<p>Has any one had any luck finding something to get rid of pesky adware, which seems to be lurking (like that toe fungus on the TV commercial) somewhere in my registry. </p>
<p>I hate to have to reformat the hard drive and reinstall everything, but I have tried Norton & McAfee plus No Adware plus SpyBot plus AdAware and had no luck. They find stuff, but the adware keeps on coming back. </p>
<p>It opens up alternate browsers with ads related to the open browser subjects, so if I am on cc, I get tons of education related garbage pop ups. Worst of all it is filling up my C drive (stupid partition!) and I keep moving programs to the D, but the space keeps filling up on the C.</p>
<p>Any geniuses with ideas?</p>
<p>Or is there a super quick way to back up my files onto my laptop for the reformatting if it mist come to that?</p>
<p>You may be able to reclaim a lot of disk space by clearing your cache files. You may also want to try using Hijack This to find out what is running. That program produces a log that you can then post at a number of sites for help on which objects to have it remove.</p>
<p>First, I would recommend using Mozilla or Firefox as your browser. I also use a program called SpywareBlaster, which isn’t freeware, but really works. It detects and prevents the stuff from ever getting on. I’ve used these two things together for a couple of years now, and no bad stuff ever gets through. What you’re describing sounds like a version of the notorious “CoolWebSearch” virus, for which there is no cure. I once spent weeks trying to get rid of it, to no avail. I’m familiar with HijackThis and all the others. If that’s what you have, just upgrade your computer and use the preventative methods I mentioned. Your current computer is toast.</p>
<p>I had the same problem about a year & 1/2 ago…I had to go the Highjack This route to really expunge some nasty registry items. Its a free download from download.com, but I had to google the heck out of it to find some sites to learn how to use it…its dangerous, because you can wipe out essential files easily if you don’t know for sure what’s spyware related. Also, sometimes one needs to go into safe mode to wipe those critters out, but I learned all of this by reading online.</p>
<p>After i used Highjack This to get the really bad stuff out, at least the stuff that Spybot, Adaware & one or 2 others couldn’t get, I did 3 things:
installed a firewall (hadn’t had one before & this really helped)
downloaded google’s popup blocker for Internet Explorer
I run full scans w/ 3 spyware packages at least every 2 weeks, usually more frequently…2 freebies (adaware & spyware doctor) & 1 bought…pestpatrol, came with my integrated firewall & antivirus software. I have pestpatrol at work too. All 3 seem to catch different things, so I run them all at least once every 2 weeks (I have 2 teenagers & 1 11-year-old, so there’s lots of junk on our machine). If I had to only use one, it would be spyware doctor…catches the most. I stopped using spybot.</p>
<p>I haven’t had to use High Jack This in over a year since I finally purged the deep-seated problems & installed the firewall & popup blocker.</p>
<p>I’m in the technology business. Agree with a lot of what’s been said already.</p>
<p>1) Use a firewall - I use ZoneLabs Integrity Client.
2) I run two different virus checkers - Webroot Spysweeper, and Symantec Anti-Virus. </p>
<p>That’s it, that’s all I do. Spysweeper and ZoneLabs can be set up to catch spyware. - just remember to religiously update your virus definitions and make sure your firewall is up and running… Oh - and remember this - it’s always best to do your sweeps in SAFE MODE. In Safe Mode viruses can’t hide. To get into safe mode, tap on the F8 key while you’re starting up the machine. Safe mode is a way to run your machine but not load a lot of the crap that loads in regular startup.</p>
<p>The one you seem to have is indeed a really nasty one that is especially resilient to automatic removal. There is a way to remove it, but it takes a lengthy and frustrating effort. Most recommendations you’ll find on the web will send you in circles. However, the Hijjack site is the place to start your pilgrimage in the arcane world of spyware removal. Making recommendations about one program is dangerous: simply stated what works on one machine may not work at all on another one. Sadly enough, spending more on a program does not mean it will work better than the various free versions. Some of the paid versions are extremely annoying to install and use. Start with the free versions and see if it helps. </p>
<p>If you are not prepared to spend the best part of a weekend agonizing over this and swearing aloud, the easiest way is to switch to Opera or Firefox.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I knew this forum would have some quick answers. I am checking out Hijack this for a quick start and then I can see if I need to just reformat or can fix it.</p>
<p>I have Mozilla, so will consider that for future use too</p>
<p>If you know the name, or a part of the name, you can run regedit and search for it. I had one that I had to delete about 50 registry entries to get rid of it completely. For most, Spybot and Adaware (both freeware for individuals) work pretty well, but some just can’t be cleared by conventional means.</p>
<p>You may have cool web search. Go to Trend Micro and run their cool web search tool. Hijack this can be helpful as well, but you have to be careful what you delete. Also, try using the system restore function to bring your operating system back to a state that existed prior to your problem.</p>
<p>for System Restore - go to “Start” “All Programs” “Accessories”“System Tools” “System Restore” - once you get there it will walk you through the process. Go back at least a week or two before your problems started.</p>
<p>Spyware/adware has evolved faster than the security programs. Last summer I had a nasty adware problem with popups every few minutes. Restore did not help. Most of the viruses now beat the restore procedure. I tried numerous scans including Norton, Trend Micro, Adaware, microsoft beta, etc, etc. I kept removing viruses but could not resolve the problem. After a few months, I finally gave up and re-formatted. The reformatting, upgrades for windows and re-installation of all the software took a full 12 hour day. That did not include all the time I spent backing up files. I still curse the incompetence of microsoft.</p>
<p>trying to think if I have any microsoft products on my computer
explorer?
nope- firefox and safari*
Office?
nope NeoOffice and mariner write*
huh
however I am trying to be a good computer user and scan my mail for worms that I can pass on, even if they won’t effect my computer
[Thats not a bug its a feature!](<a href=“http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2005/02/04/notes020405.DTL”>www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2005/02/04/notes020405.DTL</a>)</p>
<p>Firefox/Mozilla is just as vunerable. D has had a number of adware problems with it. I keep my McAfee up to date (thanks to my company) and run Adaware and Spybot every few weeks. No problems. Of course I don’t open every piece of crap that comes in the mail or visit questionable websites like most kids do.</p>
<p>Since we DO make recommendations, my favorite is a software from Europe name A2 Squared. It was effective in removing problems that the big boys could not and the developers REALLY seem to keep the program updated. It is also free.</p>
<p>I use it in tandem with Adaware and frequent HiJack checks. </p>