Ok, with "Spybot", what do you do with "possible hijackers"

[Bombtrack]

I clicked "fix problems" on all of the crap that the program automatically checked. But they don't check one thing automatically as it says "possible hijacker". What do I do? The program so far seems to be relatively simple to learn. Good for tech-unsavvy people like me. Just need some advice here. I've had a big problem with my computer the last couple of days, the most noticable symptom of it being that notepad will just dissapear after several seconds to a minute after opening it. Other less problematic shit has been happening too.

I hoped that spybot would solve that but I need to know exactly how I should be using it.

[SHRED]

1. Maybe check for virus?

Below you will find a link for a freeware version of AVG.
Here is my standard email I send to people with problems like your's:

Switch to Mozilla FireFox and Thunderbird for your browser and email.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

IE and OE are buggy and vunerable. Firefox has so many neat features plus a built-in popup blocker and password manager.

I also run.
Adaware, Spybot, Spywareblaster for spyware
and AVG for virus protection.

All free!


http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware /

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

[Bombtrack]

2. Ok thanks, but you didn't really answer the question

I need to know whether it's a good or bad idea to check off the red entries called "possible hijackers" and hit "fix selected problems" or avoid doing so. They're evidently problems, but the spybot doesn't automatically check them off.

Changing from internet explorer to something else is wayyy too big a step for me right now. I just don't have time to learn all new major stuff. I realize that it may not be ideal but plenty of other people use it with the right knowhow and stuff installed and it works fine, most people I should say. But the other stuff I'd certainly consider. Can you tell me more about this "avg" thing? would I have to uninstall norton anti-virus?

[auburngrad82]

3. I usually fix everything that Spybot finds.

[Stockholm]

4. Check them off but unfortunately

there are some spyware thingies that Spybot/ad-Aware what have you do not manage to get rid of.

My pc acted up and I ended up having to reinstall everything.

Those spyware producers should go to jail for a long time.

[SHRED]

5. This prevents spyware from installing

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

[miss_kitty]

6. that's why there is a quarantine feature

you can remove them to a quarantine area and see how your programs work. If something quits functioning, you can add the quarantined spyware back. Somewhere in the description of the spyware should be the name of the program with which it is associated. If not, you'll have to do the trial and error method of reintroduction.

I have never had Spybot take away something necessary to run a program.