# How can I get rid of spyware **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995 "2004-12-09T20:46:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/1 "2004-12-09T20:46:02Z")
There is a thread on GQ about spyware, but I already know all that and I don’t want to try the advanced stuff. I have adaware and search and destroy running. For some reason whenever I use spybot it freezes when I try to remove viruses. I also have Avast running. Yesterday I was looking up info on the lead singer of disturbed when I opened a site and I guess something infected my computer. Adaware can’t get it out. CWshredder doesn’t help I would use mozilla as my default browser but it has a couple of problems that I don’t get on IE so I use both browsers. I know getting rid of IE is my best bet but that is not realistic right now. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/2 "2004-12-09T20:50:02Z")
I hit enter too early on my first post. The spyware is only on IE, its not on mozilla. What happens is when I go to google and type in a word like levodopa and I get alot of ads on the right margin for a bunch of products. I know google normally has ads but the ads are 10x larger and fill the whole window now. I am also getting pop-ups now. I have a popup blocker that usually stops them but I am getting them now. I also get about 15 viruses a day according to avast now, like I will get one virus, move it to the chest, then get another and another. THis may happen 10-15 times in a row and i’ve never had that problem before. What other programs should I try knowing that spybot, cwshredder, adaware and spyware blaster didn’t work? ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/3 "2004-12-09T21:03:08Z")
Download Spybot Search And Destroy, and the Immunization database. Delete everything it finds, and click on Immunize. Then stop using IE. Use Netscape or something that isn’t IE. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/4 "2004-12-09T21:05:58Z")
When I was combatting spy/ad/malware in IE, I used Adaware, S&D and [SpySweeper](http://www.webroot.com/downloads/). Those 3 seemed to do the trick. And turn off the system restore when you do the scans (preferrably in safe mode) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/5 "2004-12-09T21:15:51Z")
I just started using Spy Sweeper, it seems to be doing a fine job. $ 29.95 well spent. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/6 "2004-12-09T22:16:26Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > Download Spybot Search And Destroy, and the Immunization database. Delete everything it finds, and click on Immunize. > > Then stop using IE. Use Netscape or something that isn’t IE. How about Mozilla? (Hint: try reading the OP again.) ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/7 "2004-12-09T22:21:23Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > How about Mozilla? (Hint: try reading the OP again.) What’s a Mozilla? (Hint: can the sarcasm.) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/8 "2004-12-09T22:22:13Z")
If system restore is on, you can try to restore to a point prior to infection (before yesterday). Get the latest versions of Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy. Run both. Most likely, the scumware is blocking Spybot - at least until the next update when Spybot will block its block and kick its goat-felching ass. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/9 "2004-12-09T22:23:31Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > What’s a Mozilla? (Hint: can the sarcasm.) He probably just meant that I use IE because it has some uses. Some uses it has is I am used to the interface, it lets me download programs online (for some reason when I download programs like spyware cleaners I can’t do it in mozilla), and on some email programs I can’t send messages via mozilla since the ctrl button interacts with my pop-up blocker. If netscape offers me all the best of IE and mozilla i’ll use that, but right now I use both IE and mozilla since they both have their drawbacks and uses. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/10 "2004-12-09T22:29:38Z")
It has been my experience that it is the very insecurities in IE that make performing some tasks possible. For example, MS seems to require that you use IE to get updates. So, you can’t remove it. No monopolistic tendencies there. :rolleyes: Mozilla does allow you to add on something that lets you run sites requiring IE. Not every difference between Mozilla and IE relates directly to security, so it should work. However, I would never run an executable on line. Just download and save to a folder, and run the install on your local machine. I have never had a problem using Mozilla instead of IE, except for MS. One or two of my financial sites put up an error message, but then they work just fine. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/11 "2004-12-09T22:37:01Z")
Mods: Sorry about my _editorializing_. I thought I was in the Pit. I would just have reported the post, but it doesn’t appear one can report one’s own post. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/12 "2004-12-09T22:41:05Z")
spysweeper got rid of the ads, i’ll have to wait and see if I still get 30+ virus warnings a day. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/13 "2004-12-09T22:42:32Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > He probably just meant that I use IE because it has some uses. What **SMT** said, and that you already have Spybot. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-rid-of-spyware/278995/14 "2004-12-09T23:42:34Z")
> [@SlowMindThinking](#): > > It has been my experience that it is the very insecurities in IE that make performing some tasks possible. For example, MS seems to require that you use IE to get updates. So, you can’t remove it. No monopolistic tendencies there. :rolleyes: Technically, you can get Windows updates with other browsers. What sucks is you have to do it manually from their [download center.](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en&categoryid=7) Which is what I do. I’ve spent way too many frustrating weekends ridding my PCs of scumware. I’ll never run IE again. **Wesley Clark** , SpySweeper was the _only_ program of the many I tried that got rid of a nasty VX2 bug I had on my laptop. It’s a handy app to have around. Also, HiJack This is pretty nifty is dealing with this garbage as well. [Castle Cops](http://computercops.biz/) has a few areas real handy for establishing whether the apps running on your system are good or bad: [CLSID - BHO List - Toolbar List,](http://computercops.biz/CLSID.html) and the [Startup List.](http://computercops.biz/StartupList.html)