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Spyware and Adware Removal Instructions

Important notice: Please be aware that Ad-aware and SpyBot may find spyware/adware in programs which you intentionally installed on your PC. These programs include, but are not limited to: Weather Bug, Bonsai Buddy, Gator and Smiley Central. By running Ad-aware/SpyBot, you understand that these programs may not continue to function properly after cleaning your PC of spyware/adware. If you wish to continue using these programs which may contain spyware/adware, do not run these spyware removal tools.

Ad-aware and SpyBot are not endorsed nor guaranteed by Eastex Net and we can not assist you in problems with using this software. Eastex Net will provide no support beyond furnishing you with these instructions. Eastex Net personnel have used these products on multiple PC’s with no adverse affects. However, you, as the user, assume all risk in installing and using these products. If, by installing and running these programs, your PC problems are not resolved, it is recommended you seek professional assistance.

You should print these instructions because you will have to restart during the following process.

 

If you agree to these terms, continue to begin installation:

  1. Download Ad-aware (via the link on our website)
  2. Open the location once it has completed
  3. Double-click aaw6181.exe (or similar filename)
  4. The Ad-aware spyware removal tool will now be installed.
  5. Click Next to begin.
  6. License Agreement: Read the License Agreement and click Next.
  7. Destination Location: It is recommended to all the program be installed in the default location.
  8. Click Next.
  9. Start Installation: Click Next.
  10. Installing: Allow the program to be installed and when prompted, click Finish.
  11. Download SpyBot (via the link on our website)
  12. Open the location once it has completed
  13. Next, double-click the spybotsd12.exe icon (or similar filename).
  14. SpyBot Search and Destroy will now be installed.
  15. Setup – SpyBot – Search and Destroy:
  16. Click Next
  17. License Agreement: Read the license agreement, then click “I accept the agreement”
  18. Click Next
  19. Select Destination Directory: It is recommended to all the program be installed in the default location.
  20. Click Next.
  21. Select Components: Uncheck “Additional languages” if desired.
  22. Click Next
  23. Select Start Menu Folder: Click Next
  24. Select Additional Tasks: Click Next
  25. Ready to Install: Click Install
  26. Wait for installation to complete.
  27. Click Finish.
  28. Re-start your PC.

Ad-aware and SpyBot are now installed. Continue following directions for spyware/adware removal.

Note: If you are experiencing many pop-ups on your PC upon connection to the Internet, you can first run Ad-aware without updating the software to eliminate many problems. Once your first scan is complete and unwanted objects removed, then you should connect to the Internet and update the software. After updating, re-run the Ad-aware software to remove the new objects found.

  1. Connect to the Internet.
  2. Double-click the Ad-aware 6.0 icon on your desktop.
  3. Click “Check for updates now”
  4. Click the Connect button.
  5. Click OK to download and install the file. (This may take several minutes depending on your connection speed to the Internet and the size of the file which must be downloaded and installed.)
  6. When complete, click Finish.
  7. Click the Start button.
  8. Select “Use custom scanning options”
  9. Click Customize
  10. Check everything on this list except “Skip non executable files” and “Skip files larger than 4096 KB”.
  11. Click the General button on the left.
  12. Check everything except “Run at Windows start up”.
  13. Click the Advanced button on the left.
  14. Check everything under “Log-file Detail Level”
  15. Click the Tweak button on the left.
  16. Click the plus sign (+) next to Scanning Engine.
  17. Check: Unload recognized processes during scanning
  18. Include basic Ad-aware settings in log file
  19. Include additional Ad-aware settings in log file
  20. Click the plus sign (+) next to Cleaning Engine.
  21. Check: Let windows remove files in use at next reboot
  22. Delete quarantined objects after restoring
  23. Click the Proceed button.
  24. Verify that “Activate in-depth scan” is checked.
  25. Click the Next button.

Ad-aware is now scanning your PC for spyware and adware. This may take up to 15-20 minutes depending on the amount of programs and files on your pc. It is best not to run any other programs on your PC while Ad-aware is scanning.

When complete, the number of spyware/adware objects found will be displayed.

  1. Click Next.
  2. If the objects listed do not have checks beside each one, right-click on any object and click “Select all objects”.
  3. When each item is checked, click Next.
  4. Click OK to remove the objects. Depending on the number of objects being removed, this could take several minutes.
  5. Close the Ad-aware program by clicking the x in the top right corner.

Next, you should update and run the SpyBot program. You should be connected to the Internet.

  1. Double-click the SpyBot Search and Destroy icon on your desktop.
  2. Compatibility warnings: You have AdAware installed.
    1. If you have the AdAware option to scan inside archives enabled, AdAware may find files in the Spybot-S&D folder. Spybot-S&D does not contain any spyware, but it creates backups of everything you fix (until you remove those backups from the Recovery list), and AdAware complains about these backups. You can safely ignore these backups found by AdAware.
    2. This compatibility warning no longer applies. Place a check mark in “Do not display compatibility warnings again” and click OK.
  3. Click the button labeled “Search for updates”.
  4. Wait for the updates to be found. This may take several minutes.
  5. Once the updated files are found, click “Download updates”. This will take time. Do not attempt to run any programs or browse the Internet while the download is in process. Once the process is complete, the SpyBot program will restart.
  6. Click “Check for problems”. Do not attempt to run any programs or browse the Internet while the scan is in process.
  7. When the process is complete, click “Fix selected problems”.
  8. Click the Immunize button.
  9. Click OK on warning box.
  10. Click the Immunize button.
  11. Click OK when complete.

Note: Once these programs are installed, you should update and run Ad-aware and SpyBot every week to keep your PC clean of spyware and adware.