Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[Not a Short]

Adaware from lavasoft and Spybot search and destroy 1.3 in combination will remove 99% of these things.

Adaware won't do it all with the default settings though. You also have to be sure you update the definition files on both programs. After updating do a custom scan on adaware and check all the options on the scan settings screen (normally scan withing archives is unchecked and the same goes for "scan my IE favorites..." and "scan my hosts file".

After Adaware is done scanning with the custom options reboot and scan again with adaware custom options.

After that scan with Spybot Search and destroy (with the latest definitions) and be sure to immunize the first time you immunize you should see a number near 1700 items it will block. If you see less than 1500 you have outdated definitions.

If you aren't already add Zone Alarm or Black Ice to the mix of windows programs you use all the time.

Finally do all your web browsing with Netscape or one of it's offshoots or web browse only from restricted user accounts. IE is just too integrated to be safe for general use by an admin level account.

Assuming you use Windows Critical updates, Netscape, Zone Alarm, Adaware, and Spybot, and any ond of the major antivirus programs you should do ok.

If for any reason you really hate Netscape at least add the Google toolbar to your IE install so you aren't wide open to popups.

Reformatting your drive is only a good option if you know how to make your system immune from viruses and spyware to begin with. Most users will save data from the old build and reinfect the new build. It is possible to work around issues like that but there are no hard and fast rules and no easy answers.

Spyware is probably worse than any traditional virus when it comes to the amount of work our MIS dept has to do.