If an anti-spyware program doesn’t work, is there an alternative?
The usual recommendation in removing spyware on MicroSoft Windows is to update all the anti-spyware and anti-virus programs first, then disable system restore and reboot into safe mode.
# To disable system restore, right-click My Computer and click on Properties. This should open up the System Properties window. Click on the System Restore tab, and check the Turn off system restore on all drives checkbox. Click on OK and you may be presented with a message box asking if you wish to restart your computer to apply the changes. Save any changes you have made in other programs, then click Yes or Restart Now.
# Once your computer starts to reboot, start hitting the f8 button (about twice per second) until the Boot Options screen is displayed. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to highlight Boot to safe mode and hit the Enter/Return key.
Once in safe mode run the programs one at a time, and delete/quarantine any detections. The majority of anti-spyware programs backup the objects deleted (usually by encrypting them) in case they are a False Positive (the program detected something which in fact did not need to be deleted).
After running all the programs, restart the computer normally (from the shutdown menu). It should automatically boot back into normal mode. Login and check that the existing problems are no longer present. Occasionally the anti-spyware programs are unable to detect or delete some spyware. In this case there are some anti-spyware forums with people that specialize in spyware removal. Experts in spyware removal forums normally ask for a hijack this Log. hijack this is a program that displays all the settings that spyware and hijackers (software that “hijacks” the internet browser, usually changing it’s homepage and preventing it from being changed back) and is also able to save these settings in to a log file that can be uploaded or pasted to a website or forum.
