Invasive ad software (Gator Client)

[walter4h]

Hello everybody:
I need help in removing one ad software, which I agreed to be installed when I was downloading a particular divx encoder. It is called "Gator Client Application".
I do not remember when I installed it, at that time I was looking for several encoders (not just divx) and did try quite a few. It could be a year ago.
However, recently I installed a firewall and it immediately started giving me signals about this ad software trying to access the Internet every few minutes.
Obviously, I would not have anything like this on my computer and I tried to remove it. However, it is not visible on the "Add Remove Software" tab on the Control Panel, even though it is in a folder "Program Files/Common Files".
I then tried Norton Clean Sweep, but it gave me a msg that it cannot remove, with a "nice" addition "Apparently you are not authorized to remove this software".
At that point I was so fed up with that nonsense, that I decided to delete that folder through Explorer, even though I am aware you do not remove software this way.
Again I could not do it. I changed the attribute to "Archive", but it did not make any difference.
I was able to delete most .dll files, one by one, but not the .exe ones. And my firewall keeps giving me signals that it is trying to access the Internet every few minutes.
In my entire experience with computers any software I have never seen anything so disgustingly invasive!
Any ideas how can I get rid of it, without having to reformat my HDD?
Thx: walter

[e404pnf]

Have a quick search on google for a programme called Ad-aware. This is a nice little programme that will search out and remove all spy-ware such as Gator Software. And the best thing is its free 8)
Should be nice and easy from that point on.
- e404pnf

[Soopafresh]

Yup, it was the "freeware" divx app that probably infected your PC.

Gator's fairly easy to remove. Install Spybot Search and Destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html . Best way to ensure you've removed Gator (and just about all other Spyware apps) is to run Spybot in Windows Safe Mode .

[Poppa_Meth]

While you are at it you might as well install a full battery of anti-spyware software to keep such things off your PC. I'd recommend, spybot, ad-aware, Microsoft Anti-spyware, Spyware Blaster. All free and very effective used together. I haven't had spyware in quite some time. Now if could just keep the occasional trojan from slipping through java I'd be set.

[drjtech]

I'd recommend...Microsoft Anti-spyware...

Remember that "Gator" = "Claria" and while Microsoft was considering buying Claria (by coincidence, I'm sure) Microsoft downgraded the threat level of Claria and set the default recommended action from "Quarantine" to "Ignore".

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=272893&highlight=claria

-drj

[laspis59]

HijackThis is also worth installing on your PC.But use with caution!

http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html

[walter4h]

Many thanks for your help, guys!
I was away most of the day, only now got a chance to read your comments.
Now I should be able to fix it!
Thanks again: walter