Hi Pennie. You should have a layered approach to malware, spyware, etc. While you should only run one AV program and one Firewall program, you can run more than one malware programs. I would suggest that you turn on Windows Defender. You can also install ThreatFire and also look at some of the suggestions I've posted below.
You can also install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (link and instructions below) and SuperAntiSpyware ( linked below with instructions.) These are not full-time scanners unless you pay for them but you can run them anytime you feel like doing so to keep your computer clean.
You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from
here.Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
- Make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
- If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
- Once the program has loaded, select "Perform Full Scan", then click Scan.
- The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.
- When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
- Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
- When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart. (See Extra Note)
- Please save the log to a location you will remember.
- The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
Extra Note:
If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove,you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts,click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process. If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately.*************************************************************************
SUPERAntiSpyware
If you already have SUPERAntiSpyware be sure to check for updates before scanning!Download
SuperAntispyware Free Edition (SAS)* Double-click the icon on your desktop to run the installer.
* When asked to
Update the program definitions, click
Yes* If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download and unzip them from here
* Next click the
Preferences button.
•Under
Start-Up Options uncheck
Start SUPERAntiSpyware when Windows starts
* Click the
Scanning Control tab.
* Under Scanner Options make sure only the following are checked:
•Close browsers before scanning
•Scan for tracking cookies
•Terminate memory threats before quarantining
•
Please leave the others unchecked•Click the
Close button to leave the control center screen.
* On the main screen click
Scan your computer* On the left check the box for the drive you are scanning.
* On the right choose
Perform Complete Scan* Click
Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.
* After the scan is complete a summary box will appear. Click
OK* Make sure everything in the white box has a
check next to it, then click
Next* It will quarantine what it found and if it asks if you want to reboot, click
Yes•To retrieve the removal information please do the following:
•After
reboot, double-click the
SUPERAntiSpyware icon on your desktop.
•Click
Preferences. Click the
Statistics/Logs tab.
•Under Scanner Logs, double-click SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log.
•It will open in your default text editor (preferably
Notepad).
•Save the notepad file to your desktop by clicking (in notepad) File > Save As...
* Save the log somewhere you can easily find it. (normally the desktop)
* Click close and close again to exit the program.
****************************************************
SpywareBlaster- Secure your Internet Explorer to make it harder for ActiveX programs to run on your computer. Also stop certain cookies from being added to your computer when running Mozilla based browsers like Firefox.
*
Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
* If you don't know what ActiveX controls are, see
hereProtect yourself against spyware using the Immunize feature in
Spybot - Search & Destroy. Guide:
Use Spybot's Immunize Feature to prevent spyware infection in real-time. Note: To ensure you have the latest Immunizations always update Spybot - Search & Destroy before Immunizing.
Spybot - Search & Destroy FAQCheck out
Keeping Yourself Safe On The Web for tips and free tools to help keep you safe in the future.
