ADWARE AND POPUPS

[CRLY1264]

Good morning ev1,  I have a general question regarding my computer.  I currently have the Lavasoft Ad-aware SE Personal Free version on my computer, this is to remove Adware..  I also have Spyware Doctor, Counter Spy, Nortons Anti-virus 2005, Registry Mechanic, and the Beta from Microsoft.

I am planning on removing one of the Spyware programs prob the spyware doctor, and keep the counter spy, but I was wondering if I need to have the ad-aware Se personal program on comp also??

Sorry I get confused  are Spyware and adware two sep things??

Do you have any suggestions for a good adware removal

Thanks  It was you people who fixed my computer last time
Thanks for the help
Crly1264

[Raptor]

1. Sorry I get confused  are Spyware and adware two sep things??

2. Do you have any suggestions for a good adware removal

1. Spyware is as the name suggest, it spies Malware is also as the name suggests, it is malicious and causes harm. Adware causes unsolicited advertations.

However, the lines are a bit blurry if you ask me and most programs will take care of all three. Since they are all the same to most people.

2. See the following, carefully comprised list;

Virus scanners
AVG Free
-- Anti virus scanner
Trend Micro Housecall
-- Online anti virus scanner.

Anti spy/malware
Microsoft Antispyware
-- Anti spyware scanner. Windows XP Home and Professional only.
Spybot Search & Destroy
-- Anti spyware scanner
Adaware SE Personal
-- Anti spyware scanner

Firewalls
Use both a hardware and software firewall.
Be advised as dual software firewalls may cause problems

ZoneAlarm Free
-- Free firewall - more user friendly
Sygate Personal
-- Free firewall - more configuration options

Removal tools
The following files are not substitutes for the ones described above.
They are either diagnostic tools or removal tools for malware of a certain kind

HijackThis
-- Manual malware remover. Post the HijackThis log generated only if requested!
McAfee Stinger
-- Virus removal tool. No substitute for a fully functional virus scanner!
CWshredder
-- CoolWebSearch removal tool. Widely known and persistant Hijacker.

I have never heard of Spyware counter, I would remove it if it does not yield better results than the programs linked to above.

[CRLY1264]

Thank you for this info

So if I run my spyware scans on a regular basis
will they also remove any adware I may have
on the computer??
I have Nortons for Virus protection.

Thank again

[Raptor]

will they also remove any adware I may have

Yes, Spyware scanners should take care of adware, malware and spyware.

Virus scanners take care of Viruses and often Trojan Horses.

Also keep in mind that when you try to remove something, and it seems to be in use, that you re-start and scan in safe mode.