How to beat spyware, step-by-step (Part 1)

Mon Aug 7, 2006 2:09PM EDT

See Comments (67)

I've had so many readers email me of late with spyware problems that I figured a detailed tutorial on how to get rid of it was in order.

Got spyware? Here's how I handle infestations, step by step. (You might want to bookmark this page... just in case.)

1) Boot in safe mode. You can get to safe mode (a simplified version of Windows that disables a lot of extra gunk, possibly including some spyware apps) by restarting your PC and tapping F8 during boot. Soon you'll get a menu of options. Select "Safe Mode" (it's at the top of the menu) and wait for the machine to fully boot. The system will look funny (with a black background and larger icons, probably), but don't worry about it. This is only temporary. (Also note that some very nasty spyware applications can disable safe mode, so if you find this doesn't work, just boot normally.)

2) Run your antivirus application. This is of course assuming you have an antivirus application. You're in safe mode now, so run a full scan of your PC at maximum security levels (include the option to scan within compressed files, for example). This will probably take an hour or more, so be patient. Fix any problems the virus scan turns up. Reboot into safe mode again using the procedure in step 1.

3) Run two anti-spyware applications (or more). Not all anti-spyware apps will find all spyware infections, so you really have to use more than one. I run SpyBot and AdAware (both are free), and if you have a third application, go ahead and run it too. The more the merrier. Of course, fix anything and everything the apps find.

4) Reboot normally. (Not in safe mode.) Now take stock. Still got spyware? It's time to move along to my more advanced techniques for removing the nasties.

Continued in Part 2...

Comments on How to beat spyware, step-by-step (Part 1)

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 6 Posted by parthopk on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I run CCleaner and Adaware one after the other at the end of each browsing session. Works great.

  • 7 Posted by bsmith13421 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I also recomend adaware and spy bot i also will if a computer is realy infested run the avg spyware wich is also free from grisoft.com

  • 8 Posted by marishgrinn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hi, What good anti-virus-ware would you recommend? I have a Mac iBook 3 laptop and a Windows operating PC desktop. MG

  • 9 Posted by mrrwkn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have not tried every thing you say yet.but before i try your way i,ll explain my problem so you can see what i have in my computer.when ever i try to download my ethernet and dsl begin flashing and when i go to anything that has the word microsoft in it it blocks me out.for instance it will not let me activate my windows it tells me i must fill acode number deal like winxp does this its says is to make sure i have genuine xp i do i,ve had it 5yrs.if i try to run a copy through again it does not get rid of my problem.i have used adaware and some other free antispy cleaners they do not help.i ask questions and answers if it is a keylogger they told me no.can you explain what i might have.and if you can me fix it.i,m senior retired on fix income so i can not afford all those expensive antispy downloads i have trie all the free ones i could find it did not help,i have only a 20ghard drive and win xp.i mostly like to play games and read what i can find there so much,my best email is kenney81@hotmail.com....my name is ken morrow i live in edmonton alberta canada.

  • 10 Posted by effendyteo86 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have Norton antivirus and 3 antispywares. AdAware SE, FBM ZeroSpyware, and SpywareDoctor. But what is the different running the antispywares in safe mode and in not safe mode??? they still scan dont they???

  • 11 Posted by mariacrosado on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks for all this information. I also have 2 questions: 1. Which anti virus do you recommend? 2. When there are some web sites you can not open what can I do to fix this problem? Thanks

  • 12 Posted by traderdon34 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Getubig is right, Counterspy works better than any I've tried but be sure to set the time for the virus scan program to start late at night or early morning because it takes some time for the sacn to finish. I miscalculated the time set to run and had an aggravated time waiting for completion. The MacAfee and other virus remover programs won't let you uninstall them and it took me a long time to remove them, I suspect thhey plan it so you can't remove them.

  • 13 Posted by magnoliamouthmagpie on Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:46PM EST Report Abuse

    I used the link to AdAware in the column and still was required to purchase before items could be removed. I chose not to purchase and continue to search for the "free" AdAware. Does anyone have the link?

