Online spyware removal

• Advantages:
  - no need of application installation on your computer.
  - online scanners are using the latest antivirus definitions.
  


• Disadvantages:
  - some online scanners like Kaspersky online scanner and Panda Active Scan only lists viruses they find without cleaning them. Although Panda Active scan only finds viruses it cleans up spyware.
  Here is a list of scanning only applications. You could use them for a check:
  eTrust® PestPatrol Anti-Spyware from ComputerAssociates: http://www.pestpatrol.com/, http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/pestscan/
  ZoneAlarm Spyware Scanner: http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/promotions/spywarescanner/index.jsp
  McAffee freescan: http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp
  A-squared Web Malware Scanner: http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/ax/
  Webroot SpySweeper: http://www.webroot.com/land/installation_instructions.php
  

Links to spyware scanners and removal tools from:

• XCleaner Micro Edition from SpywareGuide
  http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
  
  
• Anti-Spyware for the web from TrendMicro HouseCall
  http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
  
  
  
• Windows Live OneCare scanner
  http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm
  
  
  
• Ewido antispyware micro scanner
  http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
  
  
  
• ETrust Antivirus Web Scanner: http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
• Norton's Symantec online security scan and virus detection http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp
• BitDefender's online scanner: http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
• MyV3 Anti-Virus Scanner: http://global.ahnlab.com/global/products/myv3.html
  
  
• F-Secure Online Virus Scanner: http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
  
  
• ArcaMicroScan http://www.arcabit.com/download_product.html?product=ArcaMicroScan
  (first you need to download and install the supporting libraries)
  

Before you scan your PC
Some of the online scanners require specific access to run. Under Windows XP if you notice at the upper part of the screen the Information Bar click on it and select Enable, Install or Run file from the context menu.


There are online scanners that work only in Internet Explorer browser and require ActiveX controls to be turned on. You can enable ActiveX by switching to menu Tools on Internet Explorer:

1. Go to Internet Options.
2. Then on the Security tab, click on Default Level.

Other way of enabling ActiveX is to add the antivirus program's website to your Trusted sites:

1. Go to Internet Options -> Security Tab -> Trusted sites.

2. For the Security Level for this zone click on the button Custom level...

3. Fill in the full address of the website you want to have access to in the input field Add this website into this zone & uncheck the mark on Require server verification(https:) for all sites in this zone.

4. Check the availibility of ActiveX scripting in Internet Explorer. In the field Security level for this zone click on Custom level button and under ActiveX controls and pluggins enable:

Automatic Prompting for ActiveX controls
Download Signed ActiveX controls
Download Unsigned ActiveX controls
Initialize and run ActiveX controls that are not marked as safe
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins
Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting

Here is a list of virus removal tools. They need to be downloaded and run as standalone applications:

Avira: http://www.avira.com/en/support/support_downloads.html

BitDefender: http://www.bitdefender.com/site/Download/browseFreeRemovalTool/

AVG: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/8/lng/us/tpl/v5

Symantec: http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/security_response/removaltools.jsp

AVAST: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html

Kaspersky: http://www.kaspersky.com/removaltools

F-Secure: http://www.f-secure.com/download-purchase/tools.shtml

McAffee: http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Norman: http://www.norman.com/Virus/Virus_removal_tools/24789/en-us

And if you think that you have a possibly infected file you can always send it for check to: http://virusscan.jotti.org/

Update:
Check whether your system is infected - http://www.infectedornot.com
TotalScan from Panda Antivirus - http://www.nanoscan.com/
ESET/NOD32 Online Scanner - http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/