Is your computer performing poorly? Do you suffer through slow internet surfing, sluggish application launches or an Internet Explorer homepage that keeps changing? Have new toolbars just 'appeared' in Internet Explorer? Just have a feeling that something may not be right? Read on! The following steps will help you remove and fix most scumware and spyware related problems, as well as hijacked home page exploits, trojans, dataminers, dialers and more.
In order to keep this junk from returning, please remember to run AdAware and Spybot, as well as your preferred anti-virus as often as you think of it! (not really, but at least once a week) Ideally, if you surf the web extensively, you should run these applications every couple of days.
First Things First.....
Follow the links below and download the software you will need. Put all of these downloads into one file for easy reference.
All links open in a new window.
1. AdAware - the download link is on the top right side of the page. With its ability to comprehensively scan your memory, registry, hard, removable and optical drives for known datamining, aggressive advertising, and tracking components, Ad-aware will provide the user with the confidence to surf the Internet knowing that their privacy will remain intact.
2. Spybot Search & Destroy - download Spybot Search & Destroy, plus whatever else looks interesting. Spybot cleans tracking cookies, dialers, keyloggers, trojans, adware and spyware and more. Click here for a feature list.
3. CWShredder - got a hijacked home page in your browser? Then check out this application! Also make sure to read the other download descriptions in case there is something else you want to take a look at. Scroll down the page for download links.
4. 
FireFox
- the download link is in the top left of the page. You will love this browser!
Make sure to check out this
link for some great extensions for FireFox, especially Tabbrowser Extensions.
5. Need a good FREE anti-virus solution? Check out AVG FREE Edition from Grisoft. Recently rated higher than two major competitors by 'Maximum PC' magazine.
6. New Addition! Check out Microsoft's foray into anti-spyware here: Windows Defender (Beta 2). It's free, and seems to do a good job catching those few things that Spybot and AdAware miss.
7. New from Grisoft, the makers of AVG -- ewido anti-spyware! I really like this app! It seems to catch everything! It even found 'virus like' code inside some Active Server Pages code I downloaded on purpose to examine. Pretty impressive. Also does realtime protection and updates. Check it out: Grisoft's ewido anti-spyware
You should, at the very least, do steps one through three. Step 4 will increase the overall security of your machine when browsing the internet, as FireFox is not as susceptible to exploits as Internet Explorer. Step 5 is included if you need a good, reliable anti-virus application. It's FREE, too! The just added step 6, will also bolster your spyware and scumware defense, and so far, has proven to be a good tool.
A note to dial-up users: It is worth the time it will take to complete the download of steps one through three. Your computer will thank you as will anyone who uses your computer. In my opinion, it is also worth your time to download FireFox. Give it a try, there is a lot to like.
Why this software? The software used in this tutorial has proven to be easy and effective to use on various systems and configurations. It is stable, compatible, frequently updated and does what it says it will with a minimum of fuss. Oh, and did I mention that ALL OF IT is FREE! ? Note that from within some of the software links exist to take you all over the web to learn as much as you would like about this subject. Additionally, some of the software, like CWShredder, gives you links to other applications in case it can't fix your particular problem. Read, explore and learn!
Second Things Second...
It's time to install the applications you have downloaded and get rid of the junk on your computer.
1. Run CWShredder. No need to 'install' this application, just run it. It does a bit more than just remove Cool Web Search junk.
2. Install AdAware. Choose the options which suit you, or just click next when asked for the default install.
3. Install Spybot Search & Destroy. Unless you want extra language support, you don't need to install the language pack. Again, choose your options or click next when asked for the default install.
Why use two spyware / scumware removal tools? Because each one has strengths the other lacks. When you run AdAware you will remove most spyware. Notice that when you run Spybot Search and Destroy, you find even more spyware to remove! After running both applications, your machine should be pest free!
Now it's time to start cleaning...
Let's begin by running CWShredder. It doesn't take long and is basically unattended. So, ... run the program! Follow along and when prompted, read the screen and click!
Next, let's run AdAware. Find the icon on your desktop or in your Start Menu (Start | Programs | AdAware ). AdAware is a Spyware / Scumware remover. For more information on Spyware and Scumware, check out this site: Scumware.com.
Click the AdAware icon to start the program and then.....
Don't Forget Me!
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