How to use Spybot and Ad

The following TIP using Spybot and Adaware has been updated here. From within this UPDATED TIP you will have the chance to link back to this.

Spybot Search and Destroy, and Ad-aware are the most important programs on the computer, other then the obvious antivirus program. Personally, I place these in order of "live update" for antivirus, then Spybot and then Ad-aware in that order at the top of the desktop. I suggest running these each and every night as the last thing you do before sleep. Clicking on Live Update usually takes less then a minute, so long as it doesn’t say to restart the computer after it is done, then click on Spybot next.

Spybot will require you to first click on start menu then choose advanced mode when you start. This will allow you in to the settings which I set once and then forget. I deselect the prompt for removal, then select to automatically check for updates when I run the program. Note that you should be on an internet connection all the time (no dial up) for this. I then choose to close the program after removing whatever it finds, or if it finds nothing at all. By choosing these options the program will start in the minimized mode and will automatically get all updates and then install them. Once this is done, it maximizes and starts the scan. In some cases, the update requires you to restart the program so if you see it simply finish and never pop open (disappearing from the task bar) then start it again. It should then start to scan. Once the scan starts, it is safe to click on Ad-aware.

Remember this program requires you to first click on CHECK FOR UPDATES. Then click on the CONNECT button. If there is an update, go ahead and follow through. It will then say “finish”. Click on this and then start the scan by clicking NEXT and NEXT a second time. At this point is usually when I would go to bed. Spybot will automatically remove whatever it finds and if you are around for about 10 minutes or less, AD-AWARE will also finish. Note: you might want to turn down the volume because when ad-aware finds bugs it will finish by making a loud sound then you will see the flashing bug. Clicking on NEXT will then display everything it finds. If everything Is not already checked then do so. If there are a lot, RIGHT CLICK and select all is a lot quicker then doing this one by one. After you have selected everything, simply click on NEXT and it will probably ask you if you are sure you want to delete/quarantine… just click NEXT and never worry about what it has found.. this is always bad stuff that it finds so you always want to get rid of it. I know it sounds like a lot to do and I might have not made it sound very easy but it really only takes about 5 minutes of your time and as I stated, can be done while you are sleeping. In the morning of course, you would be greeted with the flashing bug of ad-aware if you decided to not wait for the scan to complete

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites

Besides the tip regarding SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY and AD-AWARE, you might want to visit http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm to get even more help and try out some other software programs that also deal with the removal and prevention of spyware and parasites. Note that at this website, they deal with "advanced" editing features that you may want to avoid. Editing the registry is like doing brain surgery so be carefull.. you could end up making your computer inoperable!

Also, one more thing to note about this website link is that it deals with changing your Internet Security features of your web browser to prevent further parasites from being installed. I might suggest using this area very carefully since in most cases people do like to have specific toolbars working, such as GOOGLE TOOLBAR or YAHOO MESSENGER/COMPANION TOOLBAR. These are very legitimate toolbars that are non-spyware, unlike HUNTBAR or MYSEARCHBAR which are SPYWARE. Please read my tips on Internet Security settings for what I would say is a default setting.