What can I do if the anti-spyware programs can't remove everything?

Now it's time to get down and dirty. If you're still having problems after running both Spybot and Ad-Aware, it's time to call in the big guns, namely HijackThis. This is an incredibly powerful tool that can leave you with an incredibly screwed-up computer if you're not careful. You can follow the instructions below for downloading and using HijackThis, but your best bet is to contact ITS for assistance by calling x18062 or sending an e-mail to helpdesk@pomona.edu detailing your problem.

HijackThis

NOTE: HijackThis is an extremely powerful tool, and can break your computer very badly if used incorrectly! Please use with EXTREME caution!

If you've tried using the automated spyware removal tools like Ad-Aware and SpyBot and they can't clean out everything, you might try using HijackThis. HijackThis provides a comprehensive list of what's running on your computer, and lets you delete pretty much anything. This also includes some things that are essential to your computer's functionality, like mouse and touchpad controls, so this is not a tool to be used lightly. The best thing to do is to send us a copy of your scan log so we can tell you what you should delete.

First, download the program from http://spyware.pomona.edu. This requires no installation.

HijackThis will warn you of all the things I just warned you of. Click Ok.

Click Do a system scan and save a logfile. The scan will run (this usually takes less than a minute), and a save window will automatically open. The program will probably suggest that you save the file in your browser's program folder, but this might be difficult to find again. Save it somewhere easy to remember like My Documents, and exit HijackThis.

Once you've done this, send an e-mail to helpdesk@pomona.edu with your name, campus extension, room number, a description of the symptoms of your computer, and a copy of your HijackThis log. Someone from ITS will contact you with further instructions.