[Khalvynnov]

Ok here I dl'd this program and it says I have 185 errors/spyware on my computer (obvious reason why computer crashed I think) beats me how they just appear like that... but anyway after I ran Ad-Aware and got to the point of selecting all and deleting the problems, ad-aware just seem to hang there not doing anythng like it froze or something. Is it just too much infor for it to process or something? Should I just try deleting 10 problems at a time and then just rescan?

Bah! Maby I just try deleting 10 at a time instaed of te whole works...

[LTheobald]

First, do you ever go on a web site and a little box pops up asking "Do you want to... blah blah blah" and you click on yes? That will be where some of the spyware comes from. The rest are either tracking cookies added by websites or software installed when you download other bits of software like Kazaa.


Best thing to try would be to restart your computer in safe mode and run Ad-Aware from there. That will probablty solve the problem. If you don't know how to get into safe mode, let us know and we'll tell you.

[thebriggsdude]

yeah that may be why it froze in the first place, most spyware are just simple cookies that remember passwords etc, (not harmful) others come through either just from surfing around or active x controls etc etc etc. may be that the spyware is running and its making it freeze so like he said, run it in safemode, that's your best bet.

[fredg]

Hi,
You said you have run AdAware_SE. Yes, I think the reason it stopped is because there was just too much to deal with at one time.

Here are some suggestions for Spyware, and how to use them:

If you think you already have Spyware/Advertising Ware in your computer, run these as follows:

http://www.security-related.com/download2.htm
Download: SpyBot Search & Destroy; 1.3
(If you use the Spyware Blaster free program, then don't set SpyBot to the Immunization feature)

AdAware at:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com
Download: AdAware_SE

CWShredder at:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html
(CWShredder is intended only for removal of CoolWebSearch files; placed as spyware on the harddrive). It is not a "stand alone" scan, but needs to be run. Download the free version by clicking on "Download stand alone version of CW Shredder".

All 3 of the above programs run better and much faster when run in SafeMode.

To get into SafeMode:
Re-boot the computer, and immediately after starting up, Press and hold down, F8, at top of keypad.
When the options show on the screen, use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select
"Safe Mode".
Press Enter

It's best to run the AdAware scan first; 3 times; then re-boot.
Then, run the AdAware scan again 3 times; then run the SpyBot. Then, run CWShredder.
Re- Boot.
Reason for running so many times:
Some of these trojans' files can be deleted the first time; leaving some others; but on re-boot, they re-write the files that were deleted.
Running multiple times deletes most of it the first
Time.

If you wish to have a great program, after you clean out Spyware/Advertising Ware:
SpyWare Blaster 3.2
Great, free, program that STOPS spyware, trojans, home page hijacks, etc, BEFORE they get into your computer, also has weekly "definitions" updates. Check it out at CNET at link:

http://www.download.com/SpywareBlast...ml?tag=lst-0-2

Since you already have AdAware_SE, try out the SpyBot and the Spyware Blaster. This one stops stuff BEFORE it gets into the computer, and can be updated with definitions weekly.

Just for information:
If you wish to add or subtract from an Experts' reputation, or show appreciation or discontent with an answer, click on the "balance scales" icon by the Experts' name. You can then choose what you wish.

Best wishes,
fredg

[cremedies]

Try Spysweeper at www.spysweeper.com.