volman5

Is it possible to find ad-ware and spyware files using dos? My "anti-software" shows the location but won't extract it unless I give them more mulah and I would like to circumvent that. Any info is appreciated!

Slavakion

Try using Ad-Aware or Spybot - Search & Destroy instead. They'll do it for free.

jujueye

I'm with Savakion: Google is your friend. There are literally hundred of free programs that will do the job.

phukraut

Well, can Ad-Aware or Spybot run from MSDOS? If he's only running that, then his options are a bit more limited.

Slavakion

I believe that Ad-Aware can. It's on Hiren's Boot CD if I recall.

I think volman is trying to remove a "protected" file by dropping to DOS, which may not be necessary with AA or SB.

Rlyss

Make sure you're doing your adware and spyware scanning from safe mode. Lots of stuff will appear to be removed when in normal Windows but it'll pop up again after a reboot. Get into safe mode and do your virus/adware/spyware scanning and hopefully that'll fix it?

volman5

Thanks for the info. I hate having to deal with all this crap that is generated!

spived2

One way to prevent that is to STOP DOWNLOADING SO MUCH STUFF THAT HAS SPYWARE IN IT!!!! I can't stress that enough. If it's not from a very repudable source, or if it's from a file sharing program, chances are your going to get spyware. If you really need a certain program, see if there's an open source alternative, or just shell out the money for it. Trust me, most users do not need all the crap they download on a day to day basis.

__________________

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Slavakion

What? I didn't understand a word of that.

hrandani

What he is attempting to say is why would you need to go into dos to remove spyware; and wonders if the original poster contracted said spyware when he was surfing the web via DOS.

I don't even think that is possible, but I've been wrong before.

phukraut

I think hrandani is right. MSDOS isn't a multitasking OS, right? So it's "safe" from spyware.

Nimetic

Spybot has a set of command line parameters - but I don't think it will run under a true MS-DOS environment. You might be able to invoke it if you are in the Windows command line equivalent (ie haven't completely started Windows).

I don't know...