Can't destroy spyware, whats the correct procedure?

[mecharmor25]

I don't have a clue at how these spyware bastards tag my computer info but here is what I know:

1) I DON'T use Kazaa, kazaa lite or any file sharing programs. I ONLY USE emule.
2) I have used Spybot search and destroy program and have found the following spyware:
a) Avenue A, Inc.
b) TScash
c) DSO Exploit
d) Hitbox
3) TScash adjusts regestry while the rest tracks my cookies.
4) Upon opening a BLANK browser or closing a browser a 2-3 popups come up.
5) At random surfing times, anysite, a popup also comes up.
6) It is not the website, and it is always the same ads poping up in the same order and at the same X,Y coordinates on your screen.
7) upon trying to remove them using anti spyware, such as Spybot-search and destroy, It tells me that a file associated with the spyware is till in use. but I only have windows running and made sure that I have no applications running. How do I know which to close?
8) I am using Windows XP btw.
9) It even slows down my surfing. Or is there another reason for that??

Your opinions? Anyone good at killing spyware here??

[Kurbster]

It's impossible to protect your computer from some spyware. Sometimes the company changes their spyware so much that it renders SpyBot or Ad-Aware useless to pick it up. If you can detect the spyware using Spybot, but not remove it, do a search on google for the spyware's name. That should bring up some webpages telling you how to manually remove it. Also try this out:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Also what would help you is using a different browser other than IE, like Mozilla or Opera. Spyware uses exploits inside IE to install on your computer. I've been using Firefox for a year now, and I haven't seen 1 peice of spyware I couldn't remove ^__^

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[Kane]

Then again, an immunisation and regular update from Spybot using MyIE2 also does the trick for me. But that's just because I dislike the feel of Mozilla

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[Quark]

Originally Posted by Kane-Sama

But that's just because I dislike the feel of Mozilla

So do I, that's why I use Firefox instead :P
In truth the "feel" of Firefox is highly designed to be similar to IE, the argument being that their not trying to make a "perfect" browser (which was Mozilla's goal, and it's got way too many menus and preferences that go unused), they're making one that everyone can easily use and those who want more will have to go fishing (hidden options in about:config, extensions).

The other issue with just using Immunize is that it's not solving the problem - only patching it. Specific programs are being blocked on your computer, and that's fine. But what about the next-best (worst) virus? IE will still allow it to be installed b/c Immunize doesn't know about it, while Mozilla/Firefox/Opera will not. You could have one of those Stay-Resident programs be a watchdog for IE, but that slows the system down - unacceptable to me.

[FLaRe85]

Originally Posted by Kirby

Also what would help you is using a different browser other than IE, like Mozilla or Opera. Spyware uses exploits inside IE to install on your computer. I've been using Firefox for a year now, and I haven't seen 1 peice of spyware I couldn't remove ^__^

Actually, it's more like spyware uses exploits within the user to install itself. Spyware can't get on your machine through IE unless you click "Yes" at the security dialog and most regular-joes don't know any better than to do just that.

I've been using IE / MyIE2 for over 6 years and haven't come in contact with any spyware I couldn't remove, either.

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[Quark]

Originally Posted by FLaRe85

Actually, it's more like spyware uses exploits within the user to install itself. Spyware can't get on your machine through IE unless you click "Yes" at the security dialog and most regular-joes don't know any better than to do just that.

That's supposed to be true, but it's not. There's so many underlying flaws in IE and it's ActiveX controls, that many spyware installations get on your computer without any dialog coming up. You ever see the realphx spyware? Spread throughout my campus for 2 weeks b/c there was no confirmation dialog (and it puts a link in your AIM profile). Since getting sued the company has added in explicit 'Yes' marks and claims 20 times over that it's not a virus - though it still modifies another program's data.

Then there's the spyware that installs other spyware on your computer. And it's a compound effect from there. Of course, many of these come from the crap on programs that users think "hey, this would be cool to try." Ugh. Sadly, no amount of protection in webbrowsers can stop that ... if someone's not smart, he'll put it on himself.

[[Thoughtless]]

It's impossible to protect your computer from some spyware. Sometimes the company changes their spyware so much that it renders SpyBot or Ad-Aware useless to pick it up. If you can detect the spyware using Spybot, but not remove it, do a search on google for the spyware's name. That should bring up some webpages telling you how to manually remove it. Also try this out:

If you have ad-aware, go to their website to download the latest definition files. Also make sure some suspicious spyware are turned off before running Ad-Aware (Task manager)

[Mad]

I use MYIE 2 and ad-ware here with no problems also. Every week or so i update it and Norton Corporate AV 8.11.

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[Kane]

Spybot has a built in autoupdate feature.....

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Pop over to my site for help with setting up PSX emulators.
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