|
Program name |
File name |
Download location |
|
VIPRE Rescue |
VIPRERescue###.exe |
|
|
Malwarebytes |
MBAM-setup-###.exe |
|
|
Windows Defender Offline |
mssstool32.exe |
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/what-is-windows-defender-offline |
|
SuperAntiSpyware |
SUPERAntiSpyware.exe |
### - the number at the end of the file name changes
I recommend downloading (or copying) these programs to a temporary folder on your hard drive and running them from there. Depending on your infection, you may not be able to access the sites that have the cleanup programs. In that case go to a clean computer and download them to a CD or USB drive. I start with one program, and then do another one or two. Using multiple programs usually gets the computer cleaned up. Note that Windows Defender Offline is designed to boot from a USB or CD drive and run independently of your (infected) Windows. This allows it to be particularly good at detecting and cleaning rootkits, because it can scan the system without the rootkits having a chance to run. You will need a blank CD or erasable USB drive for the program to install itself on.
It doesn't hurt to run each program again until the system comes out clean. Today's malware is frequently a collection of infections, making it difficult to get rid of. If you don’t get all of the components cleaned out, it ‘repairs’ itself later. These different cleanup programs have different approaches to find & clean the infections. If one program is blocked, try another first and come back to the first later. You may also need to boot your computer into ‘Safe Mode’ by pressing F8 before the Windows screen shows, to bypass the malware.
None of these programs install anything for continually monitoring or protecting your system – they just clean what is there, so they shouldn’t conflict with existing antivirus software. But that also means you need other security software installed and regularly updated to protect against this in the future. Because malware is so rapidly evolving, it is difficult to stay on top of the threats. It helps to keep your Windows and other programs updated. Windows, Office, Java, and Adobe products (Acrobat, Reader, Flash, etc) are frequently attacked these days, and have frequent updates to fix security holes. Visit Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and check for updates within programs. And if a program volunteers to update itself, it’s probably a good thing to do.
Pages with links to current antimalware programs
http://www.ronklabs.com/antimal.php
Updated: Mar-4-2012