NO! My computer's invaded!!

[Golden_Griff]

It's only been happening this week. Some evil pop ad generator is hiding on my computer and my spyware detector won't permanently remove it! It detects it but some how its still there! And I notice that somehow it has added an extra "mywebsearch" toolbar.

My spyware scanner has been offering an update for the past week or so (which I didnt get right away [regretfully] since my computer tends to download things very slowly) but now I'm afraid to get it because I don't want whatever this is to take my personal information! I'm not sure if it will do that but I don't want to take any chances.

On top of that, my virus protection picked up a virus seemingly out of nowhere earlier today. The need to delete viruses very seldomly happens.

What's a girl to do?!

[Mr. SmartyPants]

http://www.mozilla.org

download firefox, if you have the coolwebsearch, its probably on internet explorer. Use firefox, its better and faster.

What spyware scanner ya using? if its either Ad-Aware or Spybot: Search and Destroy, those are the best

http://www.lavasoftusa.com - ad-aware website
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Spybot: Search and Destroy

[skynes]

Have you downloaded Smiley Central? If you have that's where the mywebsearch comes from, it's not the source of spyware.

If you use Adaware or something, and it can't delete the spyware, then get it to run at startup. That way it'll clean out the spyware before it gets into your memory

[ThaKladd]

I removed mine mywebsearch by simply pulling out the network cable, and running adaware at startup...

but I ran so many removal software at that time so I could get risd of mywebsearch that I'm not sure of what did it...

I think you can remove somthing of it in Add/remove hardware in control panel...

http://www.free-web-browsers.com/support/remove-mysearch.shtml

[Mithrandir]

Good advice. Adaware is a quality product.

[Golden_Griff]

Hmm...so many options...which should I choose?

You don't have to answer that by the way.

What spyware scanner ya using? if its either Ad-Aware or Spybot: Search and Destroy, those are the best

Spy Sweeper. It does a pretty good job in general but for some reason this is out of its control.

Have you downloaded Smiley Central? If you have that's where the mywebsearch comes from, it's not the source of spyware.

I don't recall the actual action of downloading this but somehow its there.

Anyway, thanx y'all. I'll see what I can do.

[agasfas]

I work at bestbuy and they try to push for spysweeper. Decent program but not the best. I personally think a lot of the free programs are better.
I would also advise to get adware. But there are some programs you can download to stop the initial installment of browser hijacks and spyware. Check out: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
I have both spyblaster and spyguard.
ANytime something is trying to be added to you computer or edit your registry it notifies you and gives you the choice to accept it or deny the change.
Also, do you have a firewall? If not try a free one from Zonealarm. They are very handy programs

Edit: Tip, anytime your about to delete a virus it's always good to turn off both the recycle bin (rightclick goto properties then click the buttom that says delete immediately) and also turn off system restore.

[Golden_Griff]

I work at bestbuy and they try to push for spysweeper. Decent program but not the best. I personally think a lot of the free programs are better.
I would also advise to get adware. But there are some programs you can download to stop the initial installment of browser hijacks and spyware. Check out: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
I have both spyblaster and spyguard.
ANytime something is trying to be added to you computer or edit your registry it notifies you and gives you the choice to accept it or deny the change.
Also, do you have a firewall? If not try a free one from Zonealarm. They are very handy programs

Edit: Tip, anytime your about to delete a virus it's always good to turn off both the recycle bin (rightclick goto properties then click the buttom that says delete immediately) and also turn off system restore.

Hmm...thanks

Yeah, two out of the three best buy employees that I consulted recommended Spy Sweeper. I can't believe there are free programs out there that do the same thing and sometimes better

[Mithrandir]

That's exactly WHY there are. Most of the time, it's a programmer who get's hit by spyware and says, "These programs out here suck. I could write a better one and give it away!" And he does. Then it get's popular. As I said, AdAware is probably the best, in my experience...

[Kaligraphic]

I usually use both Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy. (and Opera)

[Gypsy]

Adaware is a good one - it catches stuff that my Nortons skips over. And I think using a Mozilla browser will take away 80% of the future risk, although a few adwares and bots can still sneak by. Go Firefox!!

[Golden_Griff]

I'm such a procrastinator...I have yet to do anything about this >_< ...

[agasfas]

I would also recommend Mozilla/foxfire like gypsy has. It prevents a lot of stuff IE doesn't. Give it a look into.

[Fsiphskilm]

Time to start the [b]M

[Saint Kevin]

Good point Volt. Back on topic, make sure that you updated your reference files for whatever anti-spyware app you use, and THEN restart your computer in safemode.

Once in safemode, run your antispyware program (preferably one that cleans up your registry too). After running that, you should be ok. If you want to take a look at something interesting, type 'msconfig' in the 'Run' dialog box, and take a look at all of the things in your startup. It's amazing how Windows + M$IE inevitably leads to a crowded startup that you didn't ask for.

Anyway, lots of spyware these days writes itself into your registry and your startup, hence the need to go into safe mode, and occasionally the need to manual edit your registry if some spyware is really evil.

Anyway, if you have any questions about how to remove spyware, let me know. I still run IE (bad I know), so I have mucho experience with spyware extermination.

[Jman]

I'm searously consdiering Mozilla, How diffrent is it from IE?