| By Heath Weaver
Many times when I check out a persons computer. I'm finding they have downloaded, or had a pop-up window tell them to download some program to clean their computer because it is infected, or telling them they need some particular program to clean up their computer in other ways. "The registry for instance, or drive cleaners, or
antivirus and spyware, adware removal programs."
I'm finding that many times people trust these pop-up window suggestions, and download some program.
Many, many of these programs are completely fake ones, that seem to scan the computer and find things that need removed. In the case of the antivirus and spyware/adware programs, they will spew out a long list of "infected items" on the computer. This list of infections is completely fake. These programs will pop-up warnings and alerts with flashing notices and urgent action required type notices, and then tell the users that they are using a trial version of the software that only detects the infections, but to be able to REMOVE these (fake) infections, they need to purchase the software.
These programs not only are helping their designers to commit fraud, but they are actually installing their own malware onto your computer. One program for example has been known to install a trojan that allows the 'hacker' to turn on your webcam and stream the video over the Internet, or set it up to take snapshots over a period of time and send them over the internet...talk about privacy invasion.
Other programs allow hackers to log your every keystroke, or log keystrokes when you are on certain sites, like online banks, eBay, PayPal, Hotmail, Yahoo mail etc...places where private data are kept, and allow the hacker to gain the login information for your various accounts, including credit card and banking information (effectively leading to identity and money theft).
I just wanted to share a list of these rogue/trojan type programs, all of them look and act like very real and legitimate software, but they are NOT.
Below is a list of over 400 such programs, that I see all the time, installed on peoples computers, you may recognize a few of the names yourself. I encourage everyone to look through this list, and see if any of these programs are installed on their computer, and if so, to search on Google for removal instructions.
Many of these programs if you try to simply uninstall them normally, will not uninstall, or will then unleash the infection they hold into the computer...or they will seem to uninstall, but pop back up on next reboot or a few days later.
Some programs are easy to remove, some are harder. I would be glad to share a list of safe and good working and FREE software that will help remove these kinds of programs, as well as other types of viruses, trojans, adware, spyware and various other types of malware.
For those who do not have antivirus protection, or who are completely unhappy with programs such as Norton or McAfee products, I recommend Avast Antivirus, from www.avast.com you can get the home version for free.
It really bothers me that so many people have their computers infected with all of this stuff, many to the point of going out and buying a new computer to try to get rid of it. I hate to see people wasting their money buying all this stuff, including new computers, just to try to have a normal experience with their computer. People can save money AND keep their computer clean.
