Info and Q&A on Removing Spyware/Viruses/Malware

[Sinbad Returns]

Do any of you have any suggestions or sites where I can get help killing a virus/spyware/whatever the hell it is that has taken over my home computer?

Something called search maid seems to be all over the place, although it seems to have lost control of internet explorer, which is a good thing (at one point I could only look at porn, gambling, or drugs sites (and yes I did notice the difference)).

Have tried a couple of forums (tech guy, webuser) but becuase of the number of posts things arent moving very quickly - I want rid of it as I am a bit scared to do things like internet banking until it has gone!

Panda antivirus, MS beta spyware, and search and destroy does not touch it.

All suggestions gratefully received.

[WBFire]

If you're using XP try their own anti spyware,HERE
It's free at the moment, they might charge for the final release version, they might not. Don't worry about the validation bit, just choose 'not validate just download' on the second page.

It's helped sort out a couple of totally crippled systems for me recently.

AVG Free is the anti virus I put on most customers systems, get the free version here and pay for the full version if you like it.

Nearly forgot, GET FIREFOX

HTH

Mark

[wilbo]

Hmmm...

I wouldn't use Microsoft's bloatware.. slows the machine down too much..

Tried Lavasofts Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/).. ?they seem to remove most of the crap installed..

The AVG free from Grisoft is very good.. as previously mentioned..

[Muzzer]

Another thing to try, in case you have one of the many Trojans/Worms that are about, is to download the command line version of the Sophos antivirus software here: http://www.sophos.com/tools/sav32sfx.exe (Its a good idea if you can to download it on a "clean" machine and burn it onto a CD.)
Assuming you're using XP or 2000, restart your machine in "Safe mode with Command Prompt" by pressing F8 at startup, navigate to the drive where the program is and type SAV32CLI.EXE -REMOVE
This has sorted a lot of problems I have seen that I thought at first were "Spyware".

HTH
Steve

Ooh yeah.......it might be ab idea to turn off "System Restore" before doing this, or XP might just put everything back the way it was when you reboot!

[Reikimaster]

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/us/tpl/tpl01

they have a free verson for home use. Has kept my pc alive for years

RM

[resting rifleman]

try "stinger" from mcafee, http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger
click "download stinger" and run asp. its a one off tool which works well.

[rickles23]

http://www.datadoctors.com/help/

usually cover most problems

[rickles23]

Seems like its a new trojan virus, ignore my first post and go to


http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Plz_h...dc-t17510.html


all the instructions are there.

[Sql]

Wilbo you in MS bashing mode? Don't forget it is actually just re-badged from Giant Software which they bought not that long ago. Turn the active bit off if resources are an issue. It is another tool on the box. Second AVG and Lavasoft Adaware, and S&D is good too.

Top tip, not just for Sophos, install all the above spyware apps, run the get updates functions, then restart in safe-mode, then run the scans of them all. Many nasties will stay in memory or actually fix the "damage" done by anti-spyware tools, but in safe-mode they should not be running to start with so they cannot detect the "damage" being done and should be removed entirely.

Get a firewall if you haven't already.

[Keiron]

Originally Posted by wilbo

Hmmm...
The AVG free from Grisoft is very good.. as previously mentioned..

Kaspersky, NOD, Symantec, even McAffee, are much better and safer solutions.