Adware/Spyware Clearinghouse

[Dan Gould]

I've never had a big problem with spyware/adware slipping into my PC, at least since, on the recommendation of our server guru, I installed SpySweeper.

Then came an innocent Google search last Friday. I clicked on one of the links, and BOOM all my protective software started squacking. SpySweeper says there's a trojan horse. AVG says there's another trojan horse. SpySweeper warns me that a program is trying to change my homepage to some porn site.

So, I start closing programs so I can try to get rid of these programs, and that's when I see what its done to my desktop:

18 new icons have suddenly appeared, from executables to BS shortcuts.

And ah, the chutzpah!

A link to a pop-up blocker, delivered by a nefarious program that's popping up ads everywhere I click!

A link to a spyware/adware blocker, delivered via spyware/adware!

Un-freaking-believable!

So I spent the rest of the afternoon running the virus and spyware programs and actually had to leave before they were done. Come Monday, the trojan horses are gone and after I ran Spysweeper one more time, this time with nothing running in the background, it seemed to take care of everything.

Until today that is. Apparently, by rebooting, some but not all of the most annoying things have come back:

A new toolbar in Internet Explorer

A little doggie "Cashback" link on my toolbar

Links that appear on any web page I go to based on key words (like here, everywhere the word "music" appears, its become a link to an MP3 site.)

So, even though I should just do a search myself, can I get some recommendations for the very best adware/spyware removal products? Then, maybe other people can post their horror stories here, and everyone else who makes ill-fated clicks can find what they need in one place.

This Public Service Announcement was brought to you by Dan Gould, chastened Web user.

[couw]

Spybot

Ad Aware

do a search on the things that pop up, you may need a patch for AdAware to enable it to get rid of the stuff. There are a bunch of tech support forums out there that can help you out. a google search of that cashback thing you noted, led me to this for example.

[Dan Gould]

Thanks, John.

[AmirBagachelles]

WebRoot is effective, but there is no freeware/entryware.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Some of these trojans simply cannot be removed using conventional means. Nothing will remove them completely. Your only hope, obiwan, is the Force.... um... I mean System Restore. Run System Restore and pick the date closest to right before it got infected.

Your next step may be to download Mozilla's Firefox web browser. I've just started playing with this but it shows promise. It appears to be able to stop these infestations a lot easier than IE.

Later,

Kevin

[JSngry]

There may also be a non-spyware file that is causing the actual spyware files to regenerate after cleaning. I found that out when dealing with the randreco thing. A file from "Phone Tools" was the culprit, and it wasn't caught by the normal scanning. But be careful how you delete whatever you delete - I got rid of the PT thing, and now I can't delete randreco. It has, however, been rendered harmless somehow.

And check/clean your registry too. But that's not a job for hobbyists, if you know what I mean. The AdAware Forum gives good instructions, which I found out by not fully paying attention when deleting the PT stuff.

BTW - it's probably "best" to run all scans offline and in Safe Mode.

[Pete B]

I've been using the Mozilla browser for a month or more and I've grown to like it alot. It loads faster and the display looks more vivid, and once you get used to navigating with tabs it's handier.

[Use3D]

ActiveX strikes again I see. Again, disable ActiveX and java for general browsing. Or use Firefox.