spyware infection

[wb]

While browsing the internet, i got a message from microsoft telling me that my pc may be infected with spyware. :yikes:

does anyone know how to check if your pc is infected. are there any free safe downloads to fix it if it is infected.

i have virus protection and a firewall but i dont really know much about spyware to be honest

thanks :)

[chancer]

ad-aware is good. free version available

[bigcumba]

Also SPybot search and Destroy - that picks up some that AdAware doesn't and vice versa.

[presto]

i use microsoft anti spyware and zone alarm.
both very effective.

[wb]

thanks.
do these get rid of spyware? if my pc is already infected can they fix it?

thanks

[presto]

yup

[mathare]

do these get rid of spyware? if my pc is already infected can they fix it?Of course :)

Ad Aware and SpyBot between them should keep you perfectly clean

[wb]

great, cheers lads

[GlosRFC]

While browsing the internet, i got a message from microsoft telling me that my pc may be infected with spyware. :yikes:

While it's sensible to check your PC for spyware on a regular basis, I wouldn't panic too much about this - Microsoft do not routinely put messages on the internet advising you that your PC might be infected.

What it's more likely you saw was the latest spyware installer which is cunningly disguised as a warning from Microsoft in the hope that people will inadvertently click on the "OK" button. Far from being OK, it actually starts to download spyware/trojan horse software to your PC. If you see any of these messages appearing in windows when browsing it's safe to ignore them but make sure you close them by clicking on the outermost X in the title bar, or by right-clicking the window icon in your taskbar and selecting the Close option.

[wb]

What it's more likely you saw was the latest spyware installer which is cunningly disguised as a warning from Microsoft in the hope that people will inadvertently click on the "OK" button. .

I did not know that they can fake a microsoft warning. i must keep more alert. true enough, it did ask me to download something, but i thought it best to ask here first.

[tophatter]

Glos is right. It is was more likely than not an advert In very tiny writing it probably said this is an advertisement. Just run spybot or adaware on a regular basis and dont worry about pop up boxes saying you may have spyware - if you run those programmes then you know you DONT have spyware. Most spyware is harmless but it is worth running spybot because the point is why should they install these little things without asking you!

[Win2Win]

:)