Absolutely overrun by Adware, spyware, and the like.

[EarlyDawn]

I'm being absolutely overrun by adware, spyware, and particularly annoying toolbars that decide to attach to my IE without my permission. Can anyone help, or suggest a good, free program with which to eliminate this infestation?

[Rbstr]

yeah, adaware

www.lavasoft.com

[dscytherulez]

Yeah, and after you run that, run this:

http://www.safer-networking.org/

[Strygun]

Originally Posted by Rbstr

yeah, adaware

www.lavasoft.com

change that to http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Also, one thing that may be causing LOTS of spyware to install without your knowledge (including those toolbars) could be a trojan.

Trojans are different from viruses. Search google for a free trojan scanner and run it after you run the spyware programs.

[Firefly]

I use Ad-Aware, I use another spyware killer, and I use a "free" version of McAfee Corporate Edition virus scanner... it puts the lotion in the basket... it keeps the flowerbeds free.

[Kikinchikin]

I had a terrible lag/spyware problem before I got spybot and adaware. I even got a trojan too. I fixed that a few months back though.

But, yesterday I logged on to find out some new piece of shit toolbar called eXact search was on my IE (as dawn stated). I didn't take notice to it, until i tried to play FFXI and CoD and noticed that the lag was horrific (much like it was back 2 months ago). I did my spyware searches, deleted a whole ton of shit and got rid of the exact search, but I am still laggin. I shut my comp off last night, and I'll see if it's fixed when i get home tonight. Anyway, I would reccomend getting adaware and spybot S&D, since they seem to work together ok.

[BlackDrop]

Adaware and Spybot Search and Destroy I run religiously. One right after the other...dirty cookie placers should have to pay the ultimate price for their invasion...death by swirly!

Oh and I love to read the "comments" from these buggers and the companies they represent when adaware and spybot catches them. They actually try and come across like they are doing you a service instead of tracking your every move (website visit) and profiting from the information found...AND leaching off my computer slowing it down to a crawl.

Bah...

[Heavygain]

I use adaware, norton anti virus, and this other thingy.

[Sentrosi]

SOmetimes you can catch a trojan via a registry hack. I run Registry Mechanic everytime I start up. It catches erroneous registry hacks, such as registery entries pointing to a no longer installed program, old Registry entries that need to be deleted, and trojan registry entries. I also run Norton System Works and am behind a hardware firewall (inside router). I feel fairly safe behind all of this. Suggest you follow what everyone here is suggesting. Checking out that safer networking site now. Thanks Dscythe.