its factory settings. Bloody annoying because it meant losing all saved files but at least things are back to normal.

The whole process took about about an hour and cost nothing. I also nothing about computers so would have to agree that Gullet was ROBBED. *feels slightly better*

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Ended up restoring the PC to its factory settings. Bloody annoying because it meant losing all saved files but at least things are back to normal.

The whole process took about about an hour and cost nothing. I also nothing about computers so would have to agree that Gullet was ROBBED. *feels slightly better*

How did you do that then?

 

[Fluffster]

I've got mysearchbar (or whatever it's called) and it's a righ nuisance. Even went back to the state the computer was when we got it, but that didn't get rid of it

It's a right WANKER. Get rid of it and it comes back the next day. Ad-aware won't get rid of it.

 

[Safeway]

How did you do that then?

With the PC came a floppy disk and three 'master' CDs. You simply load the floppy disk and follow the on-screen instructions.

 

[Robot Chicken]

It's a right WANKER. Get rid of it and it comes back the next day. Ad-aware won't get rid of it.

I had that problem, I went here: http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/library/ and manually edited the registry myself. Got rid of it successfully.

 

[Scotty Mac]

ad-aware does the job for me

 

[Robot Chicken]

Didn't work for me, it doesn't remove everything.

 

[e77]

Go to Download.com and download Spybot.

Kills all known spyware dead.

 

[Hunting 784561]

Safeway it sounds like your browser has been hijacked, which is why it keeps diverting to other sites. The spyware removers alone wont get rid of it.

You need to isolate the hijacking registry file ( the '.dll' file ?) and then disable it.

Try something like BHO Demon.

http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/bhod/

If you know roughly the date when it happened , you should be able to identify the offender and remove it.

 

[Bluejuice]

The main problem with this type of spyware is that it writes itself to the system start-up. The only way around it is to turn off your system restore option, then run your spyware program. Also a good idea to run your virus checker as well. Then once it is gone, turn yous system restore back on and create a save point.

I would just like to second this man's comments. If you haven't already done this do so now. It is now a very common way of hiding spyware/trojans in the system restore settings as these cannot be scanned when your computer is runnning with system restore turned on. Turn it off, clean it up, restart your system and turn it back on again. For those who don't know you can find your system restore settings in Start: Programs: Accessories: System Tools.

I find that Ad-aware will usually do the job if allowed access to all the files it needs.

If you also know the name of the filename affecting your machine (eg istbar.ie) then sticking it in google will often bring up pages of help on how to deal with it.

Best of luck