spyware & Malware

[cindyhair]

Malwarebytes is a wonderful tool, if you ever have issues not being able to get it to run due to the virus attacking so much of your pc go into safe mode.  A full scan of malwarebytes in safemode usually solves everything. I would also run your anti-virus in safe mode thereafter just for measure.

Also if the AV doesn't say Norton, McAfee, Avast, AVG, Spyware Doctor, it's usually not an AV. Do your research before selecting which AV is best for you!

How do you run it in safe mode? I've never heard of this before but it sounds like something I need to learn about.   

[thetotalfool]

One thing I always keep around is an external harddrive to backup my files.  That really helps, because as long as my important files are safe on it, I don't have to worry much about the computer itself.

[ULuvCeCe]

Malwarebytes is a wonderful tool, if you ever have issues not being able to get it to run due to the virus attacking so much of your pc go into safe mode.  A full scan of malwarebytes in safemode usually solves everything. I would also run your anti-virus in safe mode thereafter just for measure.

Also if the AV doesn't say Norton, McAfee, Avast, AVG, Spyware Doctor, it's usually not an AV. Do your research before selecting which AV is best for you!

How do you run it in safe mode? I've never heard of this before but it sounds like something I need to learn about.   

As your computer is booting continuously tap your "F8 Key" which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" then you arrow to the "Safe Mode" option and press enter. You'll know you're in safe mode successfully because it will say it in the corners on the desktop and your icons will look a lot larger than normal windows. To get out you reboot as normal. Hope this helps

[jwallbank]

I just recently made the mistake of downloading something from the internet and not looking at the warnings from McAfee stating that there could be spyware attached. It took me 3 days to remove the downloaded software and find the Individual file or software that was corrupting my computer. The problem indications were that IE was constantly shutting down on me, while in add-on operation mode. I downloaded CCleaner and Malwarebytes which are both free by the way. It seemed to clean up my problem and also speed up my PC. I guess the morale to the story is be careful downloading and make sure you have a up to date Virus/spyware/malware package and utilize it to its fullest!!!!

     I got rid of all my toolbars addons including google and Bing, malware seems to like to attach to those.

[RMWorld]

I've never used FireFox but have heard many good reviews over the years. I've always used IE which is prone to a much larger virus threat and easier prone to bugs and program malfunction. I'm going to have to try it sometime....

[cindyhair]

Malwarebytes is a wonderful tool, if you ever have issues not being able to get it to run due to the virus attacking so much of your pc go into safe mode.  A full scan of malwarebytes in safemode usually solves everything. I would also run your anti-virus in safe mode thereafter just for measure.

Also if the AV doesn't say Norton, McAfee, Avast, AVG, Spyware Doctor, it's usually not an AV. Do your research before selecting which AV is best for you!

How do you run it in safe mode? I've never heard of this before but it sounds like something I need to learn about.  



As your computer is booting continuously tap your "F8 Key" which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" then you arrow to the "Safe Mode" option and press enter. You'll know you're in safe mode successfully because it will say it in the corners on the desktop and your icons will look a lot larger than normal windows. To get out you reboot as normal. Hope this helps

Thanks for the info! I will definitely try this the next time I have a problem. You rock!   

[ULuvCeCe]

I've never used FireFox but have heard many good reviews over the years. I've always used IE which is prone to a much larger virus threat and easier prone to bugs and program malfunction. I'm going to have to try it sometime....

I prefer FF over IE for that same purpose. If you don't like it, you can always switch back

@CindyHair no problem, glad to help and prevent issues!

[fixerupper3530]

   You did the right thing, CCleaner and Malwarebytes saved my dying Laptop 2 month ago . Now I tell everyone to use them before considering the idea of calling a pro, or tossing it into the trash. 

[SarahPunk]

Definately, I use both CCleaners and Microsoft Live Security. They both work amazingly. Also, the only time I got a bad virus was from Shockwave, but I was able to clean it up myself. So beware.

[SCarter984]

These days, I just reinstall a clean copy of Windows and start over.  Just one scan takes more time than backing up my files and the whole process.

How can you reinstall a clean copy and make sure all the drivers load back on?  I did this once, years ago, and lost all my drivers.  I had to go online and find then reinstall them.  It was not easy.  Of course back then I was not as tech savvy (LOL) as I am now.  I want to do this on my old work horse (a Dell and a different computer) because its running slow and my roommate downloaded stuff which I believe to be spyware or something.  I just want to clean everything and start over.  Maybe it will speed up the computer.  One thing I have noticed is that this Dell is  a 286.  Does this mean it will run slow anyway?  I would appreciate some feed back.

I guess I'm just lucky that I still have most of my installation discs around.  I gave up fighting when my moms computer got something that over 10 different scans couldn't completely clean.

Great information everyone!  I will start with the re-install for my PC.  I use the free avg and malware bytes on my laptop, and have since put it on the PC and don't ever seem to have problems, except when I was using IE.  I now use firefox exclusively.

[jusu]

I always use Malwarebytes and Ccleaner. Spybot is another good free program.

[lvstephanie]

Malwarebytes is a wonderful tool, if you ever have issues not being able to get it to run due to the virus attacking so much of your pc go into safe mode.  A full scan of malwarebytes in safemode usually solves everything. I would also run your anti-virus in safe mode thereafter just for measure.

Also if the AV doesn't say Norton, McAfee, Avast, AVG, Spyware Doctor, it's usually not an AV. Do your research before selecting which AV is best for you!

How do you run it in safe mode? I've never heard of this before but it sounds like something I need to learn about.   

As your computer is booting continuously tap your "F8 Key" which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" then you arrow to the "Safe Mode" option and press enter. You'll know you're in safe mode successfully because it will say it in the corners on the desktop and your icons will look a lot larger than normal windows. To get out you reboot as normal. Hope this helps

If you do want to boot into safe-mode, you may need to go into "Safe Mode with Network", esp. if you want to have your AV program update its virus definition files before running a scan.

Another option is to create a bootable CD or USB drive that has some AV program on it. Since the computer would be booting off of the CD instead of your hard-drive, you can be sure that the AV program isn't being affected by any malware that may have affected your system.