Can I Remove Spyware istsvc.exe With Spybot and Ad-Aware?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the removal of the spyware "istsvc.exe" using various tools. Users report that traditional tools like Spybot and Ad-Aware are ineffective against this spyware. A recommended solution is the use of 'Hijack This', a powerful tool for identifying and removing unwanted software, although it requires caution due to its potential to disrupt essential system processes. The distinction between "istsvc.exe" and legitimate Windows components such as "stisvc.exe" and "svchost.exe" is also clarified.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of spyware and malware terminology
  • Familiarity with Windows operating system processes
  • Basic knowledge of registry editing
  • Experience with system cleanup tools like Spybot and Ad-Aware
NEXT STEPS
  • Research how to use 'Hijack This' effectively for spyware removal
  • Learn about the Windows registry and safe editing practices
  • Explore alternative spyware removal tools beyond Spybot and Ad-Aware
  • Investigate methods for preventing spyware infections on Windows systems
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for computer users dealing with spyware issues, IT professionals, and anyone interested in enhancing their knowledge of system cleanup and maintenance tools.

pmb_phy
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How in the heck do I get rid of this #$@# spyware, i.e. "istsvc.exe". I ran spybot and ad-aware more times than I can count and its still there.

Pete
 
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Pete:

I'll assume since you're posting this here it's really spyware and not some Windows component (I have stisvc.exe running on my 2k box, which appears to be the service host.)

I had a similar problem on my parents XP computer when I discovered they had some type of home page hijacker on there. After 3 hours of running Ad-Aware, searching the registry, and examining all of the applications and processes on the computer, it was still there.

I went out to the web, specifically downloads.com (follow this link for the download page) and found 'Hijack This' which did the trick.

It's a very powerful tool for getting rid of garbage on your PC. I would caution; however, that it's also a very dangerous tool if you don't know what you're doing. The results of a scan shows you everything that is different from the default Windows installation in it's raw form (registry entries mostly.) If you pull out something that *needs* to be running, you could crash your OS permanently. If you're just looking for the registy entries starting a particular executable though, it should be a fairly easy matter to find and get rid of it.

Best of luck,

Grogs

Oops, correction: stisvc.exe is the Still Images Device Monitoring service, which has something to do with linking to digital cameras and scanners. svchost.exe is the services host.
 
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