PC Clean-Up Tools

[Michael:D]

One wrong click can practically destroy your great running computer. Evil software developers will stop at nothing to ruin your day.
The following is a list of some of the best freely available software to combat the "nogoodnicks" - If you use with care, you just might learn by doing...


First Read These Instructions: http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/PC_Cleanup
Then Download and Install Anti-Malware Tool Kit: http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Anti-Malware_Toolkit

Anti-Malware Tool Kit will aid in downloading the latest:
    SpywareBlaster: http://www.brightfort.com/spywareblaster.html
    CCleaner: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
    MalwareBytes Anti-Malware: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/
    Super Anti Spyware (Free Edition): http://www.superantispyware.com/
    Highjack This: http://sourceforge.net/projects/hjt/
Just be sure to only get the free versions and not "trial" versions. However, if you can afford to support these folks in their efforts please don't let me stop you.)


99% of all infected computers I have ever encountered are cleaned using those procedures.
My routine also involves removing any expired anti-virus software and replacing it with avg-free:
http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus-download (Use free download from C-NET)

If it has running Anti-Virus I will usually replace it with AVG Free following clean-up (unless user prefers to continue their A-V subscription)

and finally adding and running Spybot Search and Destroy with immunization:
https://www.safer-networking.org/mirrors/

It is usually best to remove the problem computer from the internet (sometimes it's the only way.) That is why I try to keep these programs updated on a key-drive (or CD) so I am always ready to "come to the rescue"

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Particularly stubborn infections may require the use of the following:
Kaspersky's TDSKiller: http://usa.kaspersky.com/downloads/tdsskiller (removes some really bad root/trojans)
RKill: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/ (halts running malware to allow other tools to function)
RogueKiller: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/roguekiller/ (targets some hard to get at hijackers and more)

I also recommend installing LockHunter: http://lockhunter.com/download.htm (a small utility with rt-click integration for unlocking files that cannot be deleted because they report being locked by "some" process)

I hope this information proves to be useful.

[GregD]

Thanks for all this info Mike. I have used some of these tools in the past and they work really well. In fact, I will probably be using some or all of them in the next few days. Between Mike and I, we will vet these products to make sure they are ligit and not spyware.

Man, what CAN'T you do or get from this website?

[Michael:D]

Just wanted to let you know this information is still good for Windows 10 (works for me!)