I installed what I thought was Lavasoft Ad-aware 2007, it doesn’t show up in my programs in the control panel add and remove programs yet when I look up programs on my pc it is there and it is also on my startup list but when I chose the uninstall it won’t uninstall…how do I get rid of it? My pc is very slow and when I run my other antivirus and spyware programs they don’t find anything and when I type in the search bar “how to remove Lavasoft Ad-aware 2007 program” my browser freezes up.

It sounds alot like the program you installed is a rogue anti-adware application. There are thousands of malicious products that prey on the good name of legit apps like Lavasofts Adaware.

There are a few things you can do
1) Look through your Add/Remove Programs section and let me know if you see any suspicious programs, you can check this glossary if your uncertain if an application is a threat. http://paretologic.com/resources/glossary.aspx or just let me know your findings.

2) Download a good virus/adware/spyware scanner like this - its free to see if your infected. The scan may take an hour or more but its very thorough http://filetonic.com/scanner/ (choose download #2 on this page)

3) Contact a remote support technician who will connect to your computer over the web and actually diagnose and fix the problem for you. I recommend support.com or iyogi.net. You can see others here: http://filetonic.com/techjocks/techjock-profiles/tech-support-websites/

Hope this helps and good luck!
Don
filetonic.com

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Is antivirus the same as antispyware?

No. While antivirus and antispyware applications operate in similar ways, they are different. Each has a different target in its sights. I that it sounds simple, antivirus software detects viruses and antispyware detects spyware, but it’s a bit more involved than that.

First, let’s look at the difference between computer viruses and spyware. Two main differences exist: their purpose and the way the spread.

Purposes

Viruses are malicious sets of code designed to carry out specific missions such as damage your computer, files, or network or disrupt the Internet. Viruses come in many forms with various destructive purposes.

Spyware is a malicious program that can serve several evil purposes including recording your keystrokes and sending them to a third party where they are analyzed for passwords and financial information, monitoring your Internet usage and serving up targeted pop-up advertisements, or open up a “backdoor” for hackers to invade your system. There are dozens of broad categories of spyware including keyloggers, chat loggers, browser hijackers, Web bugs, downloaders, dialers, browser helper objects, data miners, Remote Administration Tools (RATs), and adware.

Transmission Methods

In addition to having different purposes, viruses and spyware have different ways that they arrive. Computer viruses spread through file sharing. This includes sharing files on floppy discs and CD-ROMs, over the network, and through e-mail attachments.

Spyware usually arrives as a hitchhiker bundled with other programs. For example, you might inadvertently download spyware when you download a free screensaver or game off of the Internet. Drive-by downloads are also becoming a common method of transmission. Simply by visiting a malicious website, you may be also downloading spyware!

The Effects of Viruses and Spyware

Both computer viruses can wreak havoc on your computer. Viruses can destroy files and even wipe your hard drive clean. Spyware can be either annoying or downright malicious. Popup ads are irritating while the theft of your financial data hits you where it hurts: your pocketbook. In addition, these malicious programs can make changes to your computer’s registry, Internet settings, and slow your system to a crawl. Computer errors are common.

Because viruses and spyware are different, detection methods are different. Antivirus software won’t detect spyware and antispyware software won’t detect viruses because they use different algorithms and definition databases. 

This doesn’t mean that you can’t get a program that does both. In fact, most of the major computer security software manufactures now feature “all in one” products that detect computer viruses, spyware, and other types of Internet threats. If you want complete protection against both computer viruses and spyware, you can’t go wrong by choosing one of the leading Internet security suites. You can also buy separate antivirus and antispyware tools.

Either way, in order to protect your PC from the most current threats, it’s critical to keep your security software updated with the latest virus and spyware definitions. Most of the popular applications provide you with automatic updates though you may have to go into the software and enable automatic updates. Double check your antivirus and antispyware applications to be sure.

Directives on WinFixer Removal

WinFixer, like all other spyware and adware, is a product that ”Pretends to Be” a genuine system tool.

Being a spyware, it constantly shows fake reports of supposedly found system errors, problems and threats. This will inadvertently fool the user into buying the version of WinFixer since it convinces them that it is a good tool to use. This spyware is available commercially which is why one must exert extreme caution when purchasing software, especially spyware removal programs online. You might end up trying to find other software to remove the software that you have just purchased.

To be able to remove WinFixer, or any other spyware, you should first detect and delete its processes, registry value keys, DLL files and other related dangerous files from your computer system. It is always strongly recommended that you eradicate WinFixer automatically, through downloading authentic removal software from a reputable site.  It is very tedious and dangerous to remove WinFixer manually since the risk of damaging your computer is very high.  But with the proper knowledge on these processes, you can proceed to eliminate WinFixer from your computer manually by using the following instructions carefully.  It is also recommended that you back up your computer especially sensitive applications and documents before eliminating any software from the hard drive.  Malicious parasites such as this do not have an uninstall program.  They do not appear in the panel for adding or removing programs.  This procedure is not completely effective since some malicious files or folders may have still remained in your system.  It is recommended that to prevent further infection and recurrence, you should run an automatic removal software or tool.

For computers using the Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP, click on the Windows Start button and click on the Control Panel.  Then, double-click the icon for Add/Remove Programs to start the appearance of its window.   When the “Add/Remove Programs” window has fully appeared, trace the malware program you aim to uninstall in the list of programs presently installed.  Click on the entry to select it, and then click the Add/Remove or Change/Remove button to automatically delete the entry.  To complete the removal process, just follow the next instructions given in the pop up window.  It is also recommended to restart or reboot your computer system after which to check again in the control panel for add/remove programs if WinFixer is still present.

