I’ve come across many methods on the Internet to remove this malware; however, I didn’t find any that worked, which could be due to randomized methods. I’ve tried Ad-Ware, SpyBot Search & Destroy, SpyBot Search & Destroy 2 BETA, Malwarebytes, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool and SpyDoctor, but they were all unsuccessful finding anything. Only Malwarebytes found one threat, which didn’t solve the current problem of removing get answers fast virus.

The most current way to remove this malware is by using ComboFix.

1. Download ComboFix
2. Installation Guide

In my case, these were the files that Get Answers Fast malware attached itself to:

c:\programdata\~DaGL8Yt7ung5Jp
c:\programdata\~DaGL8Yt7ung5Jpr
c:\programdata\DaGL8Yt7ung5Jp
c:\users\Username_here\Desktop\System Check.lnk
c:\users\Username_here\g2mdlhlpx.exe
c:\windows\hosts

Good luck!

Spyware refers to software that collects useful information from your personal computer and sends to another computer without your permission. The term spyware is different from viruses and worms because it doesn’t self-replicate however it is designed to make use of infected computers for some commercial gain. Main motive of spyware is to deliver unwanted pop-up advertisements and theft of confidential information. It may cause Internet connection failure and some printing problems. Spyware can be installed via file-swapping programs that are generally used to download music and movies from Internet. If it is installed on your system it monitors your all Internet related activities and then transmits your private information to other party.

You can easily remove spyware by getting all information about spyware. For the purpose of spyware removal it is essential to find spyware on your system. You can detect spyware by following certain tips like:

-Note all the list of tasks that is currently running on your PC. You can check it by pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL. It helps you in finding new unknown thing that occurs on your system.

-Sometimes spyware is listed in the startup list so it is important to be familiar with your startup list. Spyware can restart your personal computer by appearing in the startup list and it also slows down the system processing. You can check your startup list by clicking on the start-run option and then type msconfig and OK. It will show you running programs at the time of rebooting.

Spyware removal is important due to security purposes. Various companies provide free as well as low cost spyware removal software that check your computer and help you in removing the unwanted spyware. You can also remove it by uninstalling unfamiliar applications. For that purpose you should go to Add or Remove option from control panel and uninstall the unknown applications. It is an easy way to get rid of spyware.

You can also choose a better quality spyware removal application. It’s an effective way to secure your system from spyware. You should run these applications in safe mode because safe mode loads a file that is required by operating system. Spyware removal program can efficiently remove spyware in safe mode. If you’re sure that your system has a spyware you can also eliminate spyware with the help of system restore feature.

Several companies are currently providing the best spyware removal products. You can choose one of the following spyware removal products.

o Spyware Doctor

o eTrust Pestpatrol

o Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta 1

o Spybot Search and Destroy

o Ad-Aware SE 6 Personal

o SpySubtract PRO

o Aluria’s Spyware Eliminator

Remember that prevention is always much better than finding and removing spyware. Spyware prevention is an easy task instead of finding in your system. Spyware can easily attack on your privacy. It can also make your system crash. You can prevent your personal computer from the spyware with the help of following tips:

o Keep your software up to date and always choose latest security patches

o Adjust your Internet explorer security settings

o Don’t forget to implement firewalls

o Try something other than Internet Explorer like Firefox or Opera

o Whenever you’re going to download a software from a website read all security warnings, privacy statements and license agreement carefully.

o Be alert while downloading some free music and movie file sharing programs because these are main source of spyware.

Is your computer chugging along with a much reduced speed, and is it getting very difficult for you to log on to your favorite web page? Is your computer hard disk producing a lot of unnecessary noise that appears strange to you while running? If the answers are Yes to these questions, then you are probably the unfortunate victim of spyware infection!

Being infected by spyware can be a disaster because the performance of your computer is greatly reduced. Worst, spyware can include keyloggers, adware, trojans, browser hijackers, malware, adware and viruses.

In this article I will explain some of the most important factors you must consider when choosing an anti spyware software or a spyware removal software and the effectiveness of using free anti spyware removal programs available on the internet.

Free Anti Spyware versus Paid Anti Spyware Programs

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First, can I rely on a free anti spyware or a free adware remover software?

There are two main free spyware remover software available widely on the internet. One is a spybot that can identify spyware, and the other is an adware remover. They are pretty good in capturing most spyware that are commonly found on the internet. Note that I mention “most spyware”, not ALL the spyware. In fact, to prove this to myself, I performed an experiment.

