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Safe Mode is your friend. Press F8 before Windows goes to the black booting screen, and you can boot into safe mode.

What does Safemode do?  Let me delete stuff under the windows folder?

And, for me, any crapware that does anything goes under the general category of virus.

If you hate it that much, get a Mac.  Yeah, that comment will piss people off, but the only things I get are those stupid flash vulnerability based ads and they go away easily.

After giving this more thought during lunch...

What version of NAV are you using? FYI only the newest Symantec scan engine (version 10) actively scans for spyware and adware. Anything below that does not protect against all maleware, only viruses. Same is true with Internet Security package. It will block stuff from running but only after it's already infected you. To stop that from happening version 10 the latest/greatest is the only way to do it.

Because there currently is not a "Silver Bullet" to catch all this crap many of us have installed a number of programs to combat this multi-front onslaught. Companies are trying to catch up and create this "Silver Bullet" but because the way this crap evolves and the new security holes that keep popping up I don't think it will ever happen, unless you're willing to spend a small fortune for something like CSA (Cisco Security Agent). Not a viable option for the home user.

An ounce of protection equals a pound of cure so without further ado I'll list what I've been using for the past year to keep my XP machine clean and healthy. I would like to invite others here to do the same. That way we'll get a good cross section of the various apps used to keep the nasties at bay.

First and foremost I am the only one using my machine. All other hands are off. Now I'd like to think that my computer savvy has helped some in keeping the crap off. If this is not possible then create how ever many user accounts needed. Lock those accounts down so they can't install software. Yeah it's a pain but adware and crap can't install if it doesn't have the privies to do it. Next is to teach those users to stop opening every g'dam attachment that comes down the pipe or block attachments altogether. Now the battle is half over.

I still use IE...gasp! Now the tools used to keep things clean.

1) Upgraded from Windows update to Microsoft Update. There is a difference in that MS update gets my Windows and Office updates at the same time. Keeping Office and more importantly Outlook up to date is important. That way the Junk Email stays current.

2) Turn on Automatic Updates. Update weekly and install everything. Use the custom tab to look at all the downloads available. Mine reads "0" for every heading and it hasn't hurt the machines performance. The only update I'd recommend against are for the video cards. So far it's been the only update that freaked my machine out. Thanks M$ and ATI.

3) Use Windows Firewall unless you have something better like Symantec's Internet Security or McAfee. I have a firewall on my router in conjunction with the Windows firewall. Hardware firewalls are the best. If you don't have a DSL/Cable router I'd highly suggest getting one because most have built in firewalls. Read the box to make sure.

4) Google toolbar. In conjunction with IE's updates from SP2 I never get a pop up or an unwanted ActiveX install. If a popup does get through for the love of god don't click on it. Not even to "X" out. Right click on the header in the Taskbar and close it from there.

5) Symantec Anti-Virus Enterprise Ed. 9.1. (virus and email scanning) Because I VPN into my work's network I have this and I need to upgrade to 10 now that we have it. Live update runs every day at 9AM at home. At work the SAV server is set to update every hour on the hour.

6) Spybot S&D 1.4: Updated weekly and if there is a new definition file I re-immunize too. Spybot's immunize feature I think is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Next to that is the TeaTimer. The TeaTimer pops up every time the registry is changed. Then gives you the option to allow or deny it. While installing software it's a pain in the ass but I can live with it because it's doing its job.

7) Adaware: Used to use it a lot but not so much any more. I think Spybot working with SAV is enough.

Now on the wife's machine:
1-4 & 6 are applied but...
8) SBC/Yahoo internet protection software has replaced SAV and Adaware. Only available to SBC/Yahoo DSL customers. I like it a lot. It was built by CA and does do everything (virus/spyware/adware & popups). So far it has done everything well. In terms of a "Siver Bullet" I think this is as close as it could come.

Notes:
You can only have one anti-virus software installed. If you have two there's a good chance both are broken. The SBC/Yahoo app wouldn't install until I removed SAV and at work SAV wouldn't install until I dumped McAfee. Now I'm not that familiar with the freebie scanners they could be different and cohabitate with others.

I also use Spybot s&d, Ad-Aware and AVG anti virus. I also have a router with a firewall and I use Firefox with the NoScript extension(pop ups are non existant unless I want one). As LLevi mentioned, constant updates of anti spyware, anti virus and windows is a must.

Good luck FC

my 2 ¢

LLEVIATHANN wrote:

test wrote:

I only have to force reboot a couple of times a week now.

Wow really
Once in a great while a game will hang. The only time I've had to force a shutdown. Well there was the auto ATI update I mistakenly installed. That caused a bunch of forced shutdowns but I knew it was a driver issue.

I don't think most of lockups I have are real lockups. I just don't have a lot patience for XP's version of "mutli-tasking". I guess 15 years of using Macs and UNIX have spoiled me.

Last edited by test (2006-01-25 1:36 pm)

Wow, here are some very amazing well written responces, I think this could become a sticky.  Right now, the problem that I have is viruses that I cannot delete because windows just won't let me delete them.  You cannot delete these little sucks.  I swear if I catch some of these virus writers, they're gonna get the worse side of my chemistry knowledge up their ass.

Anyway, I will probably download spybot search and destroy, and I already have AdAware... What is AVG?  Is it good?

Thank you so much.

AVG is an anti-virus app with real-time protection for downloads and email. It gets generally positive reviews though this may be partly because it can be had for free. Just because it is free doesn't mean it is second class  - virus definitions seem to be updated just as often as Symantec et al.

You could also try Avast!. Like AVG it is free and seems to work reasonably well and is updated regularly.

Both can be found easily enough through versiontracker.

I am fairly new to the Windows experience but with AVG, Spybot S&D, and AdAware I have had no viruses - at least none AVG could detect. Spybot and AdAware found and removed literally thousands of items on the initial sweep but since then the worst "malware" I get is tracking cookies from MicroSoft Update and these are easily deleted.

Meh the only ad-ware that has been on my PC since I got it was something from gamespy when I downloaded GS Arcade (stupid thing to do)
and all I have is Symantec Firewall and a router....

funny thing about NIS. If a person uses NIS (not sure what version) and has an IRC client open, and you type "startkeylogger" into a channel they're in, people with NIS will just drop off the network. Works better in large channels...

One of the many reasons AVG > Norton

And, of course, the standard advice that applies to all browsers on all platform - turn off java, javascript, and all plugins. Don't accept cookies either. Exceptions can be made for the few sites which need some of these things but generally, you don't need any of them for most sites and you are just asking for trouble if you troll around the web with all the malware downriggers in the water.

Usually popups are not a virus, but instead is adware.  Programs like AVG and Norton AntiVirus are not the best tool for removal.  Even programs like Ad-Aware or Spybot Search & Destroy are marginal.  Ideally, you should determine the name of the malware and look it up on the internet for speciifc instructions.  If that is not possible, the best program to use is Webroot's Spy Sweeper.  Though it is not free, they do offer a free trial that would allow you to remove whatever is detected on your system today.