[OT] How do I get rid of AdWare?

G

Green Knight

First Post

• Apr 11, 2004

• #1

Normally I wouldn't make an off-topic post like this, but I've been up most of the night trying to get rid of this damned AdWare that my niece somehow downloaded onto my computer (Last time I let a 10-year-old touch my computer ). So anyone know where I can download a program which'll get rid of all these damned AdWare programs? I've been running Norton over and over and over again, and have had some success, but there're still a handful of AdWare programs left which refuse to die. So can anyone please help me out here? I'm in dire straits. Thanks.

 

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S

Staffan

Legend

• Apr 11, 2004

• #2

Do a search for "adaware" and/or "spyware search and destroy". Both are pretty good at zapping all sorts of adware.

 

dagger

Adventurer

• Apr 11, 2004

• #3

Go here and download a program called Ad Aware .......removes spyware and bogus cookies (not the good ones). Its also free.....

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/default.shtml.en

 

S

Sir Whiskers

First Post

• Apr 11, 2004

• #4

DM Magic said:

I second Ad-aware. The best dang spyware removal program out there.

Click to expand...

I use two programs. Ad-Aware does a great job most of the time, but I've found that I also sometimes have to run Spybot to get the few such programs that Ad-Aware misses.

Ad-Aware:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Spybot:
http://www.safer-networking.org/

 

drnuncheon

Explorer

• Apr 11, 2004

• #5

Spyware is the bane of our existence at work. We tend to use Spybot there - I use both it and AdAware at home.

There's some rather nasty stuff out there that I don't think either one catches at the present time. There are a couple of tools that you might want to check out.

WARNING: if you use these improperly you may destroy your system. Make sure you know what you're doing before you use them.

(Don't you love seeing that?)

HijackThis! looks not for specific spyware but for the tactics spyware uses. Since spyware tends to mimic legitimate programs, you will get 'false positives' on this. Make sure you know what something does before removing it.

LSPFix can remove unwanted LSPs - again, make sure you don't remove the ones that are supposed to be there.

J

 

Krug

Newshound

• Apr 12, 2004

• #6

Yeah I hate spyware too. I use Ad Aware, no complains so far.

 

BrooklynKnight

First Post

• Apr 12, 2004

• #7

Here, download and install this.
http://65.77.159.100/cgi-bin/fosi.cgi?wss

In my experience its more reliable then both Adaware, Norton, and Housecall. Just make sure to update the defenitions.

 

Hand of Evil

Hero

Epic

• Apr 12, 2004

• #8

I use Ad-Ware but my provider Earthlink also has a spyware blocker. You may want to check your service and see if they also provide something.

Also, think about a firewall if you don't have one, I use Zone Alarm.

 

Last edited: Apr 12, 2004

Mercule

Adventurer

• Apr 12, 2004

• #9

Hand of Evil said:

Also, think about a firewall if you don't have one, I use Zone Alarm.

Click to expand...

Agreed. Zone Alarm is great. The only reason I moved to Norton was to get antivirus and email filtering.

 

J

JamesL85

First Post

• Apr 13, 2004

• #10

I too use Ad Aware, but I've found recurrent spyware programs and have been able to find the uninstall software at pchell.com. Been a big help to me.