You can also delete WinFixer from your computer by removing files and folders pertaining to it. It is still wise to exercise extreme caution in deleting files since this may cause irrevocable damage to you computer system. The following files are to be manually selected then eradicated from the computer:

Known WinFixer executable processes:

winfixerscannerinstall.exe
winfixer2005setup.exe
winfixer20.exe
uwfx5lp_0001_0803netinstaller.exe
uwfx51.exe
setup.exe
df_kme.exe
install.exe
sr.exe
updater.exe
unins000.exe
wfx5.exe

WinFixer registry values and entry files:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settings
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingsfirstrun
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingsinstalldate
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingslast_scan_high
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingslast_scan_low
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingslast_timeout_high
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingslast_timeout_low
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingslastscanerrorcount
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005\settingsoverwriteandbackupfilestopath
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunWinFixer2005
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005abbr
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005activationcode
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005euluwfx5lp_0001_0803
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005installpath
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\winsoftware\winfixer2005productcode
B8B55274-0F9A-41E5-9067-A3539BD9E860

WinFixer DLL files:

crxml.dll
pcheck.dll
compcln.dll
df_fixer.dll
df_proxy.dll
ffcom.dll
ffwraper.dll
fixcore.dll
ftrec.dll
idletrac.dll
mmfix.dll
oedrop.dll
strres.dll

Other WinFixer related files to be deleted:

winfixerscannerinstall.exe
winfixer2005setup.exe
winfixer20.exe
uwfx5lp_0001_0803netinstaller.exe
uwfx51.exe
setup.exe
df_kme.exe
install.exe
sr.exe
updater.exe
unins000.exe
wfx5.exe
crxml.dll
pcheck.dll
compcln.dll
df_fixer.dll
df_proxy.dll
ffcom.dll
ffwraper.dll
fixcore.dll
ftrec.dll
idletrac.dll
mmfix.dll
oedrop.dll
strres.dll
df_kmd.sys
flash.ini
updater.dat
activate.dat
bnlink.dat
lapv.dat
lock.dat
pv.dat
unins000.dat
up.datdatabase.sav
program.sav
license.rtf
sr.log
trace.log
update.log
support.url
wfx5.url
template.dbx

After deleting all related files, folders and programs, it is highly suggested that you reboot your computer to fully complete the removal of WinFixer and to check whether any fastidious programs remain.  To prevent damaging your computer due to accidental deletion of important files, a good and authentic spyware or malware cleaner and remover is recommended. This will also automatically find and delete other spyware, adware, trojans and viruses present in the computer.

About YahDecode and How to remove it from Your PC

The Yahoo Message Archive Decoder program, also known as YahDecode, reads archived Yahoo Messenger files from a user’s PC. Yahoo Messenger files are automatically stored on a PC running the Yahoo Messenger program, but they are stored as .dat files. YahDecode converts these files into a format that can be easily read and allows you to save the files in rich-text format.

YahDecode can convert normal conversation messages, private messages, conferences, as well as SMS and mobile messages to both HTML and plain text. The decoder even includes relevant time stamps, smileys, fonts and formatting. Newer versions of the program allow

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FYEO Removal

FYEO is a RAT or Remote Administration Tool, an insidious application that has the capacity to completely shutdown the infected computer.  This particular malware poses a serious threat to the computer.  It can affect the functioning of your computer as well as putting the security of your confidential information at risk.

Frequently, an unsolicited email arrives in the user’s mail system and indicates that FYEO should be used for beneficial reasons.  The email is persuasive and appears innocent in nature.  Computer users install and run this application following the instruction in the email while under the impression that it is a helpful application. 

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Spyware is a major issue for anyone that uses the web, reads email, and generally connects to the Internet.

 There are obviously some activities that are considered higher risk than others, and if you regularly download shared files, freeware, or any documents from sources you do not know when you are putting yourself in danger. Protection typically comes in the form of antispyware software, although the more astute will combine this with a good firewall, an antivirus program, and the appropriate system and browser security settings. Knowing how and where you could potentially pick up a spyware infection can help to give you better knowledge of how to protect yourself.

Downloading Freeware

Freeware is, in short, free software. While there are many genuine freeware providers and applications, there are also a great many that are created and distributed by the more unscrupulous online elements. In order to profit from distributing free software, some individuals and organizations will include spyware with the software. When you download and install the free application you will be unwittingly installing spyware elements too. Some of these malicious applications may only record your browsing habits, but others can record and forward personal details such as credit and bank card details, and your log on details for subscription websites.

Downloading Shared Files

Peer-to-peer file sharing has become an extremely popular online pastime. Regardless of whether you are illegally downloading copyrighted material or not, you are almost certainly putting yourself and your system at risk. File sharing networks are another popular method of transmitting spyware. The more popular networks, such as KaZaA attract a lot of attention from users and the spyware creators take advantage of this. Some spyware worms are designed almost entirely to affect users of these networks. These worms will spread by placing themselves in your shared documents folder, and giving themselves an appealing name to attract others.

Network Connections

Being connected to an unsecured network could be your biggest downfall. A network connection with little or no security means that you could become inadvertently infected by another user on the same network. In this case, you could be as careful as possible when downloading files from the Internet but you could still become infected through no real fault of your own. If you share an Internet connection, or you are connected to any type of network, then you must ensure that either the network has a stable security structure, or that you take extra precautions on your own system.

Avoiding Spyware On Your System

The vast majority of spyware applications are designed to wreak havoc on Windows computers because this is the most popular operating system. Other platforms have gained some more interest from the creators of malicious software, but Windows is still the most widely attacked. It may seem like drastic action, but if you really want to minimize the amount of spyware and viruses that could potentially infect your system then consider changing system. The same is also true of the most popular web browsers and email clients; these are the programs that are targeted more often.