Adware removal software?

[Sarah K.]

I guess this is stretching it a bit for a homesteading question, but if I don't find an answer I can't use my home computer to go online and get my daily dose of homesteading knowledge, so hopefully nobody will take offense.
Who here has had experience with using adware removal software on their computer? We tried the free LavaSoft AdAware program, which was helpful but not completely effective. I have been doing Google searches, but I am concerned that most of the sites are paid advertisements or affiliated with the products they are revewing. One of the sites even advertised the adware removal program which featured prominently in the popups which made web surfing all but impossible on our computer! Two that look to be effective from what I've gathered are Aluria Spyware Eliminator and STOPzilla- but then again maybe I'm being taken in. Any experiences or input that anyone would like to share would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

[Sarah K.]

Well, duh- I guess this should really go on the "Computer Questions" forum. I'll re-post there, but leave this up since this page gets a wider audience.

[SouthernThunder]

Ad-aware is legit. I reccomend it cause its free and fairly current. Don't know about the others you mentioned but I would probably guess they have some kind of hidden evil. "HijackThis" is also a good one but you kinda gotta be carefull with it cause it doesn't prevent you from making dangerous mistakes. Also, you might need to check out CWSShredder if you got "coolwebsearch" popping up.

I use a modified hosts file to block a lot of the ad servers and it sure works nice. The window still pops up but it is redirected to my local webserver (which doesn't exist) so it just says "Error 404" instead of "buy flintsone's chewable viagra!" or some other BS. Used to I could say dump the windows and go to linux but with the commercialization of redhat you get just as much crap there too. :waa: Might as well fix what ya got.

[caballoviejo]

I'd also recommend Spybot. Be careful about downloading from just any link. LavaSoft (AdAware) has several bogus immitators that load junk in your computer.

You can get a good link to Spybot from www.olemiss.edu. Go to the IT (Information Technology and then click on Helpdesk, then click on Downloads. You'll see a list of free downloads, Spybot among them.

I recommend you also select "immunize" to fend off the junk as it comes in rather than just cleaning them out now and then.

[billooo2]

Originally Posted by Sarah K.

I guess this is stretching it a bit for a homesteading question, but if I don't find an answer I can't use my home computer to go online and get my daily dose of homesteading knowledge, so hopefully nobody will take offense.
Who here has had experience with using adware removal software on their computer? We tried the free LavaSoft AdAware program, which was helpful but not completely effective. I have been doing Google searches, but I am concerned that most of the sites are paid advertisements or affiliated with the products they are revewing. One of the sites even advertised the adware removal program which featured prominently in the popups which made web surfing all but impossible on our computer! Two that look to be effective from what I've gathered are Aluria Spyware Eliminator and STOPzilla- but then again maybe I'm being taken in. Any experiences or input that anyone would like to share would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

I downloaded Ad ware from lavasoft, discovered that the windows firewall was not activated (so I activated that), bought spyware from walmart, and used the pop up blocker from Google. I still had a couple problems, but there was an update last week for the Spyware....and everything is great now.

[Donovan K]

Lavasofa and Adware are both good.. go to download.com and you can find a large menu of free anti spyware programs to choose from.

I just started using a freeware program called AntiVir Guard which does an amazing job in detecting trojan horse viruses, something else that is always out there and ready to reek havoc on your system.

Run complete scans with all three, complete with checking for updates, every week and you should solve your problems.

[Windy in Kansas]

I've not had problems with AdAware---when I run it several time a day. Mostly after I've used Internet Explorer instead of my preferred Netscape. This site doesn't work very well with Netscape, so it is one I use IE for.

I also run the free version of Zone Alarm firewall. It blocks many inbound intrusions as well as access attempts, also offers anti-virus protection as well as other features.

I, too, at the recommendation of the computer forum here run Spybot.

Grisoft AVG now has a new anti-virus program to replace the former one. Support for the older one will be discontinued shortly. I do find that a scan now takes a lot longer, but what is a little time work. The computer can be checked while I'm bathing, etc.

All of the aforementioned software programs are free downloads. I do recommend
donations when you can afford to do so.

With all working together I feel my computer is about as well protected as it possibly can be. Still the best protection in my book is to use an older version of Netscape instead of Internet Explorer. If not Netscape, then another alternative.

[sisterpine]

i use ad aware as it was recommended by my university AI person. I run it every other day and it works well. Also Yahoo has one in their email, IM program that is fast and also works well. I was told by AI guy that I need to run ad aware in the indepth mode and configure so that it scans everything even though that takes a while. and that if it picks something up you should run it again right after it finishes to make sure it got it all.

[insanity]

Also note that some of the sneaky little buggers that have pop ups that ask you if you want to install there program.Will install even if you click no.Always just close the window with the X.At least thats what i was told.