Extensive list of the bad stuff, from A-Z:
1 Click Spy Clean;
100 Percent Anti-Spyware;
1stAntiVirus;
2-AntiSpyware;
Ad Butcher;
Ad-Protect;
AdArmor;
AddwareRemover;
Addwere;
AdEradicator;
AdFlusher;
ADS Adware Remover;
Ads Alert;
AdScrub;
AdStriker;
AdsZapper;
AdvancedCleaner;
Adware Agent;
Adware Bazooka;
Adware Butcher;
Adware Cops;
Adware Punisher;
Adware Remover Gold;
AdwareBlaster
AdwareBlocker;
AdwareCatch;
AdwareCatcher;
AdwareCheck;
AdwareChecker;
AdwareCleaner;
AdwareCrusher;
AdwareDelete;
AdwareDestroyer;
AdwareDetect;
AdwareEradicator;
AdwareEraser;
AdwareFlush;
AdwareFlusher;
AdwareGuard;
AdwareGuardian;
AdwareInspector;
AdwarePatrol;
AdwarePolice;
AdwarePro;
AdwareRemover;
AdwareSanitizer;
AdwareScanner;
AdwareScrub;
AdwareScrubber;
AdwareSheriff;
AdwareShield;
AdwareShredder;
AdwareSpy;
AdwareSquash;
AdwareSquasher;
AdwareStopper;
AdwareStriker;
AdwareSweep;
AdwareSweeper;
AdwareTerminator;
AdwareWasher;
AdwareWatch;
AdwareWipe;
AdwareZapper;
AdWash;
AgentSpyware;
AGuardDog Suite;
AlertSpy;
AlfaCleaner;
Anti Virus Pro;
Anti-Virus and Spyware
Anti-Virus and Trojan;
AntieSpiaDorado;
AntieSpionsPack;
AntiGusanos2008;
AntiSpionage;
AntiSpionagePro;
AntiSpy;
AntiSpyCheck;
AntiSpyGuard;
AntiSpyPro;
AntiSpyStorm;
AntiSpyware Soldier;
AntiSpywareBoss;
AntiSpywareShield;
AntiSpywareSuite;
AntiSpyZone;
AntiThiefWare;
AntiVer2008;
AntiVermeans;
AntiVermins;
AntiVerminser;
AntiVirGear;
AntiVirus Golden;
Antivirus Protection;
Antivirus Solution;
AntiVirusPro;
AntiWorm2008;
AntiWurm2008;
AnyCleaner;
ArmorWall;
AVSystemCare;
Awola
BazookaBar;
BestsellerAntivirus;
BotSquash;
BPS Security Console;
BPS Spyware Remover;
BraveSentry;
Break Spyware;
Bug Doctor
CleanX;
CodeClean;
ContraVirus;
Copperhead AntiSpyware;
CryptDrive;
CurePcSolutions Anti-Spyware
DefenseAntiMalware;
Defenza;
Deus Cleaner;
DioCleaner;
DirectAccess;
DirectVideo;
Doctor Adware;
Doctor Adware Pro;
DoctorCleaner;
DoctorVaccine;
DrAntispy;
Draze Toolbar;
DriveCleaner 2006;
DrProtection
EAdwareKiller;
EAdwareRemoval;
EAdwareRemover;
EAntiSpyware;
Easy Erase Spyware Remover;
Easy Spyware Killer;
Easy Spyware Scanner;
Elite Codec;
EliteProtector;
ErrClean;
Error Fix;
Error Fixer;
Error Scan and Fix;
ErrorDigger;
ErrorDoctor;
ErrorInspector;
ErrorNuker;
ErrorProtector;
ErrorSafe;
ESpywareBlocker;
ESpywareDefender;
ESpywareKiller;
ESpywareRemoval;
ESpywareRemover;
ESpywareScanner;
ETD Security Scanner;
Evidence Eliminator;
Evidence Eraser Pro;
ExpertAntivirus;
EZVideo
FastCleaner;
Files Secure;
FiltroDeTrojan;
Fix Registry Errors;
FixerAntispy;
Fixiter;
Flobo Spyware Clean;
Free Spyware Adware Scanner and Remover;
Froggie Scan;
FullSystemProtection
Gold Codec;
GoldenAntiSpy;
GoodByeSpy;
GuardBar;
GuardCenter
HitVirus;
IC Spyware Scanner;
IE Defender;
IECodec;
IHateAdware;
Image Access ActiveX Object;
Image ActiveX Access;
InstallProvider;
iSpyKiller
Kazaap;
Keep Your Privacy;
KeineGefahr;
KillAndClean;
KillSpy;
KnowHowProtection;
LiveAntispy;
LiveProtect;
LiveProtection
MagicAntispy;
Malware Scanner;
MalwareAlarm;
MalwareBurn;
MalwareCore;
MalwareCrush;
MalwareDestructor;
MalwarePro;
MalwareStopper;
MalwaresWipeds;
MalwareWipe;
MalwareWipe Pro;
MalwareWiped;
MalwareWiper;
Malwarrior;
Media-Codec;
MenaceRescue;
MenaceSecure;
MovCodec;
MovieBox;
MrAntiSpy;
My Privacy;
MyBugFreePc;
MyNetProtector;
MySpyProtector
Neospace Internet Security;
NetBrowserPro;
Netcom3 Cleaner;
