Manually removing adware

[Ed Smega]

I don't want to buy a spyware/adware removal tool. How do you manually
remove adware??

Ed

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

There are many free tools for this - AdAware, Spybot, Windows Defender, etc.
But much depends on the kind of adware/malware you refer to. Try posting
questions such as this in the microsoft.public.security.homeusers group and
you should get a lot of help in there.

[Malke]

Ed Smega wrote:
> I don't want to buy a spyware/adware removal tool. How do you manually
> remove adware??

You don't need to spend any money to remove malware. Go through these
general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to
do all scans in Safe Mode.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm - download

When all else fails, run HijackThis and post your log in one of the
specialty forums listed at the link above (not here, please).

Not all tools used will work in Vista and you will need to run them
elevated. Since Vista is so new, it will be a while before removal
techniques and tools are developed. If you are unable to remove the
infection by following the general steps, register at one of the
HijackThis forums as suggested.

Standard caveat: If the procedures look too complex - and there is no
shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a
professional computer repair shop (not your local version of
BigStoreUSA). Please be aware that not all local shops are skilled at
removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be so infested
that Windows will need to be clean-installed. Have all your data backed
up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

[Richard Giagnacovo]

Manually removing malware could be a very intricate process depending on
what nasties a system is infected with.

There are free tools you can use to remove any problems and to help
prevent infected again - spyware protection and virus protection. For
example, if you are using XP, you might want to look at Microsoft's
Windows Defender. I use this with Spybot and AVG Free Edition.

[Ed Smega]

It doesn't seem that spybot is free. It will identify spyware but you need
to pay to have it remove it.

I can not find the microsoft.public.security.homeusers newsgroup. I have 2
news servers - one from my ISP and MSNEWS.MICROSOFT.COM - Actually the one
from my ISP seems to have more microsoft groups than the microsoft one.
Where should I be looking for the group you recommend?

Ed

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
<lanw...@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:uofbl3ux...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Ed Smega <sm...@en.com> wrote:
> It doesn't seem that spybot is free. It will identify spyware but
> you need to pay to have it remove it.
>
>
> I can not find the microsoft.public.security.homeusers newsgroup. I
> have 2 news servers - one from my ISP and MSNEWS.MICROSOFT.COM - Actually
> the one from my ISP seems to have more microsoft groups than
> the microsoft one. Where should I be looking for the group you
> recommend?

You should always use msnews.microsoft.com - that's the news server for all
the MS public websites; i.e. the definitive source. Click on the Newsgroups
button in OE to download the latest list.

[Shenan Stanley]

Ed Smega wrote:
> It doesn't seem that spybot is free. It will identify spyware but
> you need to pay to have it remove it.

Then you have gotten the incorrect 'Spybot'...
You want Spybot Search and Destroy v1.4.

Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdk )

I would also recommend:

Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
http://www.lavasoft.de/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdn )

SuperAntiSpyware (Free and up)
http://www.superantispyware.com/

(Free versions - although Ad-Aware's 2007 version is the same as the last
free version they put out - but with ads.)

> I can not find the microsoft.public.security.homeusers newsgroup. I have 2
> news servers - one from my ISP and MSNEWS.MICROSOFT.COM -
> Actually the one from my ISP seems to have more microsoft groups
> than the microsoft one. Where should I be looking for the group you
> recommend?

Sounds like you might have your newsreader misconfigured or have not
searched for the newsgroup. I see you are using Microsoft Outlook Express
6.00.2900.3138 as your newsreader...

Make sure you are setup correctly:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

You can visit here:
http://aumha.org/nntp.htm

... scroll down to "security.homeusers" and click on it and it will add said
newsgroup to your Outlook Express.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[Umesh Thota]

Windows Defender:
www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D

Lavasoft Ad-Aware Personal : www.lavasoftsupport.com

Hope this helps..,

Cheers,
Umesh :)

"Ed Smega" <sm...@en.com> wrote in message
news:O1hAnpux...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

<lanw...@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmailatyahoo.com> wrote:
> Ed Smega <sm...@en.com> wrote:
>> It doesn't seem that spybot is free. It will identify spyware but
>> you need to pay to have it remove it.

No - not sure what you're looking at, but see
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

[Leythos]

In article <O1hAnpux...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>, sm...@en.com says...

> I don't want to buy a spyware/adware removal tool. How do you manually
> remove adware??

Only download software you can validate as uncompromised - in the case
of non-vendor site you have no guarantee that the files are unmodified
or uncompromised. Anyone providing a link to a non-vendors site with a
direct download should not be trusted, the vendors sites are the safest
place to download their application.

No person of sound mind would download files from a hack site that
requires a password to access the unknown files when they are available
directly from the vendors.

Always remember - only download files from Trusted Sites.

The following links will take you to vendors sites for Spy Ware / Ad
ware removal tools and also for Antivirus tools. After you install any
of these applications and update them, run them in SAFE MODE to allow
them to properly clean your system.

First, make sure that your Java is updated to the latest version:
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

These sites are for downloading Anti-Malware and Anti-Spyware tools, in
order that I would use them myself:

Dave Lipman's tools:
Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

AdAwareSE can be found here:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

SpyBot Search and Destroy can be found here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

SmitRem.exe by Noahdfear's SmitFraud, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, removal tool
http://noahdfear.geekstogo.com/click%20counter/click.php?id=1

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
spam9...@rrohio.com (remove 999 for proper email address)

[Ed Smega]

You are right!! I did get the wrong one. Thank you to all who responded. I
am following up on the various suggestions posted, and I did eventually find
the home users newsgroup. I thought when I selected the tab that said view
ALL news groups that I would see ALL newsgroups - didn't realize I had to
refresh the list.

Thanks again.
Ed

"Shenan Stanley" <newsh...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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