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I recently spent several hours trying to clean up a notebook computer that had been overrun by spyware, adware (Advertising Supported software) and various browser hijacking programs. Multiple ads were popping up, but the worst was that the browser was being redirected to a different site. For example, if I entered the URL for McAfee, a new full size window would open up, displaying another virus product’s site. This was happening multiple times, virtually every time the browser started up and during its use.
I downloaded and used a number of programs and trial versions of anti-spyware and anti-adware applications, including Spybot Search and Destroy, Pest Patrol and Ad-Aware. I ran several of these utilities and between them they identified close to 100 different instances of spyware or adware on the particular computer. The names of a few include SmartSearch, GlobalFinder, CometCursor, Gator, FastSearch. Some hijack your browser homepage and others just lurk in the background, recording your browsing habits.
Gradually I was able to reduce the number of these pests to one extremely pesky one called look2me. I searched the Internet for information about this particular annoyance and found lots of information and a few tools that purported to be able to remove it. I followed instructions, found a few entries in the registry, but nothing was able to stop it. Something on the computer was redirecting the browser to the site and the site would then redirect to one of their subscribing companies. One of the sites I visited even indicated that Look 2 Me claimed to have an uninstaller, but that the uninstaller installed additional spyware.
Because the computer was being used on a network behind a router with a firewall, I was able to look at the router logs to see the address of the sites where the browser was being redirected. I found the actual site for look2me. In order to make the computer usable, I was able to block the redirection to the site at the router by adding the URL to the list of blocked sites (normally you might want to block sites to keep computers on the network from going to particular sites). This is a temporary fix because as soon as the computer is used on another network, it will continue to go to that site.
I have not yet been able to completely remove look2me from the computer. I have continued to search for ways to do it and found a couple more, but haven’t had time to apply the instructions yet. In the meantime, I have compiled a list of some of the resources I located.
This site has removal instructions for a number of the more well-known types of spyware as well as a list of utilities that identify and remove spyware.
http://www.webtechgeek.com/index.html
This site has all sorts of information, including short reviews of many types of software. It has an explanation of what spyware is and a list of downloads that come with the “additional feature” of spyware built-in. My only qualm about this site is that it seems to mix links to services and programs with the links to information. Just watch where you are going before you actually click on the link by holding the cursor over the link and checking the left corner of the status bar on your browser.
http://news.com.com/2009-1023-938263.html
This is an article about why companies may use Spyware and Adware and whether or not it actually works.
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/
This site is a programmer’s site, but has listing of a number of the more well-known “parasites” with a good description of how you acquire them and instructions for removal. When you go to the site, it checks your browser to see if you have anything lurking. It’s a little disconcerting, but it appears to be benign.
http://www.spywareguide.com/index.php
These folks do sell software products (other companies’ products), but they have a good list of spyware (413 when I visited today) along with removal instructions.
http://www.privacyrights.org/netprivacy.htm
While this site is not directly about spyware, it does have some interesting material on protecting your privacy online with links to a number of resources.
Most of the links I found were part of the website of sellers of anti-adware software so I am not listing all of those. The information is out there and most of the sites appear to recommend using more than one application to check for spyware as none will detect everything. Meanwhile, the battle goes on.
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