Sorry in advance...stupid noob questions on the way:

I have somehow acquired spyware/malware/adware which slows my computer down, and makes it worse upon restart. Whatever it is has hacked into one of my e-mail addresses and is sending nonsense e-mail to people in my contact list. It also renders my desktop unusable at times...slows down refresh times etc...

I paid for 'Tune Up 360' ran that, i have avast, AVG super anti spyware and a few other free download programs from do it yourself tips clips from You Tube....all of it only works temporarily and the e-mails are still being generated.

I stopped using IE and began using Mozilla as my web browser which has seemed to stop the problems from getting worse.

ANYWAY!!!! Whats the best way to clean up my computer...via free download programs...anything tired and true??? what do you guys trust???

11/28/2011 6:23:07 PM

format c:?

11/28/2011 6:45:25 PM

So there really is no way around it, just format the c drive???

11/28/2011 7:02:49 PM

hijackthis, malwarebytes, combofix, ccleaner

11/28/2011 7:17:12 PM

Quote :

" So there really is no way around it, just format the c drive???"

You can try the ones ^ posted. If malwarebytes and combofix doesn't do the job, you're probably better off just reinstalling windows. May also want to change the password to the email account if you havent already

11/28/2011 7:24:21 PM

Thank you very much for the info

I really do appreciate it...

I will try it all

11/28/2011 7:39:25 PM

Another idea is to either burn to DVD or make a bootable USB drive out of some Linux distribution and run some malware-fighting tools from that; then whatever infected your computer won't be able to thwart your tactics at all.

11/28/2011 8:14:26 PM

FINALLYFAST.COM

11/28/2011 8:57:24 PM

Run ComboFix, if it's still there after that you're screwed

11/28/2011 10:39:04 PM

Where should i post the log file??? I didn't post a topic on that board..should i do that or does combofix take care of itself???

11/29/2011 1:02:58 AM

Quote :

" I paid for Tune Up 360"

LOL

Did a Nigerian prince tell you buy this...?

11/29/2011 1:52:18 AM

log file for hijackthis? -> http://hijackthis.de/ usually works

11/29/2011 2:25:22 AM

do you have a local email program such as Outlook or thunderbird? if so, are you autosaving the password for those? if so, stop it. that will help with the emails being sent out. also, change your email passwords, too, lol

12/2/2011 4:59:43 PM

Are you booting your computer into safe mode? Tried a virus scan in safe mode and have you tried scanning with all of the utilities you download?

12/3/2011 2:30:03 PM

^^It's still possible for malware to come with its own e-mail client; it doesn't take much to whip up a program that speaks SMTP on Port 25 if neither user interface nor message-management features are required.

12/3/2011 8:06:23 PM

get TDSSKiller and run it.

If you have anything serious, it'll find it.

12/3/2011 9:04:48 PM

because after all the only serious rootkit around is TDSS

(you should still run it)

12/3/2011 9:12:16 PM

I ran Combofix before i left for a trade show i worked at muy computer ran great the morning that i left...just got home now....will run TDSS asap.....

Thank you guys so much!

and sorry for the dumb questions

-S

12/4/2011 12:35:20 AM