aaargh spyware

[waters3]

Anthony's NAV had expired and by the time we had purchased a new copy his CD/DVD drive died so I now have no way to install it. In the meantime a friend of his came over and downloaded something and whatever it was also brought along a whole bunch of garbage including an unwanted toolbar called "mirar" I had success in deleting a bunch of unwanted programs except for this darn toolbar and I think it also keeps installing the stuff I deleted. And now he cannot get onto the internet. It keeps trying to direct him to their website "searchclickads.net/spyware . . . . ." and then says page cannot be found. I was told there are some free utilities that you can download that can rid your computer of spyware.

1. I have to buy a thumb drive or other storage/transfer device so i can transfer the utilities I download to my computer to his laptop and also to transfer NAV from the CD to the device and then install them on his laptop since his CD/DVD drive is not working right now. Any suggestions on a inexpensive device?

2. Any suggestions of good spyware removal utilities. And/or will NAV 2005 have any utilities on it to remove spyware?

3. Does anyone know how many Megabytes are on a Norton Antivirus 2005 disc, the thumb drive or whatever storage/transfer device I buy has to be able to hold it so I can also install his copy of NAV onto his laptop. When I right-click it it does not give me this information and I don't have the box or manual to tell me.

Thanks

[philquad36]

http://www.free-web-browsers.com/support/remove-mirar.shtml
so try add/remove programs 1st.
then run adaware or something simular, www.lavasoft.com
for nortons, it may be 500mb to 1000 so youd need a big usb stick
you could get a "ide to usb" converter from ebay, and run a normal cd drive
(borrow or buy a cheap 1)

also, if you can get back on the net, just d/load agv free a/v
it works ok, about 9mb.

[waters3]

http://www.free-web-browsers.com/support/remove-mirar.shtml
so try add/remove programs 1st.
then run adaware or something simular, www.lavasoft.com
for nortons, it may be 500mb to 1000 so youd need a big usb stick
you could get a "ide to usb" converter from ebay, and run a normal cd drive
(borrow or buy a cheap 1)

also, if you can get back on the net, just d/load agv free a/v
it works ok, about 9mb.

I did go to add/remove programs but "mirar" is not even listed. But alot of others were and I was able to remove them. What is "agv free a/v"?

[bob clark]

Hi Waters3,

What is "agv free a/v"?

AVG 7.0 is Grisoft's latest version of their free AntiVirus program. I've been using it for years and IMO is just as good as the Norton and McAfee etc antivirus programs. Complete with automatic updates and/or automatic reminders whenever there's a new update available which is usually every week or two.

You can get it HERE. (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1)

[philquad36]

yea wat bob said

if you cant stop the nasty go
start/run/ type "regedit"/ open+
hkey local machine/software/microsoft/windows/current version/run.

on the right is the startup programs, delete the mirar.exe or watever it is.

[jukespin]

Hi Waters3,



AVG 7.0 is Grisoft's latest version of their free AntiVirus program. I've been using it for years and IMO is just as good as the Norton and McAfee etc antivirus programs. Complete with automatic updates and/or automatic reminders whenever there's a new update available which is usually every week or two.

You can get it HERE. (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1)

I used the AVG free antivirus for over a year and only had a bug/problem they purposely installed after a while (screen blacked our whenever I clicked on icon or functions or AVG). After buying and installing the "upgrade" I have found that I have the exact same program - without the blackout bug! If I had my druthers, I'd put up with the glitch and save the thirty bucks; SSI just does not go far enough for nothing upgrades.

[teyrn]

I used the AVG free antivirus for over a year and only had a bug/problem they purposely installed after a while (screen blacked our whenever I clicked on icon or functions or AVG). After buying and installing the "upgrade" I have found that I have the exact same program - without the blackout bug! If I had my druthers, I'd put up with the glitch and save the thirty bucks; SSI just does not go far enough for nothing upgrades.

If this is so then it was only the copy you downloaded. I have used AVG many a year and have followed the bugtracker and updates along the way. I have yet to come accross such a glitch. A lot of online reviwers exist that follow such manufacturers and they too fail to mention this glitch which forces people to buy the upgraded version. When AVG went from the free 6.0 version to the 7.0 version you simply got a dialog that promted you to upgrade to the new free version. You didn't have to upgrade but it was recommended, no system errors if you failed to comply. Should AVG not suit you then Avast makes a nice antivirus program free of charge as well. You just have to keep the registration up to date per year.

[wheelman21]

I suggest you download HijackThis and post the log at http://forums.techguy.org/ . Don't try to fix anything on your own. You can get Hijack at http://www.majorgeeks.com . Some other prgrams you should have is Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware SE, SpywareBlaster, and SpywareGuard. All are free.

[waters3]

I suggest you download HijackThis and post the log at http://forums.techguy.org/ . Don't try to fix anything on your own. You can get Hijack at http://www.majorgeeks.com . Some other prgrams you should have is Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware SE, SpywareBlaster, and SpywareGuard. All are free.

thanks all for the help. I gave up and took it in to get fixed. They will check and see why the CD/DVD drive is not working, get rid of the spyware and all the garbage and install spyware software for me.