HOWTO: Clean a Spyware Infection

This page is written for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users. The software used in this page is either a free download or freely available using this Wiki.

1. Make sure that you have up to date antivirus.   McAfee VirusScan is available to students, staff and faculty while on campus by accessing this page. 
   1. Download the Mcafee Antivirus for Windows and if you are living on campus, download the EPO Agent.
   2. Make sure you uninstall any virus software that is already on your computer before installing McAfee, then restart.
   3. If living on campus, install the EPO Agent first, then the McAfee Antvirus.  You don't need the EPO Agent if you live off campus.
   4. When installing the McAfee Antivirus choose Perpetual License.  
   5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation.
   6. Allow Mcafee Antivirus to update.  This requires an internet connection and make take a few minutes. 
   7. If Mcafee will not update after installation, you may manually update it.  McAfee should display a shield in the system tray (next to the clock). Right-click on this and choose Update Now.
2. In addition to installing Mcafee Antivirus, you may wish to download and install both Malwarebytes and Spybot: Search and Destroy.
   1. Follow the prompts on the screen to install Malwarebytes and Spybot.  
3. Once installed, update both programs.
   1. Run SpyBot.
   2.  Click  the  an  Update button on the side panel.
      1. Choose a mirror site and select all the available downloads.
   3. To update Malwarebytes, select the Update tab
      1. Click Check for Updates.
4. To increase the speed of the scans, you should clear your web browser cache.
   1. I recommend running CCleaner.  It is a free download here.
   2. Follow the on-screen prompts to intall CCleaner.  After installing CCleaner, run it.
   3. Make sure Cleaner is selected in the side menu.
   4. Click Analyze and wait for CCleaner to analyze your computer.
   5. Select Run Cleaner.  
5. Restart your computer into Safe Mode.
   1. Once the initial BIOS screen (might be a splash screen for your PC's manufacturer) goes away, start tapping the F8 key.
   2. When you see the menu, choose Safe Mode using the keyboard and hit Enter.
   3. If your computer starts Windows before you see a menu, you must restart and  try again.
6. Run Malwarebytes.
   1. Running a Quick Scan is enough.
   2. When it finishes, remove all entries.
   3. You should wait to restart until after any other scans have finished.
7. Run McAfee from the Start Menu.  It may run while Malwarebytes is running.
   1. Choose All Programs, then McAfee, then On Demand Scan, or use the Start Search to find On Demand Scan.
   2. Click Start.
   3. Allow McAfee to finish scanning, it deletes anything it finds.
8. Run Spybot after running Malwarebytes, Mcafee should still be running.
   1. Click Search and Destroy from the side menu.
   2. Click Check for Problems.
   3. When the scan finishes, select Fix selected  Problems.
9. When all the scan finish restart your computer and it should be clean.