I posted this in the security forum but I think it is important enough to post here after reading some of the latest posts.

It might not be the definitive solution but here goes.
BEFORE DOING ANYTHING BELOW you should make sure that you have all the Microsoft Security Updates etc. Click 'Start' on your toolbar, click Windows Update. The site will tell you what updates should be installed on your computer. Simply click download and install recommended updates and Windows and Microsoft do the rest.

Now for the Virus/Spyware side of things.....

Make a folder on your desktop and call it Security or something with which you can identify. This is where I have all my Security/Spyware program shortcuts.

First and foremost - Get a good Anti-Virus program. There are lots out there, both free and subscription type.
I personally use AVG V6.0, it is free and I find it does a great job. There are various opinions on all AV programs and all have their merits. It's your choice but GET ONE.

Here is the link to AVG if you want to give it a go.
AVG Free

Second download and install Adaware

Adaware

Open it up and click on 'Check For Updates Now'. Download and install the latest definition files.
Click on 'Start' in Adaware. Select 'Use Custom Scanning Options' and click 'customize'.
Ensure all the following items only have green ticks.

Scan within archives
Scan active processes
Scan registry
Deep scan registry
Scan my IE Favourites for banned URLs
Scan my Hosts file

Click 'Proceed' then 'Next'.

I have always found that I could delete everything it finds and not have a problem. I do however have two items in my ignore list. They are to do with explorer and control panel restrictions and are caused by Spybot S&D, which is set to lock both of these. For this reason I suggest that, for the FIRST time, you run Adaware before Spybot S&D.

Third get Spybot Search & Destroy.
This is similar to Adaware in that it detects spyware on your system. The two programs work great together and sometimes what one misses the other grabs.

Spybot Search & Destroy

Download and install it, then open it and search for updates online and install them all.
Run the program and have it fix all items that it shows in red with ticks besides them.
Then go to Immunize and have it immunize your system.
You may or may not want to lock your home page here. I have mine locked.

Fourth get Spywareblaster

Spywareblaster

Install it and check for updates. Download and install all the updates and then click 'select all'. Then click 'Protect Against Checked Items!'. That's it for Spywareblaster. It sits there in the registry using up virtually no resources and keeps an eye out for future spyware and blocks it.

Fifth download and install CWShredder

CWShredder

Open the program and click 'Fix'
If you have used the lock function on Spybot S&D you will receive an error message after the fix scan has run. You can ignore this message.

Last but by no means least you will need a firewall.
There are a few out there that are free and like AV programs they all have people for and against.
I use Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5. There is a later version but I personally have had a lot of trouble with it and have found it to be demanding on resources.

You can download Kerio 2.1.5 or one of the other free firewalls here

Freeware Arena Firewalls

The above is how I personally protect my online experience. This and the fact that I do NOT surf porn sites, WAREZ sites or use Peer to Peer programs that are listed around this forum as problem software. I do use Shareaza on the odd occasion as it does not appear to have any spyware associated with it, and it has given me no hassles as yet. I open all my emails in plain text and never open or save attachments unless I know exactly, for sure, positively that they are legitimate. If I need to open an email in html format then I change my Outlook Express to read it for that email only, and then switch back to plain text immediately after reading it.

NOW KEEP IT CLEAN. (Here's What I Do)

EVERY TIME I go online I do the following...
Open CWShredder and check for updates. If there are any I download and copy the file from the zip folder to my security folder.

Open Adaware and 'Check for Updates Now'. After the download has finished I have a look where it says News and if there is something new there I take note of it. This is where you will be told if there is a new version available. (At least that's where it was last upgrade)Close Adaware

Open Spybot Search & Destroy and check for updates. If there are any, click on Mirror and select EON and install them. Click on Immunize and it will tell you if everything is blocked. If all known products are blocked then close Spybot S&D.

Open Spywareblaster and check for updates. If there are any, download them. Then click 'select all' and then 'Protect Against Checked Items!' When that is done close Spywareblaster.

Double click on the AVG symbol near your clock in the lower right hand of your screen. Go to the 'Update Manager' tab and click 'Update Now'. Some of these AVG updates can be very small but they are all important.

At least once a week I do a complete scan of my system using CWShredder, Spybot S&D, Adaware and AVG. If there has been an update to a program, it gets run on the same day as the update as well as the weekly scan.

All the above assumes that you haven't already been infected.
If you have been infected then there’s a good chance that you're not the first person to get the virus/trojan.
You can do an online scan at

Housecall

or

Panda

and you can search here

Google

or

Computing.Net

or here

Windowsforum

If all else fails you can post your problem on one of the above forums and someone there should be able to assist you, depending on what information you give them.
IF POSTING ON ONE OF THESE FORUMS BE SURE TO READ ALL THE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING POSTING QUESTIONS ETC.

There will be lots of other ideas and suggestions on protection and in particular software selection. All the software I have mentioned was selected because it is available free, no trial periods, no spyware, and personally I have not had a major hassle with any of them in the time I have been using them.

D4

P.S. I am now using Sygate Personal Firewall as it is not trying to blow itself out of the water with GUI. It can also be found at the above link to freeware arena.

hello
i disagree with running cwshreader for no good reason. it should only be used if you actually have a infection of cool web search on your computer. it should not be used to just scan your computer "for the heck of it"

the rest seams to be vary help full.
jmho

••• Resistance is invigorating! •••kill spyware

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

I used to agree with that Dave until I came across a file on a friends computer that was not picked up by any of the others at the time. CWShredder was the only one that got it then, although others picked it up later it was CWS that looked for it first. Had it been left for the others to detect I fear the consequences would have been much more serious. I know it's only one example but it was because it was used 'unnecessarily' that I did not have to spend more time fixing another computer for a lot longer time.

Just In My Experience.

BTW thanks for the input.

D4

hello
do to some problems with false positives in cw is why i said this. and i,m not alone in my thinking on this. but if you do want to use it as a daily scan. if it happens to pick up something you actually need your up the crick .but should be cautious with it.
have a nice day

••• Resistance is invigorating! •••kill spyware

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

These false positives are only a recent thing as far as I know and I have seen them come and go as different versions come out. Yes it can be dangerous if you delete the wrong thing but if you're not sure you can always say no and ask someone. As I said in the article I only run it once a week (usually Monday mornings) unless there has been an update. Hopefully anyone reading the article will look further through this post and decide for themselves and maybe even learn a bit. :)

D4