Has anyone had problems with a program called SpywareBot?

[THK1138]

This all started with a browser hijack by some site called WinAntiVirus, or perhaps WinAntiVirus2007? To make a long story short, I tried to get rid of it using AdAware2007. Having no such luck with that, I decided to use SpyBot Search and Destroy. However, when I did a search for it, I found a program called, "SpywareBot" The names sounded similar enough to fool my spouse into downloading it for free, but having to spend $60.00 to clean the mess. Before deciding to blame her, I realized I'd have made the same mistake, and found web site using a Google search for "SpywareBot" and found that and others have been fooled by the similarity in names.

I liken it to purchasing a brand new Panasonic HDTV at a great price, only to find out that what you brought home was a cheesy 1080i Panisoanic. Try a Google search for that term, and you'll find a number of legit sites.

I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I have reason to believe that the company behind SpywareBot and other products are covering their tracks so that no one can claim that the product doesn't do what it says it does.

A review that gives their product 5 of 5 stars and a quote that Symantec is 'garbage'(my word, they were even less kind to Symantec); are such things that lead me to believe there is more than meets the eye.

BTW, even if it's not the aforementioned SpywareBot software, there are other software titles that may fit the bill of what I'm talking about.

I am trying to be objective and looking for help, but I'm mighty angry about this whole situation.

If I'm way out of line here, I will face the gallows with a grin

Feel free to email me at jcsalazATverizon.net (replace AT with the @ sign; shift #2) so the cardinal sin of placing an email link on the footer of my site won't try to launch a default email client you may not use or worse yet, hate.

James Salaz, Freelance Writer.

http://www.JamesSalaz.com

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. - Einstein

 

[electronicsfreak]

Personally on home computers opinion wise I do not like norton either, however some do. Either way, heres some things to do to remove this stuff.

If you want a good antivirus in my opinion is antivir. If you decide to use this , make sure you do not have norton or mcafee installed. They do not get along. Anyway here are some steps to remove this.

First off, download this antivirus below.

http://www.free-av.com

(be sure the site says avira antivir)

set it up as follows

This is to setup antivir after it has been installed.

Right click on the logo in the taskbar(a red square with a white umbrella), then left click configure. Towards the top left, you will see a box beside expert mode. Check this box. Now click the + beside scanner, and now the + beside scan. This will expand them.

Now click on scan itself to where it is highlighted. Now to the right under files, select the circle beside all files. Now click on action for concerning files. To the right, click the circle beside automatic. Now to the right of that, set primary action to repair and secondary action to delete. DO NOT check the box that says "copy file to quarantine before action".

Now click on archives to where it is highlighted. Make sure all boxes on this page are checked, if not check them. Now click on heuristic. To the right under win32 file heuristic, check the box beside "win32 file heurisitic", then click the circle beside medium detection level.

Now click the + beside guard and the + beside scan to expand them. Now click on scan to where it is highlighted. To the right under scan mode, check "scan when reading and writing". To the right of that under files, click the circle beside "all files".

Now click on heuristic to where it is highlighted. Check the box beside win32 file heuristic, and then click the circle beside medium detecion level. Now click ok and antivir is now setup for scanning.
________________________________
Download smitfraudfix from the link below.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/smitfraudfix.php

Now download avg anti spyware from the link below and set it to delete anything it finds

http://www.ewido.net

Now download ccleaner from the link below (if you have nero uncheck the box for it under programs)

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

(download latest version on the right top in the green)

Download this free registry cleaner

http://www.download.com/Eusing-Free-Registry-Cleaner/3000-2094_4-10658410.html?tag=lst-0-1

Now to run the programs, first open up and run ccleaner, let it remove all temp garbage from the computer.

Next open up avg anti spyware and run a full system scan with it. Then run a full system scan with antivir. Once done with that run the registry cleaner.

Now open up and run smitfraud fix.

Now last , download hijackthis. On hijackthis, open it up, choose do a system scan and save a logfile and then post the logfile on here after everything else has been done. Do not attempt to fix anything on hijackthis unless you know what you are doing as not everything it shows is bad.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon