A general step-by-step on cleaning up an infected PC :
- SPYWARE REMOVAL PROCEDURE
Many viruses come from rogue anti-spyware companies that infect your computer to sell the product. Here are a few removal tools :
- EXTORTIONWARE
One of the pioneers in anti-spyware technology. I haven't used it myself for awhile so I'm not familiar with their latest version, but like past releases I'm sure it's top-notch :
- AD-AWARE
This program is a great companion to Ad-Aware. What one doesn't catch the other probably will. I actually use this now as my primary spyware scanner over Ad-Aware. Highly recommended :
- SUPER ANTISPYWARE
Another great tool to add to your arsenal. These folks, along with LavaSoft, are pioneers in the anti-malware fight :
- SPYBOT
MalwareBytes has quickly become the industry standard. A MUST-HAVE and Highly recommended :
- MALWARE BYTES
Whereas Ad-Aware cleans out spyware, this free program from JavaCool trys to block it before it infects your computer. It features live update and for $9.95 an auto-live update plugin. Highly configurable and runs quietly and invisibly in the background :
- SPYBLASTER
Rootkits and Bootkits are viruses (usually reinstallers) that attach themselves to the Master Boot Record of your hard drive. Bootkits are becoming more popular because they cannot be found by conventional virus scanners and can only be removed by nuking the drive. This utility from Kaspersky is the only one I've found that finds and removes them (new build 12/11) Highly recommended :
- TDSS KILLER
A new trend in spyware stealth is using cookies as a back door for their invasive programs. This will help you build a filter for those kinds of cookies :
- COOKIE WALL
This small program is the accepted tool today for disabling browser viruses, but if you're not sure what to delete you should post the results of the scan to a reputable forum first. There are lots of people out there glad to help who use this program every day. Highly recommended :
- HIJACK THIS
This brute-force program is what I use when nothing else works to get rid of a nasty browser redirect or Russian PC-jacking. When all you have is a hammer, everything else looks like a nail :
- COMBOFIX
Another program similar to ComboFix. Very aggresive and thorough, but needs to be extracted then run in Safe Mode :
- SDfix
The Windows Hosts File is IE's list of exceptions and restrictions that can be altered by a virus to allow its parent server to access your browser, and stop you from visiting web sites the virus sees as a threat. This app helps to fix or restore that list :
- HOST FILE READER
Another legitimate internet component on the rise for abuse by ad companies are BHOs (Browser Helper Objects). This helps identify and disable the nasty ones :
- BHO DEMON
This utility repairs LSP settings damaged by rogue host files. It has rescued me several times when blocked from certain websites or plagued by weird javascript errors :
- WINSOCK FIX
This website contains an alphabetical 3 page list of removal instructions for most known hijackers, dialers, spywares and adwares :
- SECUREMOST.COM
For those who have not invested in Norton or McAfee, this no-nonsense virus scan program does a very nice job protecting your PC. It is absolutely free, never expires, and can be regularly updated for the latest virus definitions from their website. If you are currently unprotected, this is a must-have. You can always upgrade later. Highly recommended :
- AVG VIRUS SCANNER
Although still a fan of AVG, used it for many years even before they became well known, I've been using Avira for a couple years now and prefer it over AVG or any other virus application I've found. It's free, as are the updates, but it does have a nag pop-up when it finishes its updates. Highly recommended :
- AVIRA VIRUS SCANNER
Instructions on turning the nagbox off can be found HERE
This is a free post-infection virus scanner from industry leader Kaspersky that has a purchase option for the real-time version (email required, easy, no-spam) :
- KASPERSKY VIRUS REMOVAL TOOL
One question I get a lot is how can viruses be profitable. This is one of many marketing companies that incorporate highly sophisticated viruses in their product, designed by their own script writers or purchased from free-lance coders :
- "INTELLIGENT" WEB MARKETING.COM
I'm afraid there are no filters to protect against email scams. Lately people have been tricked into giving up credit information by emails and websites disguised as eBay or PayPal :
- EMAIL SCAMS
This wonderful site has a little info on email scams, but is more about research into email hoaxes, telephone scams and urban legends. Great stuff but has popups :
- SNOPES
The Windows file INDEX.DAT records every website and filename you have visited since day one and can become VERY large over time. Adding these lines to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file will delete this on reboot since it cannot be deleted from Windows :
- INDEX.DAT FIX
Before you delete your INDEX.DAT file, this small viewer lets you see what's in it if you're curious :
- INDEX.DAT VIEWER
Check your bandwidth online :
- CONNECTION SPEED TEST
The following is for anyone interested in starting their own web page :
- HTML BASICS
This info is useful not only for web design, but also in determining font usage on documents that will be viewed on other computers, such as Word or Powerpoint presentations emailed to other users :
- STANDARD WINDOWS/MAC FONTS
This totally free FTP program is perhaps the best I've seen (in fact I'm using it now). Simple drag-n-drop transfer and real-time edit/update on the server. Multiple site management, highly configurable and easy to use. Highly recommended :
- CORE FTP
