Spyware/Adware removal programs

[Leigh Roy]

I have Lavasoft Adaware for removing spy/adware and for ages it's been good to me but now I'm getting pop-ups about five minutes after logging on and this Noadware program seems to have located the source, but I'm not sure. The reason is, I have to bloody pay for the program to remove the files.

What other programs are free and good for getting rid of this stuff? Anybody who knows a bit about spy/adware and could answer some questions of mine would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Leigh Roy]

And I've posted this in the wrong forum. Wonderful.

 

[coxon]

try spybot...

used to use lavasoft ad-aware..

 

[Runk]

NERD

"Hey buddy, did you see that NERD?"

 

[Leigh Roy]

I wish I was a bloody nerd then I'd be able to fix this problem and stop worrying about this bloody bastard computer.

 

[Fred]

Best to use Spybot and Ad-Aware. Neither are meant to stop popup ads though.

For those, I use NoAds.

 

[Zeke]

Try a Mac.

No spyware, no adware, no pop-ups, no viruses.

 

[TheGreatCoranzo]

Originally posted by Zeke
Try a Mac.

No spyware, no adware, no pop-ups, no viruses.

So why are there MacOS/OSX anti virus programs?

Why are there MacOS/OSX pop-up blockers?

Shot to bits in two sentences. Love it.

 

[Leigh Roy]

Yeah Zeke I'm actually garnering one very shortly, but as this problem is on the most-used-computer-in-the-house, I'm trying everything.

No doubt I'll need questions answered about it when the time comes, but for now don't worry about comparing systems here, felllas.

These programs have been helpful, but the problem that made me go get them is still there. I'll try and get more concrete info on what it's doing.

Fred, NoAds seems to just block the pop-ups - is that sufficient enough or can it also look for spyware on your computer and remove it like adaware/noadware/spybot/etc/etc/ad bloody nauseum?

 

[Piebot 3k]

Originally posted by Zeke
Try a Mac.

No spyware, no adware, no pop-ups, no viruses.

coz noone can be bothered with 'em.

 

[Mobbs]

What sort of popups? Webpage popups or grey Windows dialog box popups?

 

[Leigh Roy]

Webpage pop-ups. 'Diallers' they might be, but I'm not sure.

Right now, for example. After about five minutes after logging on, I've got one for :::TOP10MUSIC::: and another offering a Personal Desktop. The latter has a link to a site called www.vizit.us and I've been there and asked their parent site/whatever it's called how to uninstall it. They gave me the uninstaller but the pop-ups are still bothering me. Obviously there is some spyware/adware still on the system.

When the ads pop-up IE gives me the security warning and asks if I want to install and run the certificates so I can get what these ads are offering. I say no every time, but they still keep popping up. Search for top10music and maybe go to that vizit.us site, I know who accessed it on this pc but how to get rid of all of its stuff is hard.

 

[Fred]

Spybot and ad-aware cover the "Dialler" types. You may have removed the quarantine function file from ad-aware or the immunise function file from spybot. These are the blockers for that type of spyware.

NoAds stores ads you want blocked and if a new one occasionally appears you just add it to the list.

 

[Leigh Roy]

Yeah and I'd use it but how would I know if there's still some file on my computer causing it to pop-up?

 

[Fred]

By using the "find" function. There won't be any if you use both spybot and ad-aware. Make sure you get the latest reference file updates for each though.

 

[Fred]

Originally posted by Leigh
Yeah and I'd use it but how would I know if there's still some file on my computer causing it to pop-up?

Some ads are embedded in the web page. Can't do much about those without blocking the page too.
I just use the three things mentioned and have no probs with ads.

 

[Zeke]

Originally posted by TheGreatCoranzo
So why are there MacOS/OSX anti virus programs?

Why are there MacOS/OSX pop-up blockers?

Shot to bits in two sentences. Love it.

I apologise if my statements were interpreted a little too absolutely... You are correct in saying that there are OSX anti-virus software, and pop-up blockers. Simply put, you don't need them.

I have never been infected with a virus - although is probably as much to do with common sense as anything.

Why would a pop-up blocker be necessary for an operating system that has a web browser does it automatically?

Here are some absolute statements for you: (cause it seems you like them...)

OSX is more stable than WindowsXP

OSX is more attractive than WindowsXP

OSX is more secure than WindowsXP

OSX is better designed than WindowsXP

OSX is more intuitive than WindowsXP

OSX is simply a better OS than WindowsXP

 

[Fred]

I don't use XP.

 

[TheGreatCoranzo]

And Mac's make great paperweights. Your point?

 

[TheGreatCoranzo]

Furthermore, you're the one spruiking the Mac, so how does it become being interpreted too 'absolute' ? You provided the so-called facts, I destroyed them.

 

[nonchalance]

Use Mozilla or Safari for a browser. Never open IE again.

Popup problems solved.

Spybot and Adaware should get rid of any spyware already installed.
Run an anti-virus program as well.

 

[Zeke]

Originally posted by TheGreatCoranzo
Furthermore, you're the one spruiking the Mac, so how does it become being interpreted too 'absolute' ? You provided the so-called facts, I destroyed them.

You've destroyed nothing, junior.

 

[TheGreatCoranzo]

Originally posted by Zeke
You've destroyed nothing, junior.

I beg to differ, and I reckon a few others would too.

 

[Zeke]

Originally posted by TheGreatCoranzo
I beg to differ, and I reckon a few others would too.

You can't argue with sales figures. Apple sells more machines than anyone else.

 

[Joel]

Originally posted by Zeke
You can't argue with sales figures. Apple sells more machines than anyone else.

Come on Zeke, that's probably got something to with the fact that they only make Apples, and have no one else making them. Whereas, companies like IBM and HP, have to compete against everything from a small computer shop, up until each other.