NEED HELP from DU techies on SpyWare and Adware issue...

[fryguy]

Does anyone know about spykiller.com and their SpyKiller software against SpyWare and AdWare? I went and purchased it online (from a link at Cnet.com)when I started getting a load of pop-ups and parasite warnings that Ad-Aware. Now I'm wondering if it might be part of the problem and if I just passed my credit card number to a disreputable company....I've run the software a bunch of times, as well as Norton Anti-virus and Ad-aware, but still am getting the same pop-up warnings and my browser start page keeps resetting to "about:blank"....

if anyone has any ideas how to fix this or knows about SpyKiller, please let me know.

appreciation and thanks in advance.....

[librechik]

1. are you using IE?

because you should switch to Mozilla Firefox before all the nice popup warnings about popups drive you nuts.

It's the browser. That's your real problem.

[LTR]

2. Ad-Aware should work just fine

Same with Spybot.

Those are the only two spyware scanners you'll ever really need.

And they're free.

Spykiller sounds like a scam. NEVER pay for a spyware scanning program. Usually, it just makes things worse, and they rip you off, too.

You may have to run it a few times to totally get rid of everything.

And never buy anything from a pop-up ad, especially if it's spyware generated.

ON EDIT: Sounds like you've got a browser hijack.

Go here:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/

Or Google it:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=browser+hijack

And replace your HOSTS file:

http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/how_to_use_hosts.html

[No2W2004]

3. I had Ad-Aware when I used IE,

It worked, but I had to use it 10 times a day because the spyware would just reload itself when I opened the browser. I now use Mozilla and never see pop ups. :D

[Spiffarino]

4. This will likely be the big IT story of 2004-2005

Spybot Search and Destroy 1.3 is probably the best product for removing spyware and adware that other products can't. And it's FREE! I also use Ad-Aware 6 (free version) to get anything that Spybot might have missed.

Spyware and adware are wreaking havoc all over. The fact that so many products have come on the market to remove it is very telling. However, what is more telling is the fact that some spyware "removal" tools are actually spyware and adware themselves.

Now for your question. I don't have any personal experience with SpyKiller, but the name never came up in any reputable comparisons I could find. I work in IT and we have been doing side-by-sides with four different anti-spyware products. SpyKiller was not on the list. In fact, nobody I know has ever used it. Maybe it's just because I've never encountered it in my professional life, but I'm a little suspicious of it. Others, please correct my misconceptions if, in fact, they are.

Download Spybot, read the manual carefully, and use it. It's great.

To stop Pop-up ads, Pop-up Stopper Free edition has worked very well for me. It's easy to override if necessary and doesn't get many "false-positives."

Hope this helps

[LTR]

7. Pop-Up Stopper?

Hell, I avoid the pop-up thing altogether and avoid IE like the plague. I also tell people NEVER to download AIM (AOL Messenger), or any AOL software (except Netscape and Winamp, but look carefully when installing). Seems the last two systems I cleaned out got the problems by downloading that horrid AOHell software. Yahoo! Messenger and ICQ are much better substitutes.

Avant Browser is a good substitute for IE. It runs on the same engine, but has automatic ad blocking and tabbed browsing. Mozilla Firebird is also good and is touted by many here, but it seems a bit crude (especially the new one). Plus, it's a pain to configure as the default browser. I keep it on my system as a backup.

BTW, love the sig graphic. Nice that somebody defaced the sickest AWOL-worship picture and did something constructive with it.

[Maestro]

5. Go to

Start/run then type msconfig. A window should pop up. In this window you see various tabs. Hit the tab that says "startup." The next window shows you what programs load when you start Windows. Find one that says something related to Spykiller. Uncheck it. Now restart your computer and when your restart and your computer says that you've selected a different start-up just close that window and click the don't show me that message box.

Now, if you are still getting those pop-ups the program has put something in the registry. The best way to get rid of this is to go to Add/Remove programs and delete it from your system. Then I would use a registry cleaner program to find all those entries related to the program you deleted. They'll be broken now in the registry and the registry cleaner will find them and wipe them out. I personally use Registry Mechanic from www.winguides.com. It's payware but worth it to me.

Then go to www.safer-networking.org I think and download Spybot 1.3. This is a very reputable program and free but you can donate to the guy. That one coupled with Grisoft's Adaware program is all you need to keep malware off your computer. If you need more help, holler.

[Kipepeo]

6. I had this same problem a few months ago

I went here: http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/

The lavasoft support forums...they are the ones who make ad-aware.

If you read the instructions in the Ad-Aware 6 personal (free) forum (especially the notice called: Before you post your logfile) and download what they tell you and then post your log, an expert will help you through what you need to do.

The person who helped me was really nice, and they are all voluteers so that is surprising. I know nothing about computers and they were able to help me get it off.

Good luck!