Ways to get rid of spyware?

[Doobie]

Is there any program to help me get rid of spyware quickly cause I am getting really really annoyed with this crap. Anything free I can download to help me? Ahhhhhh

[BigKaboom2]

Errr....this is the sort of thing Google helps a lot with. Try Ad-Aware.

[cyanide]

Buy a Mac.

Or alternatively, Google up Symantec.

[BigKaboom2]

Macs don't have spyware because no one uses them, so it's largely worthless to write malicious code for them.

Do not go anywhere near Symantec - Norton is worse than any spyware in terms of taking over your computer. Stick to free anti-spyware programs like Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D.

[J@3]

Stop looking at so much damn porn.

[Joe']

Run your anti-virus/spyware on Safe Mode. That's what I always do when I get annoying spyware/viruses.

Try Ewido, that's what I use.

[benji]

Best solution: not being stupid. Otherwise, try these programs.

http://www.filehippo.com/software/antispyware/
One run: CWShredder

Must have:
Spybot Search and Destroy
Spyware Blaster

Also solid:
a-squared Free
Ad-Aware 6 (NOT 2007, for the sux!)

http://www.filehippo.com/software/antivirus/
Avast!, AVG and ClamWin are all good.

[el badman]

Do not go anywhere near Symantec - Norton is worse than any spyware in terms of taking over your computer.

Exactly, avoid Norton like a fucking STD, best way to attract tons of shit...

Must have:
Spyboy Search and Destroy
Spyware Blaster

That'd be my choice too.

[Patr1ck]

I don't know what it is, but it's been over 200 days since I did a scan or update to AdAware and I only had 25 tracking cookies. Maybe it's because I barely use IE anymore.

I currently use-

Firefox
AVG Anti-Virus
Sygate Pro Firewall
SpywareGuard - like antivirus but for spyware
RegProt - registry protector, anything suspicious added to the registry and I am prompted with an allow/disallow dialogue.

Other stuff I have used, but haven't had to in a whille-

hijackthis
AdAware
Spyware Blaster
SpyBot or something.

[benji]

well Spyware Blaster is "permanent" protection, it does not search for anything.

I prefer Sunbelt's firewall over the other free ones, even if it has it's oddities. It seems to know what I want a lot more often. I also use PeerGuardian to go with it.

I like scanning and updating software, even though I never find anything but cookies. I guess I just like watching progress bars.

[shadowgrin]

Do not go anywhere near Symantec - Norton is worse than any spyware in terms of taking over your computer.

Exactly, avoid Norton like a fucking STD

Damn straight. I always wonder why some people still use that shite.

[[Q]]

what makes this appear after i close my IE 6 on windows XP? it's not anything too crazy, but it does get a little irritiating. it didn't do that before.

is it an indication of spyware?

[Gundy]

Could someone explain what's so wrong with Noton Antivirus?

[JT_55]

Well, I don't know about other people, but I let the Norton antivirus trial that came with the PC run out. Then it started to show pop-ups every single minute reminding me to update or buy the full version or something like that. Very annoying, especially when I play full-screen games they minimize it to show the pop-up. I just deleted it and downloaded a free one.

[cyanide]

Though I suggested Symantec, I didn't realize how bad they were. I used AVG as well, and avoided Norton because it was a resource hog.

[shadowgrin]

Could someone explain what's so wrong with Noton Antivirus?

avoided Norton because it was a resource hog

[sarella]

Norton is a ****** virus what doesent do anything bad other than being really annoying and doing nothing against viruses and spyware.... thats whats wrong with Norton