26 replies to this topic

[Voltron]

What's the best free program to get rid of spyware/viruses/trojans and such?

[Sunset]

well my new fav free version has to be Spybot Search & Destroy

Edit: for virus protection you can get a 15 day free trial for norton 360, and avg but if you used up those trials AVG has a free virus protection

Edited by Sunset, 09 March 2008 - 02:25 PM.

[Voltron]

Already got spybot, It won't get rid of it.

It's called Vundo and I can't seem to get rid of it.

Edited by Voltron, 09 March 2008 - 02:29 PM.

[Melchoire]

Norton and McAffee are both pieces of shit cause they become like the computer's boss. Sometimes they don't let you do anything. But if you don't do really hard core programming, modding and stuff and only deal with basic computer shit I'd recommend Norton because it does work.

[ToxicS]

Norton and McAffee are both pieces of shit cause they become like the computer's boss. Sometimes they don't let you do anything. But if you don't do really hard core programming, modding and stuff and only deal with basic computer shit I'd recommend Norton because it does work.

Norton feels likes spyware itself. It doesn't manage memory well and slows down your computer horribly.

[ink]

Norton feels likes spyware itself. It doesn't manage memory well and slows down your computer horribly.

I'm still trying to convince my mom that the only reason her computer IS going slow is Norton and Webroot Spysweeper.
She won't believe me, a previous IT professional for a well known consulting firm, over the idiots at Best Buy.

I'm trying to get her to switch to Spybot S&D and AVG Free.

[Voltron]

Oh well I fixed the problem all together. Reformatted my comp and it feels so much faster now.

[Cataliste]

When on a Windows machine, I always hunt the bitches down manually.

I use HiJackThis! for one's that are hard to find, and then boot into recovery mode for full Admin rights so I can kill the files.

It's the best solution IMO.

[Voltron]

I had found them but I couldn't get rid of them.

[CDXX]

Trojans are usually difficult to remove. The best way to go about doing it is to download Spy Bot Search and Destroy and Adaware (make sure it is AdAware and not AdWare <------that one is bad). Run them both (not at the same time) and delete any malicious files they come up with. Then boot windows in safe mode and run both of the programs again. The reason for this is that Trojans and other bad files will attach themselves to running files in your registry therefore becoming undetectable or unremovable whilst the program is running. Safe mode boots with minimal drivers loaded and gives you a better chance of destroying the bad files. If this doesn't work, you may have to resort to Hijackthis- which is a very long and drawn out process that isn't very fun!

[Cataliste]

Trojans are usually difficult to remove. The best way to go about doing it is to download Spy Bot Search and Destroy and Adaware (make sure it is AdAware and not AdWare <------that one is bad). Run them both (not at the same time) and delete any malicious files they come up with. Then boot windows in safe mode and run both of the programs again. The reason for this is that Trojans and other bad files will attach themselves to running files in your registry therefore becoming undetectable or unremovable whilst the program is running. Safe mode boots with minimal drivers loaded and gives you a better chance of destroying the bad files. If this doesn't work, you may have to resort to Hijackthis- which is a very long and drawn out process that isn't very fun!

HiJackThis i, in no way, long/hard/drawn-out. I find it very easy to use. But I only use it customer's computers.

[CDXX]

I meant from a non-computer literate point of view. You have to know what you are looking for, otherwise you have to have someone else check it for you (usually on a forum and that is where I get the long drawn out part because sometimes it takes a while to get a response). Unless they've changed the program, I haven't used it in a few years.

[Cataliste]

I meant from a non-computer literate point of view. You have to know what you are looking for, otherwise you have to have someone else check it for you (usually on a forum and that is where I get the long drawn out part because sometimes it takes a while to get a response). Unless they've changed the program, I haven't used it in a few years.

It's still about the same.

Maybe we should set up a forum on Codex for this? I think it would be a good idea, according to how often people get those kinds of problems on Codex.

Do you guys get many Viruses? I use Linux so I can't really comment about the level of spy/mal/ad-ware and viruses on the net.

[CDXX]

Maybe we should set up a forum on Codex for this? I think it would be a good idea, according to how often people get those kinds of problems on Codex.

Do you guys get many Viruses? I use Linux so I can't really comment about the level of spy/mal/ad-ware and viruses on the net.

I would be willing to help out if one was started. I'm not a genius when it come to that stuff, but I would consider myself an advanced user.

[ToxicS]

I can help people remove their viruses when they post their hijackthis logs. I can tell what should be there and what shouldn't be there.

[Twilight]

just run linux!

[Selphie]

Some good programs to use are Ad-Aware, Spyware Blaster, Spyware Guard, Spybot Search and Destroy and Hijack This. All of those are free. Also, AVG is a good free antivirus program.

[ToxicS]

I'm still trying to convince my mom that the only reason her computer IS going slow is Norton and Webroot Spysweeper.
She won't believe me, a previous IT professional for a well known consulting firm, over the idiots at Best Buy.

I'm trying to get her to switch to Spybot S&D and AVG Free.

webroot isnt that bad. It doesn't slow down your computer that much. Norton is your only problem

Edited by Toxic-Snipe, 24 March 2008 - 10:38 PM.

[sloggy bread]

Hey! =D

Depends, do you have alot of Spyware & Adware?
Or mostly Viruses & Trojans?

PM me if you like to try ANETGames Anti-Adware 2004 * Mostly for the older types of adware) Quite good...

And if you needhelp with any other removal, let me know, and we can set up a remote assistance time if youd like... Im an Anti Virus Specialist,

[Selphie]

I like to use Ad-Aware, AVG Antivirus, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spyware Guard and Spyware Blaster and I never seem to run into problems. Oh, and don't forget your firewall - ZoneAlarm is a good free one. You can also download and use a "Hosts" file for extra protection.

[sloggy bread]

I like to use Ad-Aware, AVG Antivirus, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spyware Guard and Spyware Blaster and I never seem to run into problems. Oh, and don't forget your firewall - ZoneAlarm is a good free one. You can also download and use a "Hosts" file for extra protection.

Firewalls are Soooo Over-Rated. There's no need for one besides the one that comes with Windows. Trust me.

[Selphie]

Firewalls are Soooo Over-Rated. There's no need for one besides the one that comes with Windows. Trust me.

Really? Haha, that's cool... ZoneAlarm is a little bloated anyway. D:

[Cyo]

nod32 is like awesomest.

[Stephen]

Kaspersky is the best AV around if you plan to run one in future.
And no, firewalls are not overated. They stop real intrusions - the windows one can only stop basic intrusions, for example:
As soon as your virus injects itself into another process the windows firewall may aswell be disabled.
May I add almost every trojan does this.
And it bypasses -MOST- firewalls.

A good firewall is very important - hardware or software. I let my routers firewall do the work and run the windows one just becuase it's there.

Hardware>software.

[redlion]

First of all, LOL at the forum name.

I've run into problems with most of the major virus protection programs. Norton is slow (even on a core2duo 2.13Ghz), AdAware is slow and catches things that don't need to be caught. Webroot spysweeper is slow and bloated. I would suggest Kaspersky as a constant tool, and hijack this for troubleshooting situations. Kaspersky can handle most anything you'll run into on the web, unless you start downloading. Then I'd suggest running hijackthis every once in a while to watch for nasties.