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http://www.technologymanagedservices.com/
Guide to eliminating and preventing spyware/adware/malware and more
Here is my step by step guide on eliminating and preventing
Spyware/Adware/Malware/ and Trojans/Browser Hijacking/
I'll list the programs I use ( all FREE!) and the download sites with a brief description.
Spybot Search and Destroy:
#1 Get this - use it. Spybot not only finds and eliminates major spyware, browser hijacks, and other bad stuff - IT BLOCKS IT!! Use the Immunize Feature and tell it to block silently. It will block most of the bad stuff with out ever having to get involved. Great tool. Must have! Download link is below.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
Adaware
strong #2. This is great for eliminating all adware. It goes deeper than Spybot in search of Adware, but does not go after anything else. This is also passive software. You have to run it once a week or once a month. It will not actively block, it will look when told and eliminate as directed. Very good. Get the free version here:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
Winpatrol
This is another active blocker. Winpatrol actively watches to see if anything is being installed or if changes are being made in critical areas like your registry. If it sees any activity it asks you if you want this to happen, say yes when installing new software, and say no for everything else. Between Spybot and Winpatrol it is almost impossible for anything to get added to your system. None of the programs will stop or cure viruses. Download Winpatrol (Scotty) here:
http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html
HijackThis
A general homepage hijackers detector and remover, expanded with almost a dozen other checks against hijacker tricks. It is continually updated to detect and remove new hijacks. It does not target specific programs/URLs, just the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites. As a result, false positives are imminent and unless you are sure what you're doing, you should always consult with knowledgeable folks (e.g. the forums) before deleting anything. This is a great tool for creating a log of your current system so you can compare later to find any intrusive programs that slip through the security net.
Get the FREE version here:
http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip
CWShredder
A small utility for removing CoolWebSearch (aka CoolWwwSearch, YouFindAll, White-Pages.ws and a dozen other names). Spybot S&D and Ad-aware tend to forget essential parts of the hijack, so until they update, you can use this to completely remove the hijack. This program is updated to remove the new variants once they come out.
CWS is one of the WORST spy tools out there. It morphs on a regular basis. This is one bad cat. You only need to run this once in a while after you put in Spybot and Winpatrol. Good to run before installing either. Download for free here:
http://cwshredder.net/bin/CWShredder.exe
If you download a file or program and then run it both Spybot and Winpatrol will try to help, but downloading and opening a file is the best way for a virus/trojan/worm to get into your system. The best thing to do is not download any file that does not come from a place you consider safe, and scan every file before it is opened with a good antivirus program.
By running the three programs I have listed above you will significantly increase the performance of your computer and your security.
http://www.technologymanagedservices.com/
Here is a step by
step guide to a clean PC:
1. Use a router. Even if you have only one PC get a router. This provides you with a hardware fire wall which will thwart most hacking attempts.
2. Buy and install an antivirus program. If you can not afford an antivirus program - how did you pay for the computer? You need one! If you are in a jam there are some free programs you can use temporarily. But buy one dam it!
Here is a free antivirus program ( free for a while anyway)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/registe...ry=US&sec=down
3. Download all the programs I have listed. Don't install - yet. Save them to a file and do some cleaning first.
4. Use the antivirus to do a complete scan. Make sure it is up to date. Run it completely and save the log.
5. Install CWSShredder. It will ask if you want to update. Say yes. Run it and it will automatically kill any CWS tools it finds.
6. Disconnect from the internet. You won't be able to do some updates you need but that is okay.
7. Install Adaware and run a complete custom scan. Have it delete everything it finds. This may cause you to have to log onto some websites where you asked to have your logon saved. It is a small price to pay to have to log on one more time. Clean it ALLL. I believe you right click on one of the identified problem files and choose delete all.
8. Install Spybot Search and Destroy. Run a complete scan. Delete everything it finds that it considers a threat. Then immunize.
9. Install Winspy (Scotty) - this program does not scan your HD. It looks for new threats by monitoring new installs.
10. Install Hijackthis. The free version only allows you to log your system, but that is fine. Create a log and save it. It is a good idea to do this once in a while ( at least twice a year and save as a new file i.e. hijackthislog4-25-2005)
11. Reboot your computer and access the internet.
12. Update Spybot Search and Destroy. Download all updates. Immunize with new updates, Run another scan and destroy anything the new updates found.
13. Update Adaware. Run full scan and delete any additional files it finds.
14. Run Hijackthis and create another log if anything was found by Spybot or Adaware.
15. Buy and use a software fire wall like Black Ice Defender, Zone alarm, or Norton Firewall. This is the second layer of security against hackers. Between this and your router you have eliminated 95% - 98% of all direct hacking attempts.
16. Defrag your hard drive.
This process will make your computer faster and safer. You will eliminate any current threats and block 99.9% of new ones. These are important steps to protect your computer, your data, and stop identity theft.
You are now free to surf the web. Make sure your antivirus, Spybot, and Winpatrol are always on. The internet is a dangerous place.