what is spyware??!!! [panic]

[Imparcticle]

When ever I log on to the internet from my home computer, an ad saying that my computer is infected with spyware pops up. Even worse, porn ads keep popping up. I am getting really angry with this. Is this a virus??
I want to download as many virus scans as possible. Would that be healthy for my computer?? One more ludicrous, abhorred, obscene porn ad and I am going to freak. That is why I may be a little rude here and there in some discussion, because this sort of obscenity puts me in a bad mood. If someone can tell me how to get rid of this obstinate computer venom, I will appreciate it. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :grumpy: :grumpy: :devil: :devil: :devil: :yuck: :yuck: :yuck: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :devil:

[chroot]

Get a program called AdAware. Run it.

- Warren

[cookiemonster]

Ad Aware
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button

SpyBot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=mirrors

Use both of 'em.

cookiemonster

[Ebolamonk3y]

In addition to the top... try SpywareBlaster...

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

Stops spyware before they get on the comp... update the reflist frequently...

[enigma]

Ad-aware is the greatest program ever designed by the mind of man.

When I become supreme ruler of the world, lavasoft is going to be given an island somewhere...

[Ebolamonk3y]

Ad Aware misses a lot of stuff that Spybot picks up... I do not think its that handy because for the Pro users they have to go to the page itself everytime they want a reflist update.

[cookiemonster]

And SpyBot misses a lot of stuff that AdAware picks up. Hence, use them both. I just ran 'em both last night, and each picked up stuff the other missed.

cookiemonster

[jimmy p]

i got some crazy virus on my laptop that disconnects my computer and then tries to connect me to a premium rate line. Costed over £2 for being connected for 51 seconds. So far it has costed me £22. My main problem is that i have a 56kb connection so i cant download anything fast enough that can deal with the problem before it disconnects me. :frown:

[Imparcticle]

My computer is now infected with 47 viruses. I can't use it (it is virtually impossible because it takes like a year to even start loading a Word Doc let alone the internet) so I'm probably not going to be around very much.

[cookiemonster]

Egh... Sounds like the computers at my school. =\

There are free (not "borrowed"...) virus scanners running around the internet if you don't own one.

cookiemonster

[enigma]

Format and start from scratch...

[Ebolamonk3y]

Take our computer out and beat it to death then return it to the store and say it had a psu overload. :)

[Imparcticle]

Okay, the Ad Aware did not work. I just installed Norton antivirus, and now there are ZERO viruses on my beloved 2001 speedy computer. [sigh] but those annoying spyware pop ups are still comming. My sister suggests downloading Adware as well. I am going to try it tomorrow. Jeez, it took me for ever to connect because the evil spyware kept disconeecting be. Is spyware something that hackers enforce or something?

[ShawnD]

i got some crazy virus on my laptop that disconnects my computer and then tries to connect me to a premium rate line. Costed over £2 for being connected for 51 seconds. So far it has costed me £22. My main problem is that i have a 56kb connection so i cant download anything fast enough that can deal with the problem before it disconnects me. :frown:
Stop using Internet Explorer. Those dialer programs are installed through ActiveX, an IE only thing. If you use a browser like Opera or Mozilla, those programs are unable to install themselves.

[jimmy p]

I like Ebolamonk3y's method better but I agree ShawnD. I dont use my laptop for going online any more.

[Ebolamonk3y]

Windows just suxs overall... Resource hogging pos.

[ShawnD]

Windows is still on par with Linux though.
Just windows ~70mb ram
Linux + KDE ~ 65mb ram