[Lostboy]

Anybody got any ideas on the best way to get rid of spyware which has attached itself to one of my housemates computers? ???

[JR]

ad-aware, spybot sd, microsoft antispyware all good

[Lostboy]

Have tried installing something but keep getting an error message reading something along the lines of not being able to find winnet.  If the virus has removed some files will it be possible to still stop it or are we going to need pro help!?

[JR]

there is a difference between a virus and spyware.  do you know which one you have?  Sounds more like a virus to me, in which case something like AVG from free.grisoft.com is more appropriate.  If you cant get that installed and run then were gonna need some more details...

[Lostboy]

Keep getting messages saying it's spyware, but did a virus check and two infected files were found, also mentioned that the virus type was a worm.  As you can tell i'm not a master at this kind of thing!  Is it possible to do a system restore to a time before it was infected?

[Jim]

no its not.
Worm lives in dirty glossop as everyone knows and is a filthy virus not spyware.
which anti virus are you using? has it been updated

[JR]

Keep getting messages saying it's spyware,

whats telling you this?

but did a virus check and two infected files were found, also mentioned that the virus type was a worm.

likewise what told you this and what worm is it?

As you can tell i'm not a master at this kind of thing!  Is it possible to do a system restore to a time before it was infected?

not usually, system restore only renews previous system settings and doesnt get rid of files, if the virus is there it wont be gotten rid of and will only change the restore back again.

[ian h]

do a google search for a program called true sword this is very good.

the trial version only lets you get rid of 3 problems, but you are able to continually reinstall it

i really belive this will sort you out, much more than anything like adaware etc , which in my opinion just dont cut when your pc is really screwed.

[bristol_mark]

You can get a free virus scan from here:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

[Lostboy]

Worm lives in dirty glossop as everyone knows and is a filthy virus not spyware.

knowing my housemate, a young male in his twenties, this could have indeed been the case  although whatever virus checker he has is still telling him he has spyware, strange  ???