We have Norton on it for virus'. But lately the computer has become so horribly slow.

Are there any reliable, free sites online to check and clean off any spyware?

I read somewhere a while back that you must be careful because some of those sites that say they clean off spyware, are actually lying and put it ON the computer. :eek:

So, does anyone know where I can go for free? Or totally reliable, low cost? Assuming it is spyware that is slowing it down so very much.

Michelle

Try www.lavasoft.com and use the Ad Aware.

Or www.tucows.com

Also, defrag your hard drive. That helped mine.

this one is legitimate and works really well:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

What does defrag my harddrive mean?

Thanks for the links...I'll get on those right away and see if one works.

Michelle

We used spybot to get rid of all of mine.

to defrag go to C:\programs\assessories\system tools\disk defragmentor

It takes a long time but it cleans your hard drive - not sure the tech. lingo

defrag put all your files - computer stuff in an order that makes it run better.

I am on win 98 and you go to the start menu, click on programs, accessories, system tools, then click on disc defragmenter. it takes quite a while if you have not ever done it or if it has been awhile. I usually do it before I got to bed at night.

I also do a disc clean up before a defrag. (empties recycle bin, erase temp internet files, etc.) FYI -it will erase all your saved passwords and auto log in memories

I also erase cookies, temp Internet, and history in the main area of my computer.
click on my computer (on my desktop) click drive c, click windows then I click on cookies and highlight everything except the index and delete. then I do the same thing and go to the temp internet file and erase everything in there.

good luck - I am sure you will get more great info. I learned most of this stuff here ;) LOL

We had major issuees and someone here told me to use spybot - took care of it all!

I just checked my computer with trendmicro and found 15 spyware programs! Supposedly they removed them for me, so we will see how it goes now! Wow, I wouldn't have thought!

Thanks!

I use Microsoft Anti Spy (it's in free beta mode now but MS has already stated it will be free - they'll just charge for enterprise users) in conjunction with Spybot.

You can get AntiSpy from http://www.microsoft.com