Simviation Forums

So I accidentally infected my old dell (not my FSX-equipped computer, thank goodness) with some sort of spyware bug.  It is the kind that keeps opening webpages directing you to site that sells an anti-virus program.  I installed the free version of AVG in an attempt to remove it, and while it removed another bug, it didn't seem to correct the problem.  I also have an expired McAfee subscription on the computer.  What should I do now?

SPYWARE DOCTOR! Removed 320 bugs I never noticed w/ McAffe or Zone Alarm. AMAZING!

Zone Alarm Firewall! It kicks butt!  ;D

Why are you trying to remove spyware with a virusscanner? Download Spybot and Ad-Aware (both freeware). It'll help you out. Mind you this is no online protection software like a virusscanner or a firewall. You have to run them seperately to get rid of any spyware.

Crash

Why are you trying to remove spyware with a virusscanner? Download Spybot and Ad-Aware (both freeware). It'll help you out. Mind you this is no online protection software like a virusscanner or a firewall. You have to run them seperately to get rid of any spyware.

Crash

will either interfere with the AVG and expired McAfee already installed?  Will downloading them through the spyware cause a problem?

Sybot and Ad-Aware play nicely with McAffe in my experience. AVG will play nice to.

First, before you can do anything...DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE UNINSTALL PROGRAM FROM MCAFEE! I don't know if they have one, but many anti malware programs crash your computer if you install them with another malware program installed. This is VERY important. I've even had remnant of Norton and McAfee war on each other. Simply disabling them is NEVER enough. Bit's get left behind. [url=http://search.mcafee.com/search?q=uninstall&site=us_site.AllTopics&num=10&btnG=Search&type=consumer&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&ie=UTF-8&origin=us&client=default_frontend&spell=1&oe=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=default_frontend®ion=us&getfields=description]The first too results here should help you
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Sorry if I come on a bit strong there, but I've had my PC out for weeks because of a simple incompatibility!  >:( I REALLY don't want that to happen to you.

Thanks for the help.  Turns out my McAfee wasn't expired and I am running a scan now.  Any idea on a Anti-Spyware program that will work with McAfee?

Another thing you might want to try is booting your system into safe mode, then do your scans again. A lot of problem software (spyware and viruses) load into the systems' memory at startup. Even if a scanner picks up that problem, if may not be able to delete it because it's technically "in use".

[quote]SPYWARE DOCTOR! Removed 320 bugs I never noticed w/ McAffe or Zone Alarm. AMAZING!

Zone Alarm Firewall! It kicks butt!

[quote][quote]SPYWARE DOCTOR! Removed 320 bugs I never noticed w/ McAffe or Zone Alarm. AMAZING!

Zone Alarm Firewall! It kicks butt!

Thanks for the help everyone...spybot worked miracles.  Detected 250+ spyware and adware registries.  

One problem though.  One of the programs aliased my wallpaper to a file on the hard drive.  Now that the program is removed, the alias is still there, but since the image is not, I am just getting a blank screen.  Any idea on how to fix this?