When my computer showed signs of distress, and started to produce a lot of weird noises from the hard disk, I knew I have had some form of spyware lodged in my computer. I ran the first spybot anti spyware and that removed several spyware, some tracking cookies, a trojan and an attempt at a possible browser hijacking.

In order to determine whether all the spyware were removed, I ran the second free software program which was an adware removal software. I was not surprised to see that there were more undiscovered spyware and even a registry key modification performed without my knowledge.

Next I ran the third anti spyware which was a paid anti spyware software.This paid software captured another three more spyware which consisted of tracking cookies and a trojan left unidentified after running the two most popular free anti spyware program on the internet.

This simple experiment showed that the free spybot spyware remover and the free adware remover failed to completely remove all the common spyware. In my estimation, the two free anti spyware programs could identify and remove around 70% of the common spyware and adware when used one after the other, whereas a paid anti spyware program had to be run to ensure complete removal of all the spyware and adware.

Superior Features of Paid Anti Spyware Programs

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What separates a paid anti spyware program from a free spyware detector and removal program? The most important difference is that of the identification and removal algorithms and the constant updates to the anti spyware definitions that you can get from the paid anti spyware programs. Most Paid solutions post updates, almost daily, of the newly discovered spyware released into the internet to ensure their software is always up to date and effective against newly discovered spyware, keyloggers, malware, tojans and browser hijacking attempts.

You also get better support services from these paid spyware suppliers. An anti spyware software is of no use to you if you encounter a technical issue and you cannot get technical support readily to provide you with help on your problem.

Thirdly, when looking for a paid solution, you will also look at their customer service. This can be easily checked by looking at the comments and reviews of other users of the anti spyware program. A paid software company that provides superior customer service suggests that the company is serious about its reputation and its business, and will not be folding up their business anytime leaving you without any updates or customer service. In contrast, I have known of many freeware that are released without technical and customer support.

Unless your computer security, confidentiality and privacy is of no serious concern to you, you will need an anti spyware software that possesses a superior algorithm to identify and remove all the malware that lodges on your computer online. Having a paid anti spyware that updates frequently with superior technical and customer support will provide you with peace of mind that your computer is secured against malware, spyware, keyloggers, browser hijacking and also identify theft.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/528473

Spyware and Adware Facts:

· Of the more than one billion computers on the internet today, 80% are not protected against spyware and adware.

· Spyware is the most common and most dangerous internet security threat today.

· Spyware is designed to steal our personal information so it can be used for illegal purposes.

· It is estimated that 60% of computers are infected with spyware and/or adware.

· Spyware is usually installed on our computers without our knowledge. We are usually “tricked” into installing adware by failing to read lengthy license agreements.

· Free software and cheap software usually contains spyware and/or adware.

· Free adware removers and free anti spyware software usually contains spyware.

· You can get spyware simply by browsing to an unscrupulous website.

· The amount of spyware on the internet has doubled within the past year, and will continue to grow significantly.

· Anti Spyware software is necessary to remove adware and spyware, and prevent you from getting it again. Antivirus software is not capable of removing all spyware and adware.

Spyware

Spyware is a small program or piece of code that is secretly installed on your computer and designed to “spy” on your online activity and/or personal information. Although not all spyware is used for illegal purposes, most of it can be very dangerous due of its ability to record keystrokes, take snapshots of our PC screen, and monitor everything we do online. Spyware that is used to commit crimes is called crime-ware.

Spyware gathers information and transmits it to the person who planted it. This person may use it himself or sell it to others. If the stolen data includes bank account or credit card information, you can be certain it will be used for a criminal’s personal gain. Other stolen information such as social security numbers, drivers license numbers, addresses, etc…, is often used in identity theft.

Symptoms of Spyware

Spyware is designed to run quietly in the background of our PC, and is normally not detectable unless you have a lot of it. The most common signs that your computer is infested with spyware is:

· Your computer is running much slower than usual.

· Your computer takes a lot longer to boot up than it used to.

· You see a lot of activity on your network connection.

Spyware’s Close Cousin – Adware

A close relative of spyware is commonly known as adware. Adware intrudes on your privacy much like spyware does, but unlike spyware which is designed to steal confidential information, adware’s purpose is usually related to marketing. In its most innocent form, adware tracks your browsing habits, the type of ads you click on, bookmarks you make and other similar online activities. A more dangerous and unsavory form of adware is designed to force you to look at certain advertisements or websites. This type of adware is often used to lure you to a place where spyware can be installed. Because adware’s purpose is designed to get you to perform an action, it is much easier to recognize than spyware.

Some common symptoms of adware:

· A hijacked browser home page. When you open your browser you see a different website.

