Spyware

[photong]

Hey! I'm wondering what's the best way to get rid of it, and/or keep it away.

I know for myself I don't do anything that I know of to bring it on. Unlike the other users of this computer.

My Mom earlier tried to do stuff on this computer, but it was really lagging so I hopped on and found a file called gcasDtServe.exe that was hogging everything. Now I don't know if it stopped on it's own or if it was because I kept trying to end the processes.

My Dad has like 2 different spyware removal/anti-virus things on this computer. And of course they always come back.

I'm going to assume someone might recomend running Hijack this to see what I have going.

I cant even find information on the Internet about this file to see what it is. There is a simalr file called gcasserve.exe.

If anyone can help me I will give you lotsa hugs!!!

 

[Chase]

I've had really good luck with Microsoft's new Anti-spyware software, I'd suggest giving it a try.

 

[DarkEyes]

Mozilla Firefox

 

[Unimaxium]

Get a mac! Haha
I've never gotten any spyware or viruses on any of my macs.
But I'm not really being helpful here. So I'll just be quiet now.

 

[MotorPsycho]

get a program called 'adaware' from lavasoft www.lavasoft.com (i think)

it is a program that will remove spyware you have, and offers an "ad watch" feature that runs in the background, preventing new stuff from being downloaded onto your machine.

best of all, its free

 

[Nikon Fan]

I had this same problem, I was using IE, so first if I were you I'd switch to Firefox, haven't had any since that switch. But for spyware removal I use: Spybot Search and Destroy, and for adware, I use Ad-Aware 6.0...also a good free virus program is AVG. All of these can be found and downloaded from download.com With that combination you should be good to go :thumbup:

 

[vonnagy]

http://www.diamondcs.com.au/ <- bloody good lil freeware app for spyware removal. there is also a german one that i use thats pretty good, if i can remember it i'll post it here.

and get yourself a firewall too. kerio's a decent freebie, also look into sygate and tiny firewall as they all have free personal version.

 

[Chase]

By the way, the Microsoft product is free, too. I know, I know, I'm as shocked as you are

 

[mygrain]

By the way, the Microsoft product is free, too. I know, I know, I'm as shocked as you are

And every time someone says Mi@rosoft...a demon gets it's horns. Shame shame. :meh: (I'd be afraid that he would just put his spyware even deeper into my machine. Spybot is pretty good. They just put out an update I think.

 

[oriecat]

For identifying a lot of the weird names that show up in the task list, Answers that work has a nice listing of a lot of them with descriptions of what they are.

 

[Digital Matt]

Firefox + Adaware + Spybot Search and Destroy = clean pc.

 

[danalec99]

Firefox + Adaware + Spybot Search and Destroy = clean pc.

Same here, minus the Adaware.

As we are on the topic, has anyone heard about PlumChoice. Are they any good for those have absolutely NO knowledge about computers? A co-worker asked me to find more about it. I wondering what everyone thought of it.

 

[photong]

I've had really good luck with Microsoft's new Anti-spyware software, I'd suggest giving it a try.

Actually that's what gave the lag problem in the first place. it must have gotten corrupt or something, I don't know (We've had it for a while, no problems it did well, but then yesterday, mid day, it musta broke lol). It just wasn't working. The file gcasdtserve was hogging everything so Dad and I ended the process, dad deleted everything in the folder (because we don't know where the uninstall went. It's weird), he restarted the computer and everything was fine! The Internet started to work again too. Somehow the modem went down as well *shrugs* I think it's a coincidence. Anyhow. He ran the registry clean up stuff (something he downloaded). So Dad learned a lessons. Don't use Microsoft crap programs on this computer anymore Why? because they break



I think my Mom tried to get Carly (kid sister) to stop going to those stupid banner/popup filled, spyware heaven websites/programs.



And Mom needs to watch out too. Sabrina (older sister) might need a lesson as well.



