Help recommend a spyware download please

[PartyofSix]

One of our computers at our business has been infected with spyware/adware. We need your advise on which downloads are the best. There are so many out there can you guide us so we don't waste a ton of money to get this fixed. Thanks

Tammy

 

[Dan Murphy]

The ones most often recommended are

Ad-aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ (I use the Plus version $, but so very good, proactive)

Spybot S & D http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html

and

CW Shredder http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

 

[Robinrs]

Hi, Tammy!

I downloaded Adaware via one of Dan's links some time ago and am grateful I did! Since then I've added it to all of my friends and co-workers PCs and as much of a dingbat I am concerning all things computer related, I'm a HERO to them!

Be sure to do the scan regularly!

 

[PartyofSix]

My problem is that the spyware/adware is already attacked the computer will this clean them off? And return my computer to normal fuction? Everytime we try to go on the internet the pops take over and just consume the computer and end up just locking it up. Will any of these programs take care of that problem Dan?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Spybot will fix it. Or, you can go to symantec's website and get instructions of finding the adware and how to remove it.
This happened to me not too long ago and between spybot and symantec and a couple hours of work, I got rid of it all.
Spybot can also be set to block stuff that tries to come in as spyware.

 

[Dan Murphy]

See if any of this sounds familiar......

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=589684

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Partyofsix,

Adaware and Spybot are both free programs for "personal" use. If you are going to put them on your business computers, you need to buy the professional versions.

Just an FYI.

 

[PartyofSix]

You guys are the best. Thank you so much for the links Dan and all the advise everyone. We run a small business and this was our main server. We did put s&d spybot on there yesterday and it did'nt help that much so i'm gonna go to the other sites like you guys suggested and keep at it. We will eventually get it cleared up. Thanks so much everyone.

 

[mtblujeans]

THANKS, DAN!

 

[mtblujeans]

I am curious if there is an answer to this one: I get a message on my computer " 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\WordArt\Wrdart32.exe" cannot access a necessary file "pubole32.dll' " and I have no idea what that means.

I assume I have damaged something but it does not seem to affect the running of my computer. Any ideas or suggestions on how to correct this error?

 

[PartyofSix]

This happened on my home computer too but we just had it wiped out since i only used that computer for internet access. This computer we are talking about now is for work can this affect our programs on the c: in anyway? Is it safe to keep using it after we wipe out this mess if that's possible? My husband is working with all the information you all have given us to keep from having to wipe that system out. Thanks.

 

[Robmom]

Adaware and Spybot are great. I also downloaded Spysweeper. I don't have a link for it, but I'm sure if you do a search on Google, you can find it. It got rid of more stuff that the others missed. I had a virus last month and now it finally seems to be back to normal.

 

[DebbieB]

I used ad-aware recently and it solved my problem. I had to run it several times before it cleaned everything up, but I'm OK now. For some reason, my computer kept downloading spyware. I also ran msconfig and deleted some programs from my startup so they wouldn't come back everytime I rebooted.

 

[mbb]

The Spybot is great!!

 

[SonicLogic]

Prevent spyware from installing in the first place. Use SpywareBlaster 3.1 (it's free):

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

 

[oogieboogie]

At this point with all the hijacking and hacking focused on Internet Explorer, I've taken these steps:

1. Get a firewall & antivirus software. If you're a roadrunner customer, they have EZ-Armor that you can download for free. Check with your ISP, they may have it for free or discounted.

2. Get spyware killer softwares. Get all three: Ad-aware (6.0), Spybot S&D (version 1.3), and CWShredder. These are all free.

3. Get another browser and install it as your secondary browser or even your primary browser. That way if IE crashes, you have a way to get to tech support or to download any patches you need while you're fixing your way out. I recommend Mozilla from the people who invented Netscape.

4. Run anti-virus and any spyware killers religiously! Once a week, daily, doesn't matter as long as you run it.

5. Update your spyware killers and anti-virus definitions regularly.

6. If you do get hijacked, run your spyware killers, chances are 1 of them will take it out. If not, save your activity logs so you can get an expert to review them. Lavasoftsupport.com and spywareinfo.com has a great forum for posting these logs.

Good luck everyone!

 

[PartyofSix]

Just wanted to let you guys know that thanks to you we got it cleaned up. The cwsweeper did the trick! Thank you thank you thank you! I have downloaded spybot and adware to my computer here at home to clean it up! Thanks again everyone.