· Pop-up ads that won’t quit.

· New icons or shortcuts on your desktop or new items in your favorites.

· New web pages keep opening by themselves.

· Search results that make no sense. Clicking on the links here will install spyware on your PC.

How to Detect and Remove Spyware and Adware:

Obviously, spyware and adware are NOT something you want to have on your computer. The only way to detect and remove all the spyware and adware on your PC is to use anti-spyware software. There are many good anti spyware products on the market, and many are available to try for free before you buy. Because free adware removers and free anti-spyware software is often designed to trick you into installing more adware and spyware on your computer, it is best to stay away from this. For the best protection and peace of mind, purchase good anti spyware software from a reputable internet security software company.

Spyware and adware removers are important because they clean your computer of malicious files. But the best thing you can do is prevent spyware from ever being installed in the first place. Here are four ways to help prevent spyware and adware from getting into your computer.

Keep Your Windows Software Updated

One of the best ways to prevent spyware and adware from getting into your computer is to keep your Windows operating system software updated. Microsoft Windows update addresses security fixes that are constantly updating so your computer won’t be vulnerable. Windows update is a free download from Microsoft at: http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Use Computer Firewall Protection

One of the most effective ways to stop spyware and adware is the use of computer firewall protection. Computer firewalls put up barriers to keep any malicious programs from being downloaded without your knowledge when you are on the Internet.

Computer firewall protection monitors everything going in and out of your computer. This acts as a protective shield allowing good data through while blocking the bad data from entering your computer.

Most people don’t realize that if you use Windows XP it comes with a firewall that you can turn on or off. Microsoft’s site explains the step by step process to enable or disable Windows XP Firewall with a tutorial at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283673

Be Careful What You Download

Another good way to prevent spyware and adware from getting in your computer is being careful what you download from the Internet. There are a few types of software that are particularly notorious for including spyware and adware.

File-sharing programs used to trade music, free games, screen savers, and even smiley face packages have been a problem because many of them contain adware.

Be aware of any product that claims to be free because it is likely to contain spyware and adware. Many free programs usually generate revenue from pop up ads or can even hijack your browser to take you to web sites you did not request.

Here’s another tip to prevent spyware from being downloaded without your knowledge. When you close a window on the Internet never click on a box that says “agree” or “OK.” Instead, click on the “x” located in the upper right corner of the window. Some programs trick you into agreeing to download software that you have never seen when you click on these.

Install Spyware Protection Software

Spyware protection software is the easiest way to automatically remove and prevent spyware from infecting your computer. You may wonder why you would need to purchase spyware protection software if there are free spyware cleaners.

Free spyware cleaners are good programs to get rid of spyware viruses you already have on your computer now. But many spyware programs automatically reinstall themselves even after they are removed. For this reason free spyware cleaners are not a permanent solution to solve spyware and adware problems.

Spyware protection software is designed to find all hidden programs and disable them before they have a chance to work. It’s important that you get this software installed immediately on your computer.

Once you remove spyware and adware programs from your computer you’ll find it will run faster and your personal information will be much safer. These tips should give you some insight on how to stop spyware and adware in its tracks. Your security and peace of mind is worth spending a little time to prevent spyware and adware from getting into your computer and taking over.

The most outward signs of a spyware and adware infestation is decreased computer performance and annoying pop-up ads that appear faster then you can minimize them. Unfortunately you may not notice any problem at all while these programs run secretly in the background, sending your personal information back to their creators.

So how does this crappy software get on your computer? It’s easier then you may think. If you’ve ever downloaded anything off the internet your chances of having spyware and/or adware are pretty good. Games, music, screensavers, those cute little emoticons can all have malware hidden in their downloads. Simply clicking on any pop-up ad that appears can also have the same effect.

Once your computer has been exposed to the internet the chances of having some form of spyware or adware installed is increased if you don’t protect yourself with a good spyware blocker and removal program. If that’s not a good enough reason to protect your personal property and information here are 10 more reasons you need to be wary of spyware on computer.

1. Your computer may start running slower
2. Some programs on your computer will not run correctly
3. You may not recognize programs that are now on your computer because they may have been installed there by a spyware related web site or program you loaded on your computer.
4. Someone might be able to read your e-mails.
5. Someone might be able to access your e-mail list.
6. Someone might be able to see you track the keystrokes you type.
7. Someone might be able to access your credit card information on your pc.
8. Someone might be able to access your passwords list on your computer.
9. Someone might be able to steal your social security number.
10. Someone might be able to track all the web sites you visit.

