Spyware...

[manni420]

Out of no where on my computer i get some sort of background telling me i have spyware and i dont know how to get rid of it. I also get messages saying theres no spyware software installed on my pc when there is. Can anyone help me?

 

[mgoldb2]

download ad-aware se personal http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10319876.html?tag=pop
It a fairly good program for finding spyware and getting rid of it. the best one I know of overall that free.

 

[manni420]

been there... done that

looks like im gonna have to re-format my computer

for the 500th time!!!!

 

[dave597]

been there... done that

looks like im gonna have to re-format my computer

for the 500th time!!!!

have you tried microsoft anti-spyware, it is around 15 times better than adaware. also virus scanner, popup blocker and messenger service disable?

dont reformat yet! prevention is better than reformat. (bad cure)

 

[lilm3boi]

Microsoft antispywayre beta 1, Ad aware SE, and spybot search and destory all find things that the other programs dont. They are all very good and free..

 

[Praetor]

for the 500th time!!!!

Welcome to the club. Formatting isnt that big a deal ... but now that you bring the number 500 .... you've formatted 500 times trying to fix this problem or so ... and obviously its not working ... so what do you keep doing each time?

have you tried microsoft anti-spyware, it is around 15 times better than adaware

Where'd you get that number??

dont reformat yet! prevention is better than reformat. (bad cure)

Yes prevention is better but as it seems, its already compromised so it would be more of an "antidote"

 

[dave597]

Where'd you get that number??

some random test MSas vs AW. It depends on how many files that antispyware detects compared with adaware, which is quite a lot.

 

[irsmart]

Also try http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ it is a free utility, and it works great. DON'T REFORMAT!!! TOO MUCH UNNESECARY WORK!!!

 

[cell4me]

Also when you get rid of your spyware download a program called (spyware blaster) its made by spybot and what it does is prevent spyware from getting on your computer in the first place...I have been using it for about 6months and had no spyware since installing...Great program imo!

 

[elmarcorulz]

3 weeks with no spyware using spybot: search and destroy, and spyware blaster

 

[Daz @ home]

someone suggested to me to use SPY SUBTRACT

I did and it was was MOST EXCELLENT, not only did it remove all my crud, but it found a dormant Trojan virus which subsequently got trashed by AVG 7

TRY IT, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT:

http://www.intermute.com/products/spysubtract.html

good luck, let us know how you get on.
daz

 

[rich37]

What about System restore??
Maybe you should try that.

 

[Tha Killa]

What about System restore??
Maybe you should try that.

I have tried that before, didn't fix anything though. Maybe thats just my computer..

 

[Byteman]

Make the following reg entries and delete the C:\desktop folder. AND REMEMBER YOU ARE DIRECTLY EDITING THE REGISTRY, YOU'LL NEED TO BACK IT UP BEFORE PROCEEDING...

Navigate to and modify the registry entries below:

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop



HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop



HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop



HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop



HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop



HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Select "Common Desktop" and change the value to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop




HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop



HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop



HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Select "Desktop" and change the value to C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Desktop


That will fix part of the problem, you also probably can't rightclick your mouse on the desktop, nor change your background, (it's grayed out). Do the following for those.

PROBLEM #1:

Can't right click mouse on the desktop.

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Look for a DWORD value called "NoViewContextMenu"

When located right click and delete it!

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Look for a DWORD value called "NoViewContextMenu"

When located right click and delete it!




PROBLEM #2:

Can't select "Background" because it is greyed-out.

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

Look for a DWORD value called "NoChangingWallPaper"

When located right click and delete it!

After doing the above, reboot normal and see if problems remain.