Step 1: Spybot - Spyware/Adware Removal

Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove a multitude of adware files and modules from your computer. Spybot also can clean program and Web-usage tracks from your system, which is especially useful if you share your computer with other users. Modules chosen for removal can be sent directly to the included file shredder, ensuring complete elimination from your system. For advanced users, it allows you to fix registry inconsistencies related to adware and to malicious program installations. The handy online-update feature ensures that Spybot always has the most current and complete listings of adware, dialers, and other uninvited system residents.

Download Spybot free!
If you already have SpyBot on your system, and are experiencing any issues, make sure you have the latest release of the program. Uninstall SpyBot entirely, click the link above for the newer version, and reinstall.

Save the download to your computer. Remember where you save it! Install with default instead of custom if/where offered and open the program. First, you will click to check for updates. Then you will run your scan. Last, you will Immunize against future unwanted adware installations. When the wizard pops up, click "Next" until you get to the button that says "Start using the program," click it, and start with the instructions below.




Click on "Update," then click "Search for Updates." A dialogue box with a progress report will pop up. Once it is finished checking, available updates will show up in the white box. Check all to select, and then click "Download Updates." Once each is successfully downloaded, a big green check mark will appear on each line.

Click on "Search and Destroy," then click "Check for Problems." A green progress bar will appear at the bottom. The check will take some time. If this is the first time you have used this program, do not panic when 350 or so items show up. Each item found should be selected automatically as a default. Click "Fix Selected Problems." The program will create a System Restore point, and a dialogue box will ask you if you are sure you would like to remove the checked entries. Click "Yes." A green check mark will show up on each item successfully removed with a dialogue box telling you how many problems were fixed.



In some instances, if certain adware is currently running on your computer, the program will be unable to remove those entries. It will warn you about these instances, and ask you if you would like to run Spybot again on a restart before windows loads these adware entries. Click yes and restart your computer. Spybot should again run in its entirety. After performing this operation if necessary, removal of adware should be complete for this program.

Reopen the program upon the loading of windows (if this step was necessary for you) and click "Immunize." A green progress bar will show up, once it completes it will tell you how many bad products the program is able to block and ask you to Immunize. To do so, click on Immunize at the top with the green plus sign. The green progress bar will run again, and tell you when it is complete. Check "Enable permanent blocking of bad addresses in Internet Explorer," select "Block all bad pages silently" from the drop down box. You are done for this month, as you browse Web sites some items will return. Close the program.

The next step is to download another program that performs the same operations as Spybot, only it catches items that Spybot misses. Neither program is good enough by themselves, they must be used in conjunction with each other to be thorough.