I wrote a web page which deals with the proper configuration of Internet Explorer, the use of hijackThis, the use of both Ad-aware 6 and Spybot Search and Destroy, plus also a reg cleaner and info about one of the best pop up blockers on the market..
If you care to check it out, go to my page on this at
http://www.nightsoft.net/effhq/IE.htmlI created this page about 3 or 4 months ago and have been advertising it in the Ten Forward forum on Taldren and this board (also Cool and Refreshing at Taldren).
hopefully people will get some use out of it.. it includes info on how to set up IE to prevent malicious software from getting on your system from web pages..
i also noticed that someone quoted PCPitstop above...
PCPitstop has an online system scan, however their Active X controll (plug in) for IE executes malicious code and adds spyware to your system.. if you disable Active X controlls as stated on my page I just listed, and say no to Active X at PC Pitstop (in XPSP2) a menubar will appear from IE stating that an Active X controll has been blocked from executing malicious code on your system... as such PCPitstop is not a safe place to go to.. it actually installs a "Hide me" code that will prevent Adaware and Spybot from detecting the Active X controll and from detecting the spyware it installs (
www.coolsearch.com)..
PCPitstop may have good tech info, but thier online scan system is loaded with a Trojan, as such, anyone scanning their system from their site is most likely infected and will have a hard time of finding a Trojan remover that can detect their Active X controll...
anyhow, just letting you know..
Also, many other Spyware remover programs AND track erasers contain Trojan Spyware in them.. be vareful about them.. Ad-Aware 6 and Spybot are the only 2 programs that I know of that does not install some form of spyware..
Programs like SpyHunter (supposedly a Trojan/spyware remover) actually adds spyware to your system and blocks other detection methods from finding it.. so you may want to reconsider what you are actually using for Spyware removal.
as for Gator (GAIN), I have had no problems with Ad-Aware detecting it.. you have to keep the definitions updated just like Anti-Virus...
Also Anti-Virus.. norton does not detect Trojans very well plus it is very intrusive into your system.. Useing a real Anti-Virus like Panda will detect 90% of Spyware / Trojans / Hijackers in addition to Viruses... panda has at least 45 to 90 definitions added daily for detection of Adware, spyware, trojans, hijackers, etc.... along with Virus detection definitions.. panda Anti-Virus is rated as the world's #1 Anti-Virus.. Norton and macAfee are listed near the bottom of the list.. yes they work to their limited ability, but since 90% of thier software is bundeled, they reduce costs by putting out fewer definitions than the better Anti-Virus companies like AVG or Panda.
If you can not afford panda, then i suggest getting AVG Free Anti-Virus, they get their definitions from Panda, although they like to update every other day where panda updates every day (sometimes 2 or 3 times a day)..
just some FYI for you...
Also, just so you will be prepared.. panda and other Anti-Virus software will ask for Norton to be removed and they will not install until Norton is removed...
To completely remove norton, you will have to remove all norton and Symantec entries in the Add/Remove programs, then delete the Symantec folder out of program Files, then you will have to go into RegEdit and remove all norton and Symantec entries manually as a reg cleaner can not remove them (it registers in the system MTF file)...
after that you can run a reg cleaner to finish up the orphan entries in the system registry.. then you will be able to install AVG or Panda..
you will also have to remove the Symantec folder out of c:\Documents and Settings\(Username)\Application Data as well and any other user on the system such as the Guest account, the Administrator folder, All users, etc.. the Symantec folder may not be in all of these but I know when i used norton, I cound it in 3 sections of my system.. completely redundant and useless and intrusive...
anyhow, let me get back to what i was doing and to help protect your system, please visit my web page listed above.. i will be updating it soon for XPSP2, as soon as the build goes public release 9stated as this month currently on the XPSP2 web site.. RC 2 has been pulled for Final Release).