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Net Watch Article - Adware Killer!

Do you ever wonder what all those web sites are putting on your computer when you are not looking? How about all the added “features” that are included with that recent download. Recently I was working on a client’s computer that was having real problems just viewing web pages. Come to find out they had installed some file-sharing software that contained “added features.” These added features took over the address bar in the browser and no matter what was typed in, it caused the browser to look at their own database of sites before allowing it to go where the client wanted to go in the first place. You can imagine the frustration this caused.

Well things were not easily remedied. I spent several hours removing all the possible offending software using the Add/Remove control panel, but still could not correct the problem. After spending several more hours on-line searching sites I managed to get some help and resolve the problem, but it was not an easy fix. Whatever you do, do not install Common Name, http://www.commonname.com. Not only did it pre-empt addresses typed into the browser address bar, but also associated itself with Outlook and now Outlook no longer opens up when an email address is clicked from a web page. This was only corrected by reinstalling MS Office.

I was recently made aware of some software that may help. Charles Hocker, owner of DRBS in VT, mentioned a web site called www.lavasoft.nu. They have created an application called Ad-Aware, winner of the PC World's 20th World Class Awards 2002. This software identifies known “Spyware & Adware” and allows you to selectively uninstall them from your computer. It scans your registry, basic and deep, as well as any local hard drives. They release regular updates, just like you get for your antivirus software. The best thing about this software, besides the fact that it works well, is that it is FREEWARE!

I decided to run Ad-Aware on my client’s computer and found 200+ instances of Spyware and Adware. I was able to easily remove all the offending components. You have the option of backing up before you just go ahead and delete everything. The computer really came back to life with all the excess junk removed. Here are just a few of the programs that Ad-Aware can safely remove from your computer:

All versions of Adware, AdBreak, AdReady, Alexa, Aureate, Bulla.com, Comet Cursor, Cydoor, Doubleclick, DSSAgent, EverAd, eZula, Expedioware, Flyswat, HomePageWare, SEBar, OfferCompanion, Hotbar, OnFlow, TimeSink, Web3000, Webhancer, Transponder, Wnad, ZapSpot, SurfPlus, AdvertBar, NetPal, CashBar, WurldMediaBHO, MessageMates, EWA, Ezsearchbar, CommonName, GoHip, DownloadWare, NetworkEssentials, ImiServerIEPlugin, TopMoxie, Lop.Com, BDE Projector, UCmore, OpenMe, JaypeeSysBHo, FlashTrack, NetRadar, NetZany, NetSource ,NowBox, TrustToolBar, WinAd, many BrowserHijackers and more...

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