In this day and age it only makes sense to protect your personal information from those who may wish to use it against you or for their own gain. We are a computer reliant society and as such these same time saving machines can be exploited by those who wish us harm, either through malicious virus attacks or spyware that seeks to spy on and steal information that needs to be closely guarded. If you think you have been exposed and have spyware on your computer it is important that you do a spyware scan as soon as possible.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1528718

Spyware is often associated with software that displays advertisements (called adware) or software that tracks personal or sensitive information.

That does not mean all software that provides ads or tracks your online activities is bad. For example, you might sign up for a free music service, but you “pay” for the service by agreeing to receive targeted ads. If you understand the terms and agree to them, you may have decided that it is a fair tradeoff. You might also agree to let the company track your online activities to determine which ads to show you.

Other kinds of Spyware make changes to your computer that can be annoying and can cause your computer slow down or crash.

These programs can change your Web browsers home page or search page, or add additional components to your browser you don’t need or want. These programs also make it very difficult for you to change your settings back to the way you originally had them.

The key in all cases is whether or not you (or someone who uses your computer) understand what the software will do and have agreed to install the software on your computer.

There are a number of ways Spyware or other unwanted software can get on your computer. A common trick is to covertly install the software during the installation of other software you want such as a music or video file sharing program.

Any software that covertly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet; however, it should be noted that the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with SpyWare. Once installed, the Spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers

Aside from the questions of ethics and privacy, SpyWare steals from the user by using the computer’s memory resources and also by eating bandwidth as it sends information back to the spy ware’s home base via the user’s Internet connection. Because SpyWare is using memory and system resources, the applications running in the background can lead to system crashes or general system instability.

Because SpyWare exists as independent executable programs, they have the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other SpyWare programs, read cookies, change the default home page on the Web browser, consistently relaying this information back to the SpyWare author who will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party.

Licensing agreements that accompany software downloads sometimes warn the user that a SpyWare program will be installed along with the requested software, but the licensing agreements may not always be read completely because the notice of a SpyWare installation is often couched in obtuse, hard-to-read legal disclaimers.

Examples of SpyWare

These common SpyWare programs illustrate the diversity of behaviors found in these attacks. Note that as with computer viruses, researchers give names to SpyWare programs which may not be used by their creators. Programs may be grouped into “families” based not on shared program code, but on common behaviors, or by “following the money” of apparent financial or business connections. For instance, a number of the SpyWare programs distributed by Claria are collectively known as “Gator”. Likewise, programs which are frequently installed together may be described as parts of the same SpyWare package, even if they function separately.

• CoolWebSearch, a group of programs, takes advantage of Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. The package directs traffic to advertisements on Web sites including coolwebsearch.com. It displays pop-up ads, rewrites search engine results, and alters the infected computer’s hosts file to direct DNS lookups to these sites.
• Internet Optimizer, also known as DyFuCa, redirects Internet Explorer error pages to advertising. When users follow a broken link or enter an erroneous URL, they see a page of advertisements. However, because password-protected Web sites (HTTP Basic authentication) use the same mechanism as HTTP errors, Internet Optimizer makes it impossible for the user to access password-protected sites.
• Zango (formerly 180 Solutions) transmits detailed information to advertisers about the Web sites which users visit. It also alters HTTP requests for affiliate advertisements linked from a Web site, so that the advertisements make unearned profit for the 180 Solutions Company. It opens pop-up ads that cover over the Web sites of competing companies.
• HuntBar, aka WinTools or Adware,WebSearch was installed by an ActiveX drive-by download at affiliate Web sites, or by advertisements displayed by other SpyWare programs-an example of how SpyWare can install more SpyWare. These programs add toolbars to IE, track aggregate browsing behavior, redirect affiliate references, and display advertisements.
• Zlob Trojan or just Zlob, Downloads itself to your computer via ActiveX codec and reports information back to Control Server. Some information can be as your search history, the Websites you visited, and even Key Strokes.

Here are a few detection tips.

• Have you recently let your cell out of your sight? It only takes a few minutes to install BlackBerry spyware. If you’ve recently let someone borrow your phone to make a quick call or download a game, then they could have actually installed spyware on your phone.
• Is your cell phone bill’s data fee higher than normal? In order to transmit the logs that are recorded on your BB, the spyware needs to use your data connection (GPRS, 3G, etc) in order to upload the logs to a remote server. If you notice that your data usage fee and traffic are higher than usual, this is a sure sign you might have a BlackBerry spyware on your phone.
• Is that an echo? There are a few BlackBerry spyware programs that gives someone the ability to “tap” your live calls. When your call is tapped, sometimes you will be able to hear a slight echo or even a “click” that in most cases you might ignore. Sometimes its hard to distinguish this from general network or phone issues, but if you start to hear it more often than you perhaps did in the past, this could be a definite sign you have a one of these apps installed on your phone.

