what major programs install adware?

hi all sorry for spamming these forums with my various computwer problems, but ive recently formatted my pc (bout 2 weeks ago) and 2day ive suddenly noticed im getting adware popups all over the place. windows defender is currently scanning, but i want to know where it came from. im not stupid, and i dont install anything unless i know what it is. so it must b a fairly mainstream program, or sumthing else, so are there any major programs that wud be doing it?

btw, heres a list of all installed programs:


btw, im gtting most popups from filmon.com

 

Assuming that all software installed is legal and not a downloaded/cracked version, then my guess would be the DivX codec pack, nothing else jumps out at me for having any form of adaware bundeled with it, where as I know some DivX codec install packages bundle adaware with it.

If it is this, then I would recommend checking out CCCP

 

could just be something caught from browsing, use firefox, firefox 3 out in 5days cant wait
install spybot search and destroy, update it them remove the rubbish it find after scan
also use the immunize option, which points known dodgy websites to your loopback address in the hosts file so they cant load. which I like but others don't. check what plugins you have installed in ie7

 

the divx stuff is fine, though I'd recomend you use xvid instead and ac3codec for audio

 

Spyware Doctor. The horrible program made my laptop run so slow it was unreal, and when I binned it I had all sorts of spyware crap installed that was quite difficult to remove.

Stay clear of it.

 

Download Accelerator Plus has a couple ads to it but they don't effect your systems usability. Like Dennis said use Spy-Bot and Ad-Aware. You could install AVG 8.0 Free Edition, as it has excellent Antivirus, and now has anti spyware also.

 

You could put Vista to an earlier point in time (go back in time).

 

Given the problems you're having, it would be an idea to install a 'real-time' anti spyware program - such as Spyware Terminator (which is free), to help prevent spyware getting onto your system in the first place

But don't just rely on that one program of course. You should install a couple of others as well - i.e. Ad-Aware 2008, Spybot Search & Destroy etc, and scan your system once or twice a week.

 

Installing several of such program (as well as for anti-virus) can potentially cause a conflict and render them less ineffective or useless.
Make sure that ONLY 1 program has real time protection, and that auto-scan does not conflict the other anti-spyware programs (remember to leave time for the scanning).

However, having 100 anti-spyware program is not a solution (nor 101 anti-spyware programs). You have to educate yourself and the others on what is good and bad.

 

Don't install multiple Anti-Virus programs that will only cause problems. What works best for me is to have one Anti-Virus program (A-vast or AVG are both free) and have 2 anti-Spyware programs (Spybot Search and destroy or Ad-Aware or AVG for example).

Also make sure you don't install an anti-virus program that is pretending to be an anti-virus program or an anti-spyware program. They scare you by telling you that you have been infected by spyware and tell you to install their program to get rid of it. where as in fact their program is the real threat.

Edit:
(Like GoodBytes suggested)

 

Hi, Like the other posts have mentioned you could try various spyware progs to check for problems, one not mentioned already is the cool sounding www.superantispyware.com. Some spyware issues can only be solved by going into the registry, like the dreaded system notification/security centre spyware hack that apears as flashing shield in your taskbar. Carefull where you get your programs from!