Malware (Spyware,Virus,Trojans etc) some help & suggestions
Malware (Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Viruses) are every increasing in their frequency, and ability to disguise themselves. This post is an attempt to give you a resource for removal of these unwanted pests.

It should give you all a guide on what you can do to stop these unwanted items, and except in the most extreme cases how you can remove spyware already on your machines.
It may look daunting, but we highly recommend these steps are taken to ensure your PC remains uninfected as far as is possible.

To scan for Spyware/Adware

There are a number of different options available to you - Probably the most user friendly one is Ad Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

There is also SpyBot - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html. Again, it is fairly simple to use once downloaded and installed.

We also love http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html It will protect you from most spy/foistware in it's database by blocking installation of their ActiveX objects. Although it won't protect you from every form of spyware known to man, it is a very potent extra layer of protection and you do need to check for updates (I would always recommend once a week).

No single program removes every threat which is why we recommend at least these 2 spyware removal programs. Spyware programs (Unlike Anti Virus Programs) can run alongside each other generally without clashing.

Now for Viruses/Trojans!

Even the best antispyware programs are only able to remove about 70% of infections. Also, the line between spyware and trojans is getting blurred. You can never be too careful with these, we recommend at least one good Anti Virus program is placed on your computer.

We recommend AVG Anti Virus. This is a free download (you can also pay for a slightly better service version, but basically it gives little overall difference for the user).
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php

Windows Updates!

An unprotected, unpatched Windows XP installation will get infected within minutes of connecting to the Internet. Because of this you should ensure you install updates - either checking manually on a regular basis, or asking it to automatically update.

SP2 NOTE: Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) has terrific security features, and we highly recommend everyone install it, however it should not be installed until your system is free from malware. Installing SP2 with malware present can cause many compatibility problems, or even prevent your computer from restarting.

Our other advice is:

Most Malware, in whatever form is made to target Microsoft products - with the odd exception. That means we also recommend you use a different browser and e-mail set up away from Internet Explorer and Outlook Express if these are the ones you use the most.
We use MOZILLA - and this is also fully recommended by many computer experts and publications.
http://www.mozilla.org
From here you can download their browser FIREFOX
And the e-mail program THUNDERBIRD.

These measures are about the best way you can protect not only the computer, but also improve your time online. We would say to everyone - It only takes a short time to get all these programs up and running - but it only takes a split second for a piece of malware to ruin your computer.

An excellent free version of another spyware program is available - it was posted by someone on another board I go to.

I would recommend that even if you don't upload and use any other Spyware program - you use this one!

It even managed to pick up a really nasty piece of spyware on someone else's computer that I thought I would have to spend time tracking down and removing manually!

http://www.superantispyware.com/

Go and use this please - for the sake of your computer if nothing else.

Hi there!

Just wanted to pick your brains about malware. I have a friend who was unlucky enough to be infected by the wretched VBS/Dropper!! A malicious trojan virus that keeps creating backdoors every time it's removed by the anti-virus (AVG) program. It latches on to html files and even e-mails programs, i.e. OE. The dangerous part of this virus is that it's written in Windows Script, C programming, and changes the system registry keys as well, all of which I have no knowledge of. So I don't want to risk troubleshooting incorrectly which can damage the hard drive 'coz we're dealing with the registry keys and Windows scripts!

So, do you know how to remove this bugger right down to its core?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Right the one to try is the Google Pack Spyware Doctor.

It is usually very good at getting rid of these malicious trojans that even some anti virus programs can't remove.
I know someone who recently had a similar sounding problem to yours (wouldn't like to say off top of my head its identical but certainly sounds just like) - and it got rid of it for him. So well worth a try first off.

Just go to http://pack.google.com and click what you don't want - making sure you've kept Spyware Doctor clicked. Download is fairly straightforward.

Let me know if you can't remove it this way and I'll try and contact someone I know who is a Windows expert see if he can't help.

Ok, will give SpyDoctor a try and see if it successfully removes the dreaded VBS/Dropper. Hopefully it corrects the modified Windows registry key entries and startup script, then. Fingers crossed! Will let you know if I hear any further problems from my friend!

Thanks a bunch, ILMJN!!

I dl'd SpyDoctor but now I can't uninstall it. It's still listed in my programs, but when I try to remove it I get a pop-up that says it can't be uninstalled because it doesn't exist. What's up with that?

Hi Jeanna!

The best thing is to go to Control Panel, access the Add/Remove Programs tab and remove it from there. I did it and it's gone from my hard drive.

Good luck!

Well...yes. I know. That's what I meant. I can't delete it from the Add or Remove programs. Which I find puzzling. If someone has an explanation...I'd love to know what's going on.

Hmm..that's weird. Can you do Restore? Well, depending on when you installed the program, that is. If you just installed it recently, you could just do Restore to get your hard drive back to the moment before you installed the program.

Thanks for that link ILMJN! I've downloaded it and it's busy scanning my PC as we speak... Thus far it has detected 110 threats! :eek And here was me thinking that my system was safe - I was running an anti spyware application via my anti-virus programme as well as through Windows Defender. Just goes to show. Thanks again!