We do not run any programs to block ad-ware or spy-ware.Just the XP fire wall.We also do not down load any programs.Hence this is why we do not have any problems now.We do run monthly checks at PC pit stop.Which i very highly recommend.It is a great free site.With lots of tools for removal and tune ups.With no Ad-Ware what so ever.Check it out.
http://www.pcpitstop.com/ (Id give it 6 stars!!! )

If you want a real serious program to check or block all inbound outbound traffic check out Black Ice it used to be very pricey(160 im thinking it was), but has recently been revamped (um, cant think of a better term?) and aimed at consumers,it used to be well worth it (not sure about this cheaper programing there selling now) but id guess its still worth its weight in gold if you have sensitive material on you puter. http://www.softwareoasis.net/utilitieshh.htm

[RMShepp]

I use Ad Aware, Spy Bot, and Spyware Blaster. All three have worked well for me and the combination is very effective.

[HermitJohn]

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

..... This site doesn't work very well with Netscape, so it is one I use IE for.....

...Still the best protection in my book is to use an older version of Netscape instead of Internet Explorer. If not Netscape, then another alternative.

I am wondering how old of a version of Netscape you run? I use both Firefox 1.0 and Opera 7.53 and have no problems navigating this site. Even a more minimal browser such as Dillo (available for Linux only) works ok also. I have browsed and posted here with it.

Having to run all the spy detectors and virus preventers seems like lot of bother to keep up with those attacking windows. My operating system of choice these days is Puppy Linux. (My beloved BeOS is still quite usable, but getting long in the tooth, linux on other hand is quite uptodate.) Puppy is a very small system and comes with a tiny firewall which seems to work ok. All spyware and most of virus/trojan/etc is written to attack vulnerbilities in windows and IE/OE especially. Easiest just not to use windows unless one needs it to run some specific windows only software.

If Puppy is too basic, one can run one of the many variations of Knoppix Linux. It runs entirely from cdrom and is very complete and fancy. Can run it on a computer that has no hardrive though it also allows one to use hardrive for storage or even install totally to hardrive if you want. Being its entirely running off cdrom and RAM memory, nothing can access it to change it. Matter of fact even if you run windows normally and dont want to change, Knoppix cd can be a good test to see if your computer has a problem with windows or a hardware problem. It totally bypasses windows. If it boots and works ok, then you have a windows problem or possibly a hardrive problem since it doesnt use the hardrive.

The only problem generally run into with Linux and BeOS and other non-windows systems is if you have a cheapy win-modem (software modem). Linux is starting to support some of these but still can be some hassle to get one working under linux. Usually easier just to spend the $5 to $10 and get a used hardware modem which works well with windows, linux, and every other operating system capable of connecting to the internet. I've found hardware modems to be much more reliable also.

[AnnaS]

If you just want to block pop up ads, Google has a free popup blocker that is extremely effective. Go to Google home page, click on "more" and then scroll all the way down to "toolbar". I've been using this for over a year and can't remember the last time I've seen a pop up ad!

[Steve]

I'm a retired softeware engineer and I used both Ad-Aware and Spy-Bot last summer. However, they couldn't remove some of the problems I had on my system like the browser-hijack-from-hell that my Windows Internet Explorer browser was suffering from. They are good products but I finally gave up fighting with the rehijacking browser problem and switched to the Mozilla Firefox browser in August. Smartest darned thing I've done lately. It's free and can be downloaded at www.mozilla.org. I also turned on Firefox's Adblock feature. Now my web surfing is fun again.

[suzyhomemaker09]

I also use Mozilla Firefox and love it !!

[ginnie5]

I use several different programs for spyware. Seems one will pick up something the other didn't. One of my new faves is webroots spysweeper. It will run in the background and alert you if something you download has spyware. There's also a program called bhodemon that laerts you if a hijacker tries to change you internet settings. Any popup you get can let nastie into your computer. Opera browser does a great job at stopping them automatically. I much prefer it to IE. Spyware can seriously slow down your computer andmake it not run right. I do some routine cleanup maintenance on mine weekly. keeps everything running in tip top shape!

[Jack in VA]

If youre using IE, make sure you have the latest upgrades. It solved my problems.

[ckncrazy]

www.majorgeeks.com Has everything youll ever need for protection

[Sarah K.]

Thanks, everyone, for all your helpful responses! It sounds like we probably need more than one program. I'm encouraged that there are other free adware removal programs that come highly reccommended!

[EricG]

Spybot Search and Destroy works well for us. I use AVG antivirus also free. I use Zone Alarm also free, for a firewall to block access even though I only have a dialup.

Eric