# Computer infected with MalwareAlarm-what now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 1, 2007, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440 "2007-12-01T11:55:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2007, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/1 "2007-12-01T11:55:18Z")
A little bit of research indicates that it’s goal is to get me to buy software to fix a slowness problem that it is creating itself. There are some removal programs but I hesitate to buy one or search for a free one without someone vouching for it. Anyy suggestions/recommendations/tips? TIA ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2007, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/2 "2007-12-01T12:16:16Z")
SuperAntiSpyware is a pretty thorough malware removal program. > **[Remove Malware & Spyware with Anti-Malware Software | SUPERAntiSpyware](https://www.superantispyware.com/)** > > SUPERAntiSpyware protects you against malware, ransomware, and spyware. Get started today with free trial and remove Spyware, Rootkits, Spyware, Adware, Worms, Viruses! (There’s a free version) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/3 "2007-12-01T21:37:52Z")
This link seems to address manual removal: [http://forum.securitycadets.com/index.php?showtopic=3938](http://forum.securitycadets.com/index.php?showtopic=3938) Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/4 "2007-12-02T16:00:31Z")
[QUOTE=jnglmassiv] This link seems to address manual removal: [http://forum.securitycadets.com/index.php?showtopic=3938](http://forum.securitycadets.com/index.php?showtopic=3938) Good luck. [/QUOTE] Looks like this one requires downloading a couple of tools though. Anybody else want to cast their vote for which of the above I should use? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/5 "2007-12-02T16:02:47Z")
I currently use superantispyware. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/6 "2007-12-02T16:05:46Z")
Another vote for SuperAntiSpyware and also Avast - run the boot time scan when it has installed then reset your screensaver to the Avast one - it will scan your machine when it is idle without you having to intervene. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/7 "2007-12-03T13:57:31Z")
[QUOTE=Myglaren] Another vote for SuperAntiSpyware and also Avast - run the boot time scan when it has installed then reset your screensaver to the Avast one - it will scan your machine when it is idle without you having to intervene. [/QUOTE] Are these both going to detect and remove this specific problem? ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/8 "2007-12-03T14:28:37Z")
I like [Spybot Search & Destroy](http://www.safer-networking.org/). ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/9 "2007-12-03T16:59:32Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Are these both going to detect and remove this specific problem? [/QUOTE] Yes, anything they find will be either healed or quarantined. In some cases they can’t heal an infected file so you have to kill it and replace the file with a new one. The suggestion of Spybot Search And Destroy is a good one but be sure to get that though and not something that sounds like it - try [Download.com](http://Download.com). Also AdAware from Lavasoft.se ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/10 "2007-12-03T17:27:07Z")
I like spybot too, but if resetting your computer to the day before this happened is an option, I have done this successfully to remove spyware a few times. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/11 "2007-12-04T11:23:55Z")
[QUOTE=Myglaren] Yes, anything they find will be either healed or quarantined. In some cases they can’t heal an infected file so you have to kill it and replace the file with a new one. The suggestion of Spybot Search And Destroy is a good one but be sure to get that though and not something that sounds like it - try [Download.com](http://Download.com). Also AdAware from Lavasoft.se [/QUOTE] I have AdAware Personal SE and didn’t even think to use it. Frankly, over the years I’ve used it periodically and have never gotten a good feeling about it really accomplishing anything. I do click and quarantine every file it identifies. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-infected-with-malwarealarm-what-now/428440/12 "2007-12-04T14:52:48Z")
If you have AdAware already, just make sure you update it first before using it. Do this with any spyware removal tool - even if you just now downloaded it. They have “definitions” that identify new spyware apps and issues every day. The latest editions aren’t always included in the file you download to install the app. Many people use 2 anti-spyware apps on a regular basis. I personally use both SpyBot and AdAware.