# getting Gator off my computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2004, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392 "2004-01-08T09:10:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/1 "2004-01-08T09:10:34Z")
I belive those \*&^#'s at Gator have installed their little applet on my computer, and IBM thinkpad running Windows 2000. I use zonealarm, and recently whenever I boot up, zonealarm asks me if Gator should be allowed to use the Internet. (Of course I always say no.) So, this tells me that that stupid Gator application is on my machine. How do I get rid of it? Is it hiding somewhere? Can someone tell me where? Do I need to buy some kind of software to get rid of it? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/2 "2004-01-08T09:20:05Z")
Try downloading Spybot Search & Destroy for free. [Here.](http://www.safer-networking.org/) ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/3 "2004-01-08T11:16:20Z")
Don’t forget [Ad-aware](http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/) ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/4 "2004-01-08T12:09:52Z")
Isn’t it past time this question got added to the FAQ along with -gry? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/5 "2004-01-08T12:48:57Z")
Once you have cleaned it off of your computer, use [SpywareBlaster](http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) to block over 1000 different flavors of spyware from ever installing themselves on your computer in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/6 "2004-01-08T13:53:48Z")
I had to delete it out of my registry, as well. Once you’ve run all of your programs to remove it, I’d recommend checking for it there, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/7 "2004-01-08T14:21:21Z")
On a related issue. I have installed Ad-Aware and Spybot on the recommendation of members here. Often other Freeware/Shareware programmes are mentioned here too. Is there an independant site which evaluates the worthiness or not of these programmes? For a novice like me it is all to easy to get a bit carried away with installing these helpful utilities. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/8 "2004-01-09T08:57:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by interface2x \* > \*\*I had to delete it out of my registry, as well. Once you’ve run all of your programs to remove it, I’d recommend checking for it there, just in case. \*\* Thanks everyone, for your responses. **interface2x** , could you (or anyone else for that matter) clarify how I do this last step? I don’t know what you mean by “delete it out of my registry.” Sorry, but what is the “registry” and how do I check it? And **Futile Gesture** , I plead guilty (and lazy) I know this question comes up all the time. But I never much paid attention till now, because I never thought it could happen to me. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-gator-off-my-computer/223392/9 "2004-01-09T11:23:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \* > \*\*Isn’t it past time this question got added to the FAQ along with -gry? \*\* Good point. I figure Q.E.D. is almost at the cut&paste point by now… I know _I_ am. 😃