How to fix popups, spyware, malware and nuisance programs

[confus-ed]

thanks noonoo for making this a sticky topic, you are one smart cookie.

the one tool I would add to the list is Spyware Blaster, which does a good job of immunizing you against this junk getting installed again. And, like the others, you should download updated definitions as soon as it is installed.

... so that makes me an extra smart cookie then ? .. as it was I who suggested it to her, after that big rash of HijackThis logs broke out all over the forums - 'commitments' kept me from doing a 'one size fits most' thread on the topic, but I'm very glad she did/has

& yeah spywareblaster does indeed beat the sh!t out of the Google Toolbar as that's bloody SPYWARE !!!!!
(for it not to be you have to 'tweak it' muchly ... a simple install will infact be worse than many bits of malware - be aware !)

The other thing nobody has said yet - get yourself some software firewall to do application whitelisting ! Invaluable on controlling any nasties that get under the wire