  • 14 Posted by eclectic1129 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Everyone should know about download.com and majorgeeks.com. These two sites give you access to both free versions and trial versions of just about any apps you can think of, including Adaware and Spybot search and destroy.The best thing is that these are safe sites to downoad from. Just make sure that you read before you click or you'll end up with too many toolbars.

  • 15 Posted by nightmaretony on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    A great place to know what is good and bad, check out www.spywarewarrior.com. There are other good ones but this is my stop for knowing what is going on out there.

  • 16 Posted by pprivateer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    we Mac people long for a day when we too have to worry about all this...what...diversionary stuff@!

  • 17 Posted by thefragking on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    1st of all, stay away from dubious websites! It is also wise to run Firefox and not IE as your browser. Zone Alarm and AVG anti-virus make a nice couple. AdAware & SpyBot are good programs as well. Remember to keep your defensive programs updated! Do not download/install *anything* unless you are absolutely certain it is safe. Stay with reputable sites! It will not guarantee 100% safety, but it is better then trusting every site you visit.

  • 18 Posted by renalator on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just get www.eeye.com product called blink or iss.net Black Ice. These two products block the vulnerability and not the actual virus signature which means all viruses that exploit that vulnerability are blocked no matter when the virus was written or how it was written. Anti virus vendors are usually about 3 weeks too late and your system will be infected then cleaned. eEye.com offers thier personal product for free for the first year so I highly recommend you try it and I am sure you will by it. 3) Run two anti-spyware applications (or more) = Slow computer eEye Blink or Black Ice = no virus or malware!

  • 19 Posted by jimseville on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    how is AdAware 100% free, if they charge 40 bucks for a pro version? stop those "easy lies"..

  • 20 Posted by hot_ones1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    I had numerous problems when i used Nortons anti-virus. My brother is a computer wiz and he recommended Trend micro PC-cillin. I have not had one virus problem since I started using it. I also use adware / spybot and he recommended cleaning my computer at the end of each day with CCleaner and Window washer, plus once a week I use a registry cleaner to clean the registry. Has saved me a lot of headaches.

  • 21 Posted by kutekrayzkat on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I used to use Spybot, but my PC was still running slow, so a friend recommended Avast. I just downloaded it so I dont know if it is good or not. Anyone ever use Avast, if so, how is it compared to Spybot and AdAware?

  • 22 Posted by trinity30 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Has anyone heard anything about Avast? My boss raves about it.

  • 23 Posted by craftpainter1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have McAfee Antispyware software running on my system. Do I still need to download and run another program like Spybot in addition to McAfee's program?

  • 24 Posted by ggheaven2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    You left out a few very important things. First of all, there are a lot of "spyware removal programs" out there that are really spyware in themselves. You should avoid using just any old program. Second of all, virus scanners such as Norton do not remove spyware. They will detect it, but not remove it. One thing that I did when Ad-Aware and Spybot couldn't delete an annoyance known as "Webhancer", I called the company up and had one of the techs tell me how to remove it. I have also invested in a program called "eTrust Pestpatrol". It cleared up more junk on my computer that I didn't realize was there! Then I defragmented the system and it ran like a champ! Also, don't download "free stuff" or "cute stuff". That is how you get spyare in the first place! So in summation: -Update and run Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/) -Update and run Ad-Aware (Lavasoft.com has one free for personal use)-do NOT buy it! -Get eTrust Pestpatrol. It is about 20 dollars and it runs and updates in the background. -Defragment your system regularly. -Don't download "cute stuff" onto your computer. Just because it's a dancing hamster or something stupid like that, doesn't mean that it is necessarily good for your computer!

  • 25 Posted by transpm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    QUOTE: "You're in safe mode now...Run your antivirus application" Actually, many antivirus software suites will not run in Safe Mode simply due to being unable to load in Safe Mode, because their Windows NT/XP service components are not started, as it is the Safe Mode and Windows imposes certain restrictions on what can be run in Safe Mode.

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.