good (free) software for popup adware etc

buy_my_cookies · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:05

hi all,

ive started to get a lot of random pop ups, i think my cop is prob got a fair bit of adware on it etc,

looking for good sanners to get rid of this.

also heard its good to do them in save mode can someone confirm this please.

thanks

Meatball · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:20

1) Start using the Firefox web browser with Adblock Plus (With Easylist subscription) + Noscript extensions. Both can be downloaded from the Firefox website.
2) Install SpywareBlaster. Update and enable all protection.
3) Install Spybot. Update the definitions and immunize your system.
4) Install malwarebytes. Update the definitions.
5) Turn off system restore.
6) Restart in safe mode and run a scan of spybot + malwarebytes.
7) Run MRT.EXE under safe mode. Under XP= Start>Run>MRT.exe. Under Vista=Just type MRT.EXE into the search box.

What anti-virus do you use? If it's norton/Mcafee remove them and install a 30day trial of NOD32 or Kaspersky. Whichever you choose, update the definitions and then run a scan in safe mode.

The above should be enough to clean your system and prevent it becoming infected again in the future.

buy_my_cookies · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:22

hi wow thanks for that i will give it a go atm i have the free AVG anti virus installed, is that ok?

Meatball · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:28

buy_my_cookies said:
hi wow thanks for that i will give it a go atm i have the free AVG anti virus installed, is that ok?

I've not used it myself, I use Kaspersky Internet Security. If you're willing to pay for antivirus/internet security people on these forums generally recommend NOD32 AV and Kaspersky. Both have excellent detection rates yet use little resources. I prefer Kaspersky myself and the internet security package can be bought here for £15 for 3 computers. Both Kasperksy and NOD32 offer fully functional 30-Day trials of both their Anti-Virus and Internet Security packages. If you went for Kaspersky you can download the 30day trial and then use the key you receive from the link above to activate it

.

If you read this thread people seem to recommend Avira if you are not willing to pay for anti-virus. Personally, I've never used Avast or Avira so I can't comment

.

buy_my_cookies · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:38

ok
thanks for the link on the anti virus thread, didnt think i had a problem with AVG but after reading that it seems very disliked so may swade me to change to either Avast or Avira, but tempted to give one of the 30day trials a go first and see how i get on. if i did get 30 day trial for Kaspersky and decided to be cheap and use something elso will in uninstall easily? seems a silly question i know just checking, thanks for your help so far btw been great.

Meatball · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:51

buy_my_cookies said:
ok
thanks for the link on the anti virus thread, didnt think i had a problem with AVG but after reading that it seems very disliked so may swade me to change to either Avast or Avira, but tempted to give one of the 30day trials a go first and see how i get on. if i did get 30 day trial for Kaspersky and decided to be cheap and use something elso will in uninstall easily? seems a silly question i know just checking, thanks for your help so far btw been great.

Yeah simply uninstall it and replace it with whatever you want

. Bare in mind you can trial JUST the anti-virus or the security suite (firewall, antivirus as well as loads of other security tools.) If you do like Kaspersky while on the trial just buy what I linked you to and all you need to do is use the key printed on the disk. No need to reinstall etc. Let me know if you get the spyware/adware/malware sorted

.

buy_my_cookies · 11 Jan 2009 at 18:56

ok will do.
now downlding/install recomended software i will let you know if it goes away,

i sure hope it does one of the adds that keep popping up is for a dating agency my girl friend was not happy about that

Meatball · 11 Jan 2009 at 19:08

buy_my_cookies said:
ok will do.
now downlding/install recomended software i will let you know if it goes away,

i sure hope it does one of the adds that keep popping up is for a dating agency my girl friend was not happy about that

With spywareblaster it will try and get you to buy it to get auto updates but you don't need auto update

.

jammir · 12 Jan 2009 at 06:09

i find spybot to be the best and doesnt slow the pc down like some others iv tested

buy_my_cookies · 12 Jan 2009 at 11:59

Meatball said:
1) Start using the Firefox web browser with Adblock Plus (With Easylist subscription) + Noscript extensions. Both can be downloaded from the Firefox website.
2) Install SpywareBlaster. Update and enable all protection.
3) Install Spybot. Update the definitions and immunize your system.
4) Install malwarebytes. Update the definitions.
5) Turn off system restore.
6) Restart in safe mode and run a scan of spybot + malwarebytes.
7) Run MRT.EXE under safe mode. Under XP= Start>Run>MRT.exe. Under Vista=Just type MRT.EXE into the search box.

