Should I have these in my Temp Folder?

[mccoady]

I have had hard to get rid of spyware for a couple of weeks, Trend PC-cillin tech has been trying to help me with them and he had me delete alot of files in my Settings and Documents. I also noticed that there may be some things in my Temp folder that shouldn't be there, like a WebRebates installer I already deleted. Can you tell me what the following are and if they should be deleted?

1. cdt_bbi8016 (This has an icon of a computer with a cd beside it)

2. Optimize (Has a picture of a creature with ears)

3. Installer2 (Kalptaru Infotech Ltd)

Don't know if this is enough info for anyone to tell me what they are, but this spyware has been driving me crazy with all the stuff it has been downloading to my computer. Thanks!

Mike

[thecoalman]

Anything in the temp folder can be deleted. Ant files in there are just that temporary files from intsallations, programs that were in use etc. Deleting them won't solve your problem, the problem with spyware is that even when you delete the files associted with spyware it regenerates the file upon startup, opening your browser etc. Even spyware remover tools have trouble removing some spyware.

Have you tried running adaware and spybot. If not download a copy of both they are both free, make sure you update each before running them. Run adaware first then restart your computer, then run spybot then restart again. Rerun adaware, if it still finds anything note the filenames and do a google search for the filename. You will find a wealth of information on how to manually remove it.

[mccoady]

Thanks about the info on the Temp folder, I didn't know that. Yes I run Ad-Aware, SpyBot plus I also have PestControl (all updated files) but my Trend PC-cillin is the only program consistantly detecting the spyware that has infested my system but it has been unable to delete them for good. I'm just holding my breath that all the files the tech had me delete works, nothing else has so far.

The PC-cillin deletes the spyware, but as you said it comes right back at startup. If I can't get rid of these than a reinstall of XP will fix won't it?

Also if I get lucky and the files I deleted works, is there anything I can do in the future to prevent this from happening again? I installed SpyWareBlaster after I got infected, will these program prevent infection in the future?

[IAIHMB]

If spyware returns chances are your program didn't completely remove it. Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner is one of the best and most overlooked programs out there. People don't like it because it scans instantly and doesn't actually remove spyware/adware/malware, but it does give you detailed instructions on how to. If you want to check it out here is a link.

[thecoalman]

Not familiar with the above programs but if they give you detailed info on how to delete them then that's the way to go. The spyware usually puts a key in the registry to regenerate itself. If you delete the key no more spyware.

To protect yourself from spyware

1.When one of those active x boxes pop up while surfing the web and asks you if you wish to install (whatever) always click no. That is probably the most common way spyware/malware gets on your machine. There's only two things I install that way. MS update and shockwave, there may be others google the file if you think you may want to install it. Most of it
is junk.

2. A lot of freeware, scrensavers etc. comes with spyware that is also installed without your knowledge. It gets installed along with program. If you wish to install a freeware program google the program and simply add spyware in your search. If it's loaded with crap it will be in the search results. The last version of AOL messenger I installed had spyware, but it was very low risk and easy to remove.

3 Even commercial software comes with spyware but these are usually low risk and easy to remove. I think that now that the public is becoming more aware of it you won't see too many companies doing this anymore.

[IAIHMB]

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner gives you detailed instructions on how to remove the registry keys also. I don't think I've had any real spyware in a while though, after a while you understand what is good and bad. :P