Here's two programs that I use on a lot of my customers computers to clean them up

Hijackthis (if this link doesn't work, just go to Google and search for "hijackthis" and it will be on top)

This program scans for all sorts of stuff that has attached to Internet Explorer and lets you remove them... (just becareful not to disable the few files that belong to your antivirus program )

Startup Control Panel 2.6 -- This program will put an icon called Startup in the Control Panel. It has has a listing for the different places that programs run when your computer boots up. It lets you simply uncheck the box to disable the program.

oops, messed up the link for hijackthis, here's one that works

Download Hijackthis

[kall]

Hey, thanks man...I had that damned searchcentral thing blocking up my IE.

One place to go to check out those unknown files that HijackThis reports (to see if they are meant to be there or not) is http://www.2-spyware.com.

cool, hadn't see that before thanks

[Nippoo]

Isn't HijackThis only for browser hijacks? Surely Spybot - Search and Destroy and Adaware would be more suited to spy/adware.

Most of the computers I work on, the only junk they have are the search bars that have infested IE... and once you remove those, the pop ups are gone...

It's just what I use most of the time, I'm sure there are a bunch of other good ones out there, I've had a few bad experiences with the ones that just go in and remove a bunch of stuff... (atleast it wasn't my computer hehe)

[kall]

The acid test is: can it completely remove Bonzi Buddy?



One of my flatmates put that on the server one day...oh man, how annoyed the owner was.

ugh... I hate the swinging purple ape I do believe I removed it with both of the above programs tho

My wife accidentally got one (some searchbar, don't remember the name) on our computer about a month ago, I tried two spyware programs, going thru the registry manually and still couldn't get rid of the damn thing... but that program got it...

[Traveler]

I ran a test with a few spyware programs, I used my puter for the test. I found that the freeware program Spybouncer did better than any of the other programs I have, as follows

Spybouncer found 49 infections
SpyHunter found 11 infections (paid program)
Ad Aware found 18 infections
Spy Bots S&D found 21 infections

This kinda gets you to thinking about which one to run.

Originally Posted by Traveler

I ran a test with a few spyware programs, I used my puter for the test. I found that the freeware program Spybouncer did better than any of the other programs I have, as follows

Spybouncer found 49 infections
SpyHunter found 11 infections (paid program)
Ad Aware found 18 infections
Spy Bots S&D found 21 infections

This kinda gets you to thinking about which one to run.

Weird, I always get the opposite results on PCs I run these programs on. I don't have specific numbers handy, but SpyBot is usually first and Ad Aware is almost always second. I guess run them all if your that worried:-)

[edshuck]

I use a freebe called ad aware. go to www.download.com and dl the freebe.

If you like it, upgrade to the automatic version. Price involved. Maybe $15 for lifetime.

The delta is that the free one needs to be manually upgraded. (one of those click here to check for upgrades). And it is set to run in the background all the time. Kind of a set it and forget it.

The manual requires an interaction. This is the one I have.

I use zone alarm as a fire wall and when I lower it, to play the arcade, I am vulnerable to spyware. adaware kills them.

Sorry about the out of order, passed your post in the composition.

I also have pest patrol and every now and then it finds one that adaware missed.

[kall]

Is it possible for you to not totally lower the protection, but rather tell the firewall that www.nzboards.com/forums is a trusted site?

[Nicholas]

I used to believe AdAware was the best by far, as everybody and their dogs used to rave a lot about it... until this post. *running to grab spybouncer*

Originally Posted by Traveler

I ran a test with a few spyware programs, I used my puter for the test. I found that the freeware program Spybouncer did better than any of the other programs I have, as follows

Spybouncer found 49 infections
SpyHunter found 11 infections (paid program)
Ad Aware found 18 infections
Spy Bots S&D found 21 infections

This kinda gets you to thinking about which one to run.

[Traveler]

just remember that everyone will have differ outcomes when running spyware programs

[Nicholas]

True, but with spybouncer being mor ethan 100% more effective than its closest competitor in your list sure goes a long way in showing its effectiveness