Windows XP Adware Removal

Tired of all the adware in your system? This handly guide will show
you how I remove it from my computer, and how I prevent it from
getting there in the first place!

Warning
When working with the registry, deleting the wrong
keys can mess things up quite a bit. Before you go any further, it is
recommended you make a system restore point. Simply goto
Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System
Restore. Follow the instructions to make a restore point. By
following the instructions below, you agree not to hold myself or The
CLiX Network liable for any damages.

Start Up Folder:
The first place you’ll want to check for is your Start Up folder.
Simply goto Start->Programs->Start Up. Shortcuts and Files
placed in here will start up when windows loads. Although programs
don’t use this folder much anymore, if you forget to check you might
forget about one! Simply delete the files you do not recognize, in
this folder the shortcuts should all be for programs you’ve
installed. If you accidentally delete a file, the only thing that
will happen is it will not load when windows starts up. You will
still be able to go to the Start menu and open the program this way.

Windows Registry:
This is where you want to be carefull! If you end up in the wrong
place, and delete the wrong key, weird things can happen. If you
didn’t create a system restore point yet, then please leave this
article, you cannot follow instructions and will probably delete the
wrong thing.

To edit items in your registry, goto Start->Run and type in
"regedit". Then press OK. There are a couple places in here
where programs can add themself, which windows will then run them
whenever you start your computer. This is why your computer can be
fine one day, and then the next day you boot up and YIKES popups are
everywhere and you didn’t even do anything!

Click your way in the folders to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

If there are no items in this folder, then good! If there are, then
move the columns so you can see all of the field "Name" and
"Data". If you recognize a program name, that you’ve always
wanted to stop it from running when windows starts, just delete it
from the list. For files you do not know what they do, just use the
handy Google! Just type in the filename, and various sites will come
up explaining what the filename is about. If nothing comes up, then
delete it! This is a sure sign that it is a spyware that changed its
filename.

If sites do come up, then open a result that has some kind of process
information, definition, etc. Read what the site has to say about
this file. Most likely it is a good file, but if they say it is a
threat, go ahead and delete it!

After going through each file, then do the same to the following
folders in the registry editor:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx

Preventing Threats:
Always keep your copy of windows up to date. Simply goto
www.windowsupdate.com periodically and check for updates.

If you are on a website, and it asks you to download something, or
open something DONT DO IT. Especially if it asks you multiple times,
with something saying "You need this to view this page".
Unless you are at a site and are installing something (IE: Google
Toolbar), and it specifically tells you that a prompt will come up,
and has instructions, don’t open it. Most people are quick to just
hit OK, because they wan’t to get what they are looking for. This
will cause problems!

Install an Anti-Virus program. I use AVG Freeware. You can download
it at www.grisoft.com It’s great! I’ve never gotten a virus, and this
is the only program I use. Make sure "use heuristics" is
checked in the AVG Control Center - Resident Sheild (double click the
taskbar icon). Also in the AVG Anti-Virus System (right click taskbar
icon, click Run AVG Anti-Virus), click on Service->Complete Test
Settings and make sure all your drives are selected, and all the
check boxes are checked (except the ones that gray out when "Test
All Extensions" is checked). This will make scanning take
longer, but it is more thorough. You can even schedule it to run
every morning before you wake up (Its a good idea to schedule the
virus database to update 10 minutes before a check, and to grab an
update that is older than 1 day).

Install the Google Toolbar, and use Internet Explorer. Well, thats
what I do. It rarely lets a popup go through, and lets me see my Page
Rank ;-) Popups tend to have fake program alerts, to trick you into
downloading something. Real virus programs like AVG wont require a
download when they find something!

Thats All
If you feel you need to have a Spyware program running also, go
ahead! I don’t bother with them because the majority of what they are
deleting is cookies. I don’t have the fear everyone else does about
cookies.. I really don’t care if an advertiser comes up with a way to
show ads that have the same category of sites I visit. Besides, they
will only know what sites I visit, if their ad is on that page! They
can easily track you without a cookie, so turn them back on. (Ok,
I’ll calm down. Its just the whole cookie = security risk thing is
getting to me, because they aren’t all that bad)