My boyfriend's computer has a nasty spyware prog

[Roon]

running. It sends endless popups and no matter how many times he runs ad-aware or does an online scan at trendmicro, it always comes back and floods him with pop-ups. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[NYC]

1. For spyware,

try Spy-Bot Search and Destroy. It's free, and is at something like kolla.de.

If I find the link, I'll be back.

[NYC]

2. Link to Spy-Bot.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

[KitchenWitch]

5. Looks like we posted around the same time

:hi:

[NYC]

19. Yes, but you posted an additional link.

:hi: Maybe I'll download yours just in case.

[KitchenWitch]

20. Spywareblaster is a pre-emptive...

It blocks spyware from getting on in the first place...

:hi:

[Roon]

6. Thanks, we'll give it a try! eom

[KitchenWitch]

3. Try Spybot S+D

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

and Spyware Blaster

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

[BikeWriter]

4. Tell him to try opening it in Safe Mode and eliminating the virus.

[Roon]

8. We'll try that if this spybot thing doesn't work. Thanks! eom

[Quetzal]

7. Is it Winfixer?

If you don't have it yet, you will in the future. One of the worst Popups around.

Get Ad Aware SE It is the newer version of Ad-Aware and it is free. You need not purchase it either.

Also get Spyware Blaster and Spyware Guard

I try to have at least 3 spyware programs on my computer.

On Edit: Sometimes, Malware/Spyware is unknowingly installed on your computer. Check the Add/Remove programs in the Control Panel to see if there is any foreign software on you computer. Examples include the Aurora Network, OLN, and othes.

2nd Edit: When you do get Winfixer, just PM and I'll give you instructions on how to get rid of it.

[Roon]

15. It was called "flash enhancer"

It's a real bitch.

[sam sarrha]

9. tell him to stay out of the porno sites...,

:rofl:

[Roon]

13. Warez..not porno LOL eom

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. Download CWShredder

It's freeware, and it's an excellent place to start. It's unlikely that a single anti-spyware program will eliminate what you have (trust me- I clean computers for a living), but all the above given advice will help. I think you'll find CWShredder a useful beginning, however.

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

[noahmijo]

11. Get Spysweeper then run it in safe mode

THEN run all the freebie spyware programs like spybot.

Worse case scenario you'll have to do a full restore so I'd say first step before you do too much is have him back everything up that is important to him like music, homework docs, photos ect.

And if by any chance he's on the market for a new compputer tell him to get an Apple. So far no Spyware has been discovered and for me personally I primarily have an up to date virus protector for my Apple systems to ensure that I never send an infected file to one of my pc using friends :) (Apples are immune to pc viruses yet can carry them without the user even knowing)

[kodi]

24. spyware sweeper caused me a lot of problems on my XP system

i had system crashes weekly, when i removed it, no more crashes. but i do use ad-aware, ad-watch, spybot, two others and nortons antivirus.

[Crunchy Frog]

12. I think I've got something like that on my computer

even though it's been off for about three weeks since I've moved and don't have it hooked up yet.

I kept having an empty web page appear and then disappear and then I would get an ad popup. I haven't been able to eliminate it using any of the programs discussed on this thread.

Also, I got a really wierd phone call claiming to be from some vacation company saying that I had visited web sites about vacation packages. I haven't, but I have gotten popups. Is that the new thing now? Spying on what people are looking at on their computers and then hitting them with marketing calls? I find it really alarming that people can apparently track what I'm doing on the computer. It also seems to be in violation of the telemarketing law, since I'm on the "do not call" list.

I'm going to have to do a major cleanup job on my computer.

[Quetzal]

16. Spyware really is a piece of work

Worse than SPAM. When Spyware was in its infancy, one would have no problems in getting rid of it. Just run the scan, simple. No problems However, it has mutated since then to be undetectable to many Spyware detection software.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

14. Also run Ad-Aware and do so in Safe Mode.

You can find all the Spyware/Adware detection software at www.pcworld.com

[Roon]

17. Spybot worked!!

Thanks everyone!

[BikeWriter]

21. Ta da! Very good!

[KitchenWitch]

23. So happy it worked for you!

Sounds like your bf had a browser hijacker....:grr:

Before I knew about spybot, I got one of those (on my son's computer) and ended up formatting the hard drive (this particular hijacker's popups were porn windows....)

[Crazy Guggenheim]

18. Make sure to run the other software too.

[bridgit]

22. enigma ~

http://www.enigmasoftwaregroup.com

[the_spectator]

25. So where's the

"My boyfriend's computer has a nasty spyware progmom" copy-cat thread?

Shouldn't it have shown up by now? :shrug: