safe virus and spyware remover?

[IcyPeas]

I am asking this here since this forum moves faster than the computer forum.

My computer is running r e a l s l o w.

I ran a full scan with my Norton and it didn't find anything bad.

My next step is to bring it to the Geek Squad.

any safe suggestions before I do that?

thanks,

[Duer 157099]

1. Malwarebytes, CCleaner, SuperAntiSpyware, Defrag

I'd start there.

[SCantiGOP]

11. second that

We have an IT firm that keeps our computers running at work, and those are the four programs they use whenever anyone is having trouble. Be careful though, there is a program that loads as SuperAntiSpyware.exe that is a very nasty virus. The real program ends with .com

[struggle4progress]

2. The last time I put a Norton product on a machine, the machine slowed to a crawl.

I finally took it off. Consider the possibility that Norton may be part of the problem.

I don't use Windows much anymore, but websearch suggests a number of people are happy with Microsoft Security Essentials, which is free. You might check whether its compatible with your OS

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx/

[HopeHoops]

3. AntiMalware by MalwareBytes - the free version quick scan finds a SHITLOAD of stuff.

I've rescued a lot of machines with that. I keep it on a thumb drive just for that purpose (because some malware prevents downloading from the net).

[lukasahero]

4. I hate to say it but it's probably Norton slowing you down

Malwarebytes and Spyblaster are the malware software you want to use. (Use both - 1 removes, the other prevents.) I'd also ditch Norton for (well, just about anything) but if you want free, MS Security Essentials or AVG are what you want to use.

[pscot]

5. You need to descend down into

the belly of the beast. This is from Microsoft. It take awhile, but if there's something lurking in your system, this will find it. Do it in the evening, when you won't be using your computer for a while.

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm?s_cid=sah

Though slow, it's safe and extreeemly thorough. After it's done, download Microsoft Security essentials. Spyware Doctor, from PC Tools can handle everyday garbage pickup. It's cheap and not too invasive, unlike Norton, et.al.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. bkmrking, thanks.

[hobbit709]

7. Dump Norton. It's about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

Get Malwarebytes Antimalware and Microsoft Security Essentials-both free.

and for god's sake, don't even think about Geek Squad-they're nothing but a ripoff.

[IcyPeas]

13. I didn't really like the idea of going to geek squad...

either. malwarebytes seems to have worked.

thanks!

[IcyPeas]

15. oh now you tell me...

those screen doors for my submarine cost a fortune too. :-)

[Curmudgeoness]

8. My computer went to crawl when I installed MS Security Essentials.

At least my home computer did. I had to remove it and the computer was back to normal again. My work computer does have it and has no problems, so I can't explain it. All I know is that it took a couple of hours to remove it, that is how slow it had made my computer. So just be prepared.

I use AdAware and Spybot, but just to let you know, sometimes you need professional work done. Even using those, the IT guy at work looked at my computer and found a lot that was not being caught. Free software helps, but if any of these programs don't work, remember you get what you pay for.

[lukasahero]

17. Did you have another version of virus protection on the machine?

If MSE slowed your pc down, my guess would be it's running in conflict with something else already installed on your pc.

[Curmudgeoness]

19. I think that Norton came on the computer,

but I thought that you had to pay for that service, and I never did subscribe. I have no idea if it is doing anything or not. Can you tell that I am a computer idiot? I'm lucky that this things works for all these years! I guess part of that is because I am skeptical of almost everything and don't open just anything up.

[Denninmi]

9. Yup, Malwarebytes.

We got a really nasty virus last year on our work computers. I had the task of trying to fix it before we called in some expense computer guy. Malwarebytes took it out -- Norton and Macafee couldn't.

[IcyPeas]

12. malwarebytes seems to have worked.

so far so good. much faster.

thanks.

so much for paying for Norton!!

[wysimdnwyg]

10. Norton is awful

And good luck cleaning it off your pc. See if you can find a program called CleanWipe. It should remove Norton safely and completely for you.

Once you have Norton removed, install, update and run these:
AVG Free (free AV software)
Malwarybytes Anti-Malware
SpyBot S&D


AVG will be your main Anti-Virus software. Malwarebytes helps find and remove malware. Spybot S&D performs a similar function, but they maintain slightly different lists. Also, S&D includes a spyware shield that helps prevent spyware getting installed in the first place.


OK, now that you have that done, clean your hard drive. Go to Windows Explorer, right click on your c:\ drive and select Properties. On the Properties screen, click the Disk Cleanup button and follow the prompts. Once that's done, go to the Tools tab and Defrag the drive.


If you're still running slow, it's likely you have some crap being installed on startup. Click Start and Run and type "msconfig" in the run window and press Enter. Go to the Startup tab and deselect anything that looks like something you don't need on startup. (There will be a lot in there - be sure you do NOT unselect programs you don't know about. Files like "smax4pnp" and "iaanotif" (you may not have those exact files, but similar ones) are system files and you need them on startup. Files like "Reader_sl" (Adobe Reader) and "QTTask" (QuickTime) are not really necessary at startup and can be safely unchecked.


If, after all of this, you're still running slow, it's probably time to get a pro to look at it.

[IcyPeas]

14. appreciate all this info.

might as well dump norton for all the good it's doing me.

thanks

[Twillig]

16. Consider buying the 'pro' version of malwarebytes.

They update the protections several times a day.

It has blocked (it pops up and tells you) a lot of nonsense from my 'puter.

[One_Life_To_Give]

18. Hitman Pro

I have had incidents with rootkits that MalewareBytes, AVG, Spybot S&D and Norton wouldn't touch. Stopzilla worked but ran increadably slow with Norton installed as well. Hitman is quick and has found the rootkits.