NetPumper;
NoWayVirus;
Online Privacy Pro;
OnlineGuard;
OrantieSpion;
OSBOdyGuard
Page Cannot Be Displayed;
PAL Spyware Remover;
PC Error Eliminator;
PC Health Plan;
PCCleaner 2007;
PcSecureSystem;
PCSleek Error Cleaner;
Perfect Codec;
PerfectCleaner;
PerformanceOptimizer;
PestBot;
PestCapture;
PestTrap;
PestWiper;
PornoPlayer;
Privacy Fusion;
Privacy Keeper;
Privacy Redeemer;
PrivacyCrusader;
PrivacyProtector;
PurityScan
Quality Codec;
RazeSpyware;
RebrandSoft AdwareSpyware Remover;
RegFreeze;
Registry Cleaner;
Registry Doc 2006;
Registry Fix It;
Registry Optimizer 2007;
Registry Repair 2006;
RegistryCare;
Remedy AntiSpy;
RescateDeAmenazas;
Restore My Files;
Rogue.Infector;
Rogue.Misc
SafeAndClean;
SaferScan;
SafeStrip;
Scan and Repair Utilities 2007;
ScanSpyware;
SearchAndDestroy;
SecureCleaner;
SecureMyPc;
Silver Codec;
SiteTicket;
Soft Codec;
SpamBlockerUtility;
Spy Analyst;
Spy Cleaner Platinum;
Spy Defence;
Spy Guardian Pro;
Spy iBlock;
Spy Reaper;
Spy Sniper;
Spy-Kill;
Spy-Rid;
SpyAway;
SpyAxe;
SpyBurner;
SpyButcher
SpyContra;
SpyCrush;
SpyCut;
SpyDawn;
SpyDeface;
SpyDestroy Pro;
SpyFalcon;
SpyFerret;
SpyFighter;
SpyFighterPro;
SpyFlusher;
SpyHazard;
SpyHeal;
Spyinator;
SpyKillerPro;
SpyLax;
SpyLocked;
SpyMarshal;
SpyOfficer;
SpyPry;
SpyRemove;
SpyRemover;
SpySanitizer;
SpySheriff;
SpyShield
SpyShredder;
SpySoap;
SpySoldier;
SpySquash;
SpyStriker;
SpyTrooper;
SpyVampire;
SpyVest;
SpyViper;
Spyware and Adware Removal;
Spyware Catch;
Spyware Cops;
Spyware Disinfector;
Spyware Hospital;
Spyware IT;
Spyware Killer;
Spyware Nuker;
Spyware Nuker XT;
Spyware Quake;
Spyware Removal Wizard;
Spyware Remover (SpyAdvanced);
Spyware Scrapper;
Spyware Seizer;
Spyware Sledgehammer;
Spyware Stormer;
Spyware Striker Pro
Spyware-Secure;
Spyware-Sweeper;
SpywareAnnihilatorPro;
SpywareBomb;
SpywareButcher;
SpywareCleaner;
SpywareDetector;
SpywareFlusher;
SpywareHound;
SpywareIsolator;
SpywareKnight;
SpywareLocked;
SpywareLocker;
SpywarePolice;
SpywareScrub;
SpywareSeeker;
SpywareShield;
SpywareSoftStop;
SpywareSolver;
SpywareSquash;
SpywareSterilizer;
SpywareStrike;
SpywareStriker;
SpywareThis;
SpywareWipe
SpyWarp;
SpyWipe;
StartGuard;
StopingSpy;
StorageProtector;
SunShineSpy;
Super Codec;
SysCleaner;
SysProtect;
SystemDefender;
SystemDoctor 2006;
SystemStable
The SpyGuard;
The Spyware Detective;
The Spyware Shield;
The Ultimate Spyware Adware Remover;
TheSpyBot;
TitanShield AntiSpyware;
Trojan Guarder Gold;
TrojanerFilter;
TrojansFilter;
TrojansFiltre;
TrojansKiller;
True Codec;
True Sword;
TrueWatch;
Trust Cleaner;
TrustedAntivirus;
TrustedProtection;
TrustSoft AntiSpyware;
TZ Spyware Remover
Ultimate Cleaner;
Ultimate Defender;
Ultimate Fixer 2007;
Unigray Antivirus;
UnSpyPC;
vCatch;
VCodec;
Video ActiveX Access;
Video ActiveX Object;
Video iCodec;
VideoAccess;
VideoAccessCodec;
VideoBox;
Virus-Kill;
VirusBlast;
VirusBlaster;
VirusBlasters;
VirusBurst;
VirusBursters;
VirusHeal;
VirusHeat;
VirusLocker;
VirusProtect;
VirusProtectPro;
VirusRanger;
VirusRay;
VirusRescue;
VsSpy
WebSafe Spyware Secure;
WebSpyShield;
WinAntiSpyware 2006;
WinAntiSpyware 2007;
WinAntiVirus 2006;
WinAntiVirus 2007;
WinFix Master;
WinFixer 2005;
WinIFixer;
WinKeeper;
WinReanimator;
WinSecureAv;
WinSpyControl;
WinSpyKiller;
WinXDefender;
X-Con Spyware Destroyer;
XP Antivirus 2008;
XPDefender;
XXXAccess;
ZoneProtect Anti-Spyware
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