yet another spyware...

[haus_kat]

I was innocently surfing online a few days ago when I got some crap spyware on my computer while trying to download a file from some website. I had followed a link and so I don't recall which website it was where I acquired the nuissance but a few minutes later I started getting the stupid pop-ups all over my screen warning about my computer being "infected with a virus". *SIGH*

This sort of stupidity has happened to me before and I could not get rid of the crap. It is obviously some program that downloaded and installed without my knowledge or consent, despite my computer has THREE different softwares to prevent this sort of annoyance; anti-virus software, "AdAware", SpyBot Search & Destroy.

The offending program of course does not show up in task manager, nor in the list of programs in add/remove programs. When this happened to me a year ago (similar type of stupid spyware/adware) I was forced to reformat my computer hard drive, thus losing much personal files, photos, etc. I really hate this sort of crap. I'll probably have to resort to reformatting again because I simply don't know how to get rid of this crap. I'm hardly a computer expert.

So my question is...is there actually any program out there that really *DOES* actually protect the computer against this sort of annoyance?? My anti-virus software was AVG, which was recommended by a guy that said he was a computer expert and that this was good software. I've always found Norton to be such a annoyance so I was happy to try out the freeware.

Thanks

[Gizmologist]

I downloaded the free version of Advanced System Care and then upgraded to the PRO for 30.00.

I have not any issues with spyware, adware etc. I have the software configured (clicked a box) to enable the care sessions to run automatically during idle time.

ASC has defrag, registry cleaners etc.

I run a Compaq EVO desktop with Windows 2000 pro.  The puter is 8 years old and ever since running the ASC , she flies like a newborn.

[haus_kat]

My computer is a Dell Inspirion which I have installed Windows 2000 Pro.

I meant to ask also...do these type of spyware/adware affect personal files in any way? Before I reformat the hard drive, I was going to save some photos and other files if I could but I don't want to risk re-infecting the computer after I go to the trouble of reformatting.

I was downloading MP3 songs when I got the annoying spyware. I thought I was safe from that because I don't go to the usual file sharing sites but was downloading the songs from playlist.com by following the direct link to the song file which they list next to the songs. However the page where the song file was located loaded at the bottom of the page anyway and so it downloaded the spyware automatically before I realized that.

[Karnac]

haus_kat
Go here ....

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

Follow the guidelines and a specialist will help you in turn.


Antivirus can't catch them all.....Let evilfantasy see your logs, you probably won't have to reformat.

[Karnac]

Gizmologist, I would avoid the registry cleaner ... they can cause more harm than good.

[haus_kat]

Karnac: Thank you I will check out the link you posted