New advice on SPYRUSES (spyware & viruses I made this up)
Spyware is a pain, expensive and can be avoided if you take the time to UPDATE and SCAN your system on a regular period. You have to update and scan in this order. If you just scan and don't update first all you are doing is verifing your last scan worked but you WON'T find any new problems.
I like useing Malwarebytes as my spyware remover. You can download it from www.downloads.com and do a search for Malwarebytes. Just load it with the default settings and let it do all it updates. You have 2 scan options that you need to consern yourself with, quick scan and complete scan. So you ask what do I need to use? Use the quick scan only when you are doing preventive maintenance. Run the complete scan when you first install the program or any time the system is running flakey. Do not wait till your system is dead and try to run the software, YOU NEED TO RUN IT AS SOON AS IT MESSES UP. Your a dumbass if you wait. If you haven't figured it out I know alot of dumbasses. OK moving on.... What happens if it detects an infection? This progam will ask you review the results and then give you the option to remove them. Hmmm do you really want to leave them on? I'll leave it up to you, Malwarebytes did.
I have played with most of the antiviruses and have found AVG free to be the most effective and least obstructive. The new version of 2011 seams to be catching majority of the viruses and even being somewhat effective on spyware. You still need to run a seperate scan with Malwarebytes but AVG works well as an active shield. You can download AVG free at www.downloads.com and do a search for AVG free. Follow most of the defaults but you may want to uncheck the option for toolbar add on. I'm not a fan of toolbars being added to my browser it all ready takes up to much of the web viewing area. AVG will scan your system automatically and will also do its own updates. It will also prompt you if they have released a new version, but you will need to load it yourself.(and you should)
The last program I like to use for cleaning systems up is CCleaner. This also can be downloaded from the same location as the others. You just need to search for ccleaner. This progam is great for getting all the temp files out and a good general cleaning. I also like running the registry cleaning part. I always like running this program after I find spyruses.
Last thing you may need to do is run msconfig. Go to start, go to run, type msconfig, go to start up tab, uncheck everything except antivirus program, apply and close, reboot system when prompted. After system reboots, check the box for not showing this message again. Your DONE.
If you are infected... and havent already loaded this software...
Your a .... Sorry moving on.
Get the software and load it on your system and do your updates.
Spyware is a pain, expensive and can be avoided if you take the time to UPDATE and SCAN your system on a regular period. You have to update and scan in this order. If you just scan and don't update first all you are doing is verifing your last scan worked but you WON'T find any new problems.
I like useing Malwarebytes as my spyware remover. You can download it from www.downloads.com and do a search for Malwarebytes. Just load it with the default settings and let it do all it updates. You have 2 scan options that you need to consern yourself with, quick scan and complete scan. So you ask what do I need to use? Use the quick scan only when you are doing preventive maintenance. Run the complete scan when you first install the program or any time the system is running flakey. Do not wait till your system is dead and try to run the software, YOU NEED TO RUN IT AS SOON AS IT MESSES UP. Your a dumbass if you wait. If you haven't figured it out I know alot of dumbasses. OK moving on.... What happens if it detects an infection? This progam will ask you review the results and then give you the option to remove them. Hmmm do you really want to leave them on? I'll leave it up to you, Malwarebytes did.
I have played with most of the antiviruses and have found AVG free to be the most effective and least obstructive. The new version of 2011 seams to be catching majority of the viruses and even being somewhat effective on spyware. You still need to run a seperate scan with Malwarebytes but AVG works well as an active shield. You can download AVG free at www.downloads.com and do a search for AVG free. Follow most of the defaults but you may want to uncheck the option for toolbar add on. I'm not a fan of toolbars being added to my browser it all ready takes up to much of the web viewing area. AVG will scan your system automatically and will also do its own updates. It will also prompt you if they have released a new version, but you will need to load it yourself.(and you should)
The last program I like to use for cleaning systems up is CCleaner. This also can be downloaded from the same location as the others. You just need to search for ccleaner. This progam is great for getting all the temp files out and a good general cleaning. I also like running the registry cleaning part. I always like running this program after I find spyruses.
Last thing you may need to do is run msconfig. Go to start, go to run, type msconfig, go to start up tab, uncheck everything except antivirus program, apply and close, reboot system when prompted. After system reboots, check the box for not showing this message again. Your DONE.
If you are infected... and havent already loaded this software...
Your a .... Sorry moving on.
Get the software and load it on your system and do your updates.