does anyone get this annoying "your computer is infected with spyware or adware" message? it has been running slower than usual, (XP-just installed sp.2 a few minutes ago), is this spyware thing a gimmick or what's the deal?
'01 reg cab sport xlt, 17" kings ranch wheels

 

Spy ware is real - companies put programs upon your system, that record details about you, your internet behavior, and other things, then upload that information to the companies servers.. It is literally spying on you. Various websites offer means to get rid of such spyware. I run linux, so do not yet suffer from things like that, so I do not know the websites that can help you.

 

Sounds like you need a good pop-up stopper. Type pop-up stopper into our search engine and see how many threads have already discussed this. Your pop up is very common.

As for your computer running real slow, there could be lots of reasons for that. Have you defragmented it, emptied your temporary internet files (they are hidden in XP)? Right click your start button, search, type in Temporary Internet Files, check box that says "Show all hidden files", then click search. When you find them all, delete everything in ALL the temporary internet files you find. Open each folder if there are more than one..just delete the contents and not the folders. You do not need any of them. Especially the cookies. ( Ummm.. look for cookies folders too...and empty them)

Clean out your History folders. You don't really need to keep folders of where you were 6 weeks ago. Delete all the history folders.

If that doesn't help a lot, (It should) then type into our search engine, "spyware" and read the numerous threads. There are numerous spyware removers and blockers listed in lots of posts here.

Good luck.

 

I run XP and have adaware for free but I still run slow on start up. Once on net I run fine I have norton also nothing seems to keep them away. Down loaded this new adaware personal and got a virious while was doing it. It took alot of spys off system tho.

 

Try using either adaware or spybot search and destroy (I use both), both are free and seem to work pretty good.

 

The best ad remover program is lavasoft adaware. It will take care of anything.

One thing a lot of people don't understand is that the toolbars that everyone has downloaded on internet explorer is one reason for so many pop-ups. Unistall all of these toolbars.

As far as a pop-up blocker -- Google toolbar will handle that for you, it is the best. And if you look at the amount of system resources it takes to run, Google toolbar is your best bet.

Bryan

 

I have Adaware also, seems to be very effective...user friendly and that helps with me..I run Norton Corp edition for everything else.

 

I work for the local internet company. What I tell everyone with these problems is to make sure you have a good anti-virus, run the lasted/updated version of spybot(search and destroy). Inside spybot you can download a program spyblaster ( this runs in the background and makes alot of the spyware belive it is already installed). Adaware, and then go to www.trendmicro.com and run their free online scan. For some reason this will find bugs that norton wont.(norton will also find thing that trendmico wont) Hope any of this helps.

 

lavasoft adaware is great from my exprience and from what i've heard (free too) but i also have spysweeper by webroot (also free), doesnt get everything that adaware but goes alot faster, i do it once a day.
also looking into Hijackthis (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html) and then after you get that and scan you comp, take the log that Hijackthis creates and paste it here (http://hijackthis.de/index.php) and it analyzes whats runnning on your comp. it will tell you whats good, whats bad, and what to erase (Hijackthis allows you to delete stuff, but becarefull, don't delete to much stuff or you'll screw your comp up.) good luck. every once in a while i'll go to a site that downloads all that spyware and adware (like a link from a subprofile or like that stupid drag racing game the downloaded sooo much onto my comp) and i've been able to clean it up with all that stuff.

 

thanks guys!!

 

And one other thing- DISABLE THIRD PARTY COOKIES! Otherwise you are spinning your wheels because you will continue loading cookies into your computer from every scummy advertiser you see.

From your top toolbar click Tools> Internet Options> Privacy> Advanced Settings. Then make sure first party cookies are enabled and third party cookies are blocked.

 

As for your computer running real slow, there could be lots of reasons for that. Have you defragmented it, emptied your temporary internet files (they are hidden in XP)? Right click your start button, search, type in Temporary Internet Files, check box that says "Show all hidden files", then click search. When you find them all, delete everything in ALL the temporary internet files you find. Open each folder if there are more than one..just delete the contents and not the folders. You do not need any of them. Especially the cookies. ( Ummm.. look for cookies folders too...and empty them)

Fordlover1951 I followed your directions. When I looked in my recycle binit was asking if I would like to un earase all thing I just removed. Before I completely dump all these items, I would like to make sure they all need to go. Coeld you help?
Thank You.

 

I use spybot search and destroy with spyblaster together to rid of those pesky critters

 

medic, most things in your recycle bin..and there could be a LOT if you've never emptied it... have been put there by you or someone else that uses the computer. The only way to decide if everything needs to go is to open it and see what it is, then decide. Some spyware programs send deleted spyware to your recycle bin...I think the newest Adaware does (another thing I will have to check since I downloaded the newest version last night..Adaware SE Personal Version 1.05 from Major Geeks.com). So if you open spyware up, it will re-infect your computer but then can be removed again by doing a quick scan, remove it, then empty recycle bin again right away.

For the MOST part, stuff in your recycle bin can be dumped and not restored, unless you see a program in there that you don't remember putting there and know for a fact that you want to keep it. I've never restored anything that I've put in there. I have, also, never heard of any spyware or malicious programs that will delete programs to the recycle bin. (not that there aren't any..I don't know) They usually mess with what you are trying to run and make them either inoperable or turn them into a hijacker program.

I'd probably just clean everything out of it, with my own experiences. But just to be safe..check all thats in there so you don't delete something you want. If in doubt..get rid of it. That's my method.

 

will any spyware or adware capture personal log ins, passwords, such as ebay, paypal, and other bank type info [not to mention credit cards] and send it back to some place/person that might use this info????
if so then nothing is safe, or secure, anymore. i purchased macafee just because local wally world had it, and sure enough it found several "infections of spyware", now my intelligent search toolbar is gone!! good!!! don't know how it got there but i couldn't get rid of it until now. looks like this spyware thing is getting, already is, to be a serious thing. pr