What anti-virus do you use? If it's norton/Mcafee remove them and install a 30day trial of NOD32 or Kaspersky. Whichever you choose, update the definitions and then run a scan in safe mode.

The above should be enough to clean your system and prevent it becoming infected again in the future.

gave this a go and it worked like a charm no pop ups at all, thanks a lot mate.

now have Avira installed, i intend to give Kaspersky a go at some point but wont be getting that much use out of it this month, should be a busy month for me so going to try it in a few weeks, again thanks a lot for your help.

bledd · 12 Jan 2009 at 12:39

bledd. said:
remove current AV
disable system restore
CCleaner slim
Combofix
Nod32 Antivirus Trial
Spybot S&D
Malwarebytes

do all the above

then run
Hijackthis

then install firefox..

install firefox http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-3.0.4&os=win&lang=en-GB
install adblock plus (click this link in firefox) https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865
once you've restarted to install adblock plus, click here abp://subscribe/?location=http://ea...ement+easylist.txt&title=EasyElement+EasyList
and NoScript https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722 (might need to give users a little lesson in using it)

that'll stop any ads showing up, and you'll now have nice clean browsing

never use IE again. never looks for 'free' things

linktoinsanity · 12 Jan 2009 at 12:55

If you do not wish to pay for an antivirus there is always Avast, which is free for home use and has good detection rates and has a small footprint in the system resources.

Meatball · 12 Jan 2009 at 13:08

buy_my_cookies said:
gave this a go and it worked like a charm no pop ups at all, thanks a lot mate.

now have Avira installed, i intend to give Kaspersky a go at some point but wont be getting that much use out of it this month, should be a busy month for me so going to try it in a few weeks, again thanks a lot for your help.

Good to hear

. Re-enable System Restore now if you use it and make sure you check for updates Spywareblaster, Spybot & malwarebytes every week and scan every fortnight

.

buy_my_cookies · 12 Jan 2009 at 13:33

if i have got rid of my Original problem and have run the programs meatball Suggested in post 2 is it werth me running the programs below that bledd has Suggested.

CCleaner slim
Combofix
Hijackthis

have stopped using IE now and am on firefox. i will install the addons that have been Suggested to me tonight when i get home (at work atm).

buy_my_cookies · 12 Jan 2009 at 13:34

oh and thanks again for all your help so far people its been great

Meatball · 12 Jan 2009 at 13:42

buy_my_cookies said:
if i have got rid of my Original problem and have run the programs meatball Suggested in post 2 is it werth me running the programs below that bledd has Suggested.

CCleaner slim
Combofix
Hijackthis

have stopped using IE now and am on firefox. i will install the addons that have been Suggested to me tonight when i get home (at work atm).

CCLeaner is definitely worth installing, it's great to clear your internet history and clear temporary files. I've never used Combofix myself but I know it's recommended on here. Hijackthis is a v.small program that's used to create a log of EVERYTHING currently running on your system. You can then post that log online and people will look through it, telling you of anything suspicious running. You can then use Hijackthis! to delete that process.

bledd · 12 Jan 2009 at 13:55

if it's all working as expected, don't bother with combofix

ccleaner is a must have though

buy_my_cookies · 12 Jan 2009 at 14:03

ok think i will give ccleaner a go and may do as meatball says and use Hijackthis to create the log and see if i can find some help with analyzing it.

Meatball · 12 Jan 2009 at 14:57

buy_my_cookies said:
ok think i will give ccleaner a go and may do as meatball says and use Hijackthis to create the log and see if i can find some help with analyzing it.

You can post it here if you like

. It's worth it just to double check there's nothing else suspicious running on your computing

.