Spyware removal from a PC

[GomiGirl]

OK you PC heads.. I need a hand to remove a shit load of crap from an IBM laptop - Win XP running Firefox.

Any suggestions of best (and cheapest) method and how a mac person like myself can do it.. step by step please.. I am PC challenged.

[Socratesabroad]

First, download the free version of Lavasoft's Ad-Aware here
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3405-8022-5153545.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

[or wherever, doesn't really matter]

Update the definitions (when you first start it up, it'll tell you how old the def. file is and give you the option to Connect) if need be. After that, go to the Main Screen, then click the Ad-Aware Config Window (looks like a gear). Go to Scanning and make sure Scan Within Archives is checked.

Click Start to run the scan - Critical items will be highlighted, so make sure you fix those. Don't worry about other flagged stuff (non-critical) like lists of your most recent files.

Download the also free Spybot
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Also Check for Updates
Download Updates through Spybot
or D/L them from here
http://www.spybotupdates.com/updates/files/spybotsd_includes.exe
Once updates are downloaded, click Vaccinate/Innoculate to make those updates effective.

Then Scan.
You can probably fix all problems automatically without too much hassle (though in the past Spybot did flag some stuff that wasn't necessarily spyware like certain CD copy-protection apps)

[etto_neh]

Yes, Gomigirl, do what Socrates said, then use the free online scanner/removal tool from http://www.trendmicro.com/hc_intro/default.asp ... I've used them for maybe two years and I don't get emailed junk.. pretty good stuff. I've also heard of something 'panda' something or other that i don't have time to look for now

In short: Ad-aware, then Spybot, then Housecall... all free.

If you want something that'll kinda stay on your PC and mostly keep you safe, also free, try to download AVG and install it.

[Socratesabroad]

Sorry about not providing more info sooner (minor PC glitch plus work calls).

etto_neh's right. You need (preferably both) antivirus software and firewall software.

AVG is free and has a good reputation, though I usually use commercial apps for this (McAffee AV and Firewall on my Win2K server and Norton Sys Works and Internet Sec. on my main PC). That's your call. Commercial stuff can occasionally fark things up in your system due to its all-instrusive nature but it does offer a bit higher degree of security and safety.

Luckily, your Firefox browser is a lot less prone to spyware than IE.

[gkanai]

a few more

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

That said, you really out to wipe it clean and reinstall the OS if you have the permissions.

[GomiGirl]

Update:

Did the Ad Aware, spybot followed by the Housecall and picked up a few critical ones, quanantined them then deleted them.

PC was working MUCH MUCH better. Thank you to everybody who gave such excellent suggestions. I really do appreciate it as I am so not a PC girl.

Last issue was that Outlook wouldn't download mail from the mail server. Norton picked up a few infected mails then it timed out and wouldn't go any further. Trying again got to the same point then the mail delivery crashed.

So I suspect that there is now an issue with the company (not mine) mail server stopping the mail from being delivered and I have suggested that he needs to get somebody at work to look at it as I am sure the other boys at the orffice are being affected as well.

So I think this situation is
Spywear script kiddies: 0
FG PC pros: 1

[jingai]

For a free firewall I use ZoneAlarm. I have to disable it for file sharing on my home network but reenable it when I connect to the net. If you don't have a hardware firewall you need a software one and I wouldn't rely on the one built into WinXP.

[Socratesabroad]

For a free firewall I use ZoneAlarm. I have to disable it for file sharing on my home network

Yep, I started with Zone Alarm as well until it started causing problems with my file-sharing app. McAffee's stuff - Desktop Firewall and VirusScan - works quite well and has yet to cause any major problems.