And I was the unlucky one that had to deal with my Mom when it started lagging. Every time there's a problem "That damn this..that damn that..need faster computer, need better computer, etcetcetcetcetc."



So I think it turns out there wasn't much of a spyware/adware problem like we though. We sure do have it, like most people. So far it hasn't given a huge problems. Just the occasional ad.

Get a mac! Haha

I've never gotten any spyware or viruses on any of my macs.

But I'm not really being helpful here. So I'll just be quiet now.

I'm sorry if I offend you, but Macs SUCK. I'm sure in the future I will need to use one, and that's fine, but I really do not like them. it's not that I'm used to a Windows operating system, it's just everything about the Mac computer and most Mac users (not saying you because I don't know you yet) but through my experience doesn't seem to be good. maybe it was me, or the other people using them at school. I don't care what people say, MACS CRASH!!!!!!!! A LOT

Mozilla Firefox

I heard that suggested here before. Dad got it and he said he likes it, and he explained to me what it was. I don't know if he's using it, but I guess I'll have to ask him more about it. Sometimes I'm afraid to do things on this computer. It needs a format I think It's been a while.

I had this same problem, I was using IE, so first if I were you I'd switch to Firefox, haven't had any since that switch. But for spyware removal I use: Spybot Search and Destroy, and for adware, I use Ad-Aware 6.0...also a good free virus program is AVG. All of these can be found and downloaded from download.com With that combination you should be good to go

I liked Spybot. I asked my Dad why he got rid of it and he said he got ick of it. I guess it wasn't getting rid of things because when certain people keep visiting certain websites, it doesn't help to get rid of the spyware. I think everyone in this house needs to make a joint effort to minimizing it by stop going to those websites and using those programs.



I think we tried AVG. I forget how that went if we did. We've tried so many...



Oh! We do have Lavasoft! Huh! I didn't realize that in an above post when I read it. I think this is the only one we have right now. We did have 2 or 3 more.

http://www.diamondcs.com.au/ <- bloody good lil freeware app for spyware removal. there is also a german one that i use thats pretty good, if i can remember it i'll post it here.

and get yourself a firewall too. kerio's a decent freebie, also look into sygate and tiny firewall as they all have free personal version.

I'll suggest it Thank you.



I didn't know firewalls prevented this sort of thing. I learnt something :mrgreen:

Firefox + Adaware + Spybot Search and Destroy = clean pc.

Really?? That sounds promising! Thank you!





Thank you everyone!! :hug::

 

[Christie Photo]

I'm sorry if I offend you, but Macs SUCK. I'm sure in the future I will need to use one, and that's fine, but I really do not like them. it's not that I'm used to a Windows operating system, it's just everything about the Mac computer and most Mac users (not saying you because I don't know you yet) but through my experience doesn't seem to be good. maybe it was me, or the other people using them at school. I don't care what people say, MACS CRASH!!!!!!!! A LOT

I use both Windows and Mac. And, yeah... many more lock-ups with the Mac. And I know what you mean about some (a lot) of Mac users. I guess we all want to feel affirmation when we make a choice.

But if you ever have to produce a file for a brochure, and take it to be off-set printed, watch the face of the salesman/rep when you tell him, "Oh yeah, I did it in Quark... on Windows." It seems there's ALWAYS some problem, either in fonts, or type specs, etc. Often the entire job has to be re-built on a Mac. I don't know just why this is. It just happens.

And, yeah, Macs are not so troubled by spyware or viruses.

 

[ferny]

The file gcasdtserve was hogging everything so Dad and I ended the process, dad deleted everything in the folder (because we don't know where the uninstall went. It's weird), he restarted the computer and everything was fine!

I've never used XP so I don't know if it's different.
It's always worth checking in the Add/Remove Programs thingy to see if you can delete it from there. You'll find it in your control panel.


This thread reminds me. I've got to do a virus scan/adware/spyware/defrag/error check soon.