If some (or all) of these warning signs sound familiar to you, then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking action on either of the BlackBerry spyware removal tips below.

BLACKBERRY SPYWARE REMOVAL TIPS

1) Take your BlackBerry to your service center & wipe your phone clean. The best way to eradicate your BlackBerry from spyware, is to take the BlackBerry to your service provider and tell them you suspect someone has installed a BlackBerry spy app, so you want them to reinstall the OS. By doing this, any spy app on your BlackBerry will be completely wiped from your phone.

2) Take matter into your own hands and remove it yourself. It’s not hard. You can easily remove the BlackBerry spy app yourself by downloading a FREE application called KISSES. This BlackBerry app will do a quick scan to verify that you indeed have a BlackBerry spy app on your phone, then will proceed to remove it.

Remember, it only takes a few minutes to get a BlackBerry spyware on your phone. If you think there is even the slightest chance someone has installed a spy app on your BlackBerry, don’t wait to get it removed.

Making Use of Performance Logs

In most cases, spyware will only be installed in certain directories. Fortunately, you may be able to locate system logs that will reveal any changes made to file and file structures. This includes showing you files that were downloaded onto your computer. If you see names unrelated to things that you downloaded, you may want to investigate further.

Testing for Antispyware

You may want to see if you can locate a custom program that will enable you to run any program, and then watch the output from it. This would give you a way to test files in order to find out if they try to send information over internet, as well as what they are trying to send. As may be expected, when you find malicious software, you can take steps to get rid of it.

In some case, a Mac technician may recommend using certain tools, or direct you to make changes to your operating system that will prevent spyware from running. It may also be of some help to ask about system reports, as well as programs that will help you test out suspicious looking program files. Without a question, if you suspect your computer has spyware, you should do everything possible to find it and get rid of it.

Spyware has been about for a long time but nowadays it seems to be getting more and more notorious. Finding fresh ways of targeting clients has been the major driver behind it I assume. Most spyware is pretty harmless, mainly used for advertising purposes. There are whole companies who specialise in writing spyware that records your browsing habits. They then sell ‘you’ as a lead to advertisers who in turn pay them to install advert popups on your computer. Even though harmless it is very bothersome.

And in some cases spyware writers take it a step further whereby any url you type in is redirected to the sales website. I’m not sure who thinks that that is going to accomplish any sales. After all if you cannot use your computer any more since the spyware redirects all your web pages to a sales page, you are hardly going to buy what is on offer!

And some spyware writers are shrewdly writing spyware blockers themselves. These are normally obtainable for free download. The only problem is that they are actually spyware! Be vigilant when downloading anything free, you may get a horrible surprise coming along for the ride.

Some are more crafty and the free spyware you have downloaded will start telling you that you have an infection. It may get really unpleasant and you’ll start receiving genuine looking windows error messages. In due course you’ll get a windows popup telling you to click it to fix the problem. Predictably that will instruct you to buy a spyware blocker, which of course is their product.

One more medium through which you can certainly pickup spyware is torrent downloads. Particularly executable programs. Be very suspicious with torrents it is a prime environment for spyware development and distribution.

The whole spyware industry is colossal. Take spyware doctor, the top selling spyware blocker. There have been 125 million copies of this product downloaded. At $29.95 that’s a lot of money, I’ll leave you to do the math.

Every where you turn you’ll find anti this and anti that. Spyware, adware, malware and on and on it goes.

So, how do you know you have spyware? Popup adverts are the most obvious sign. But pay close attention to your homepage and tool bars, if these all of a sudden change you also have spyware.

And, if your computer starts to run slower and slower there is a good likelihood that you also have spyware. There will certainly be some spyware running in the background.

Popup ads although exasperating, are fairly harmless. But some spyware is recording your keystrokes and trying to get hold of your passwords and even bank details. This is far more serious and something every person should be aware of.

So, how do you reduce the chances of picking up spyware. First of all stop using internet explorer, it has been exposed to be very vulnerable. Instead use firefox from Mozilla, it is free. Secondly, be very alert when downloading free software. Make sure it comes from a respectable company. Thirdly, without hesitation, install a good spyware blocker on your computer. Buy one, don’t hold back on on this. Decent spyware blockers are not free.