Although Flash is the new standard in web animation, sometimes a good old javascript is just what the doctor ordered. Here are some cool ones :
- FREE JAVA APPLETS
Most "trial" versions of URL submission programs have so many limitations they are pretty much useless unless you buy the full version. This no frills free program from Simtel gives you 32 engines with no strings attached :
- FREE SUBMISSION 2000
This excellent free tool cleans up your web pages making them easier to edit and quicker to load. I do recommend NOT using the "merge lines" option as it makes your code hard to modify :
- ABSOLUTE HTML COMPRESSOR
Find where you rank in the search engines for specific keyword strings :
- SITE RANKER
A very nice free html/ word editor :
- NOTETAB LIGHT
Minor Notes currently consists of 1,421 different URLs. This free program makes it a LOT easier to check for broken links :
- XENU LINK CHECKER
This is a great suite of registry tools to optimize your internet connection, speed up applications, defrag RAM and more (7 day free trial) :
- DR. SALMAN'S POWER TOOLS
A wonderful run-once tweak that runs in the background and improves your internet speed by 30% or more :
- AUTOBAHN ACCELERATOR
This program works similar to MSCONFIG except it has a database that attempts to identify startup items (although I've seen it be incorrect in its identifications). Great for figuring out what processes can be safely turned off, and also for identifying "fake name" processes that are actually scumware programs in disguise. It also alerts you when a program tries to alter your startup files. Not sure about Vista/7 compatibility :
- STARTUP MECHANIC
I've tried a few auto RAM defrag/clean programs only to uninstall them, but this totally free memory manager does exactly what it's supposed to, no more no less, and does it the way you want it to. A very useful startup item for 256MB and under systems :
- FREERAM PRO
There are lots of forums out there where people share their computer knowledge, but when I really get stumped I usually end up here for advice. The brightest of the bright :
- ANNOYANCES.ORG
And speaking of the brightest of the bright, in my opinion this guy definitely falls into that category. He has fixes for just about everything :
- DOUG KNOX
Same here. This girl is a genius and truly one of the "good guys" :
- KELLY'S KORNER
The standard Windows emergency startup floppy works great, but this one will get you through those nasty crashes much more efficiently. (Caution: stay away from the hard drive utilities if you're not sure what you're doing):
- ULTIMATE BOOT DISK
This is the Rolls Royce of boot discs. It's like a mini version of XP that runs pre-Windows with a complete explorer-style shell. Worth its weight in gold, but absolutely free (donations accepted and well deserved). Highly recommended :
- BART PE BOOT CD
This 30-day trial program does an amazing job of cleaning your Windows registry and hard drive. Comparable and in some ways superior to Norton SystemWorks, but at a fraction of the cost. :
- ACE UTILITIES
A nice registry cleaner for Windows 7 that is absolutely free. Highly recommended :
- WIN 7 REG CLEANER
This stand-alone program is an extremely detailed startup manager. A great tool for finding rogue processes but dangerous if you don't know what you're doing :
- STARTUP ANALYZER
Here is a wonderful no-strings-attached registry cleaner/ fixer to keep XP running smoothly Highly recommended :
- WINDOW REGISTRY REPAIR
Here is a great free format/partitioning utility that I found to fix a USB hard drive, but is also useful for other drives as well that will not format via Windows :
- PARTITION WIZARD
I use many of the programs listed here on a regular basis. Macros are great for automating them. Here is a nice and simple (and totally free) mouse/ keyboard recorder:
- FREELABS MACRO RECORDER
This small free program corrects your computer's time by syncing it with one of the world's atomic clocks :
- WEBTIME
I originally downloaded this small CPL addon to get rid of the ugly shortcut arrows on my desktop, but it has lots of other uselful tweaks for customizing your windows configuration :
- TWEAK UI
This is a tool for your right-click menu that will unlock stubborn "access denied" files. Works GREAT! (Tip: Choose "Explorer Extension" only) :
- UNLOCKER 1.8.7
Currently the largest online sharing community out there. As with all sharing apps, though, you HAVE to scan your downloads before opening them. Virus mongers are drawn to file sharing communities like pedophiles to a playground :
- ARES P2P
This site is one of many that sell LEGAL mp3 downloads of popular and hard to find music for 9 cents a song. Free song preview and high quality 320KBPS files :
- LEGALSOUNDS
Here you can find older releases of many popular programs that are sometimes preferable to the newest build. If it aint broke don't fix it :
- OLDAPPS.COM
And speaking of older being better, here is a great replacement for Windows Media Player based on player 6.4, but with all the new codecs, full blown options, no bundled crap, plus support for QuickTime as well as all Windows formats :
- WMP CLASSIC PLUS QT
This Australian app is a wonderful free alternative to the resident Windows defrag utility. Highly recommended :
- AUSLOGICS DEFRAG
As I mentioned, I can e-mail any DLL files you may need. However you can download them instantly from this site :
- DLL FILE ARCHIVES
An awesome photo editor that's as close you'll get to Photoshop in a totally free app :
- PAINT.NET
More tips from yours truly for do-it-yourselfers :
- UMVCO
The following section contains games, icons, cursors, e-mail wavs etc. in small ZIP packages :
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