anti-spyware program that doesn't eat up processing power?

sw_mina

I've got a... middle-aged... laptop that's becoming slower and slower, probably due to my having too much stuff on it and never defragmenting it. I recently installed Spyware Doctor on it to protect against spyware, but this made it run at a snail's pace and it took a good 20 minutes to finish just starting up. I've uninstalled it and now it starts up much quicker (a lightning 7 minutes), but I'm vulnerable to spyware again. Does anyone know of a spyware program that won't cause this problem? Or am I mis-attributing the slowness to Spyware Doctor when I could have a different problem/infection somewhere causing the slow down, despite Avast and Spyware Doctor saying it's clean?

Thanks!!!

Browntoa

if you want live antispyware then AVG has it built in but you would need to remove Avast

or otherwise

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx

Browntoa

a hijackthis log

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis

will let me see whats running and if there's anything we can remove to speed things up

sw_mina

Browntoa wrote: »

a hijackthis log

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis

will let me see whats running and if there's anything we can remove to speed things up

Thanks! This is what it came up with (and I've no idea what it means):

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 17:16:05, on 21/10/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP3 (6.00.2900.5512)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wltrysvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe
C:\Program Files\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\acer\epm\epm-dm.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\LAUNCH~1\LManager.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\Program Files\Lexmark 5400 Series\lxctmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\InCD\NBHGui.exe
C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\InCD\InCD.exe
C:\Acer\eManager\anbmServ.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\My Lockbox\flockbox.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Belkin\F5D7011\Belkinwcui.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxctcoms.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar =
http://www.orange.co.uk/iesearch/
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
https://webmail.plymouth.ac.uk/owa/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =
http://www.orange.co.uk/
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - !!06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - !!3049C3E9-B461-4BC5
-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\Program Files\Real\RealOne Player\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program
Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\4.1.805.4472\swg.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LaunchApp] Alaunch
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LtMoh] C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPM-DM] c:\acer\epm\epm-dm.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ePowerManagement] C:\Acer\ePM\ePM.exe boot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LManager] C:\PROGRA~1\LAUNCH~1\LManager.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [lxctmon.exe] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 5400 Series\lxctmon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SecurDisc] C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\InCD\NBHGui.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [InCD] C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\InCD\InCD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [flockbox] C:\Program Files\My Lockbox\flockbox.exe /a
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"
-osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LXCTCATS] rundll32 C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3
\LXCTtime.dll,_RunDLLEntry@16
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [kdx] C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KHost.exe -all
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Belkin Wireless Utility.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network
Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} -
C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program
Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} -
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.orange.co.uk/
O16 - DPF: !!7F8C8173-AD80-4807-AA75-5672F22B4582} (ICSScanner Class) -
http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/ICSScanner371420.cab
O16 - DPF: !!814EA0DA-E0D9-4AA4-833C-A1A6D38E79E9} (DASWebDownload Class) -
http://das.microsoft.com/activate/cab/x86/i486/NTANSI/retail/DASAct.cab
O23 - Service: Notebook Manager Service (anbmService) - OSA Technologies Inc. -
C:\Acer\eManager\anbmServ.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common
Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - ALWIL Software - C:\Program
Files\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program
Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program
Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1150\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: InCD Helper (InCDsrv) - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7
\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: KService - Kontiki Inc. - C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) -
Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: lxct_device - - C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxctcoms.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero
BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common
Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: TuneUp Drive Defrag Service (TuneUp.Defrag) - TuneUp Software GmbH -
C:\WINDOWS\System32\TuneUpDefragService.exe
O23 - Service: Broadcom Wireless LAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner -
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wltrysvc.exe
--
End of file - 7517 bytes

Browntoa

give me a few minutes to read

sw_mina

loaner wrote: »

how much ram have you got? <256MB?

Yep, 256MB I think.

Browntoa

tick the following


O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LtMoh] C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe

this one, if you do not use it for translating Japanese/Chinese text in IE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName

these

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime

then click on the "fix selected" button

they are all items that do not need to run all the time , apart from that things look clean

as loaner pointed out , I would think about putting more Ram in the Laptop , 512mb minimum but 1Gb would make it fly !!

easy job to do

sw_mina

Browntoa wrote: »

tick the following


O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LtMoh] C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe

this one, if you do not use it for translating Japanese/Chinese text in IE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName

these

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime

then click on the "fix selected" button

they are all items that do not need to run all the time , apart from that things look clean

as loaner pointed out , I would think about putting more Ram in the Laptop , 512mb minimum but 1Gb would make it fly !!

easy job to do

Yay - that's reassuring! Thanks for that. I guess adding Ram may be an answer then.

isofa

Spyware Blaster is a good immunisation system, which protects against dodgy known websites and some spyware, once run, it takes no processing power at all, you just run and update it every so often.

I prefer just cleaning out all the junk once in a while with CCleaner then running AdAware Free and Spybot S+D to do a scan, but don't have these running in the background, so no constant hit on system resources, but I have a secure system with good AV and firewall, and only visit well known sites!

All the software I've linked to above is free to use for personal use.

basmic

TBH, all you need is a little common sense when browsing. Run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (link) and/or Spybot Search and Destroy (link) once a fortnight, and make sure to update them both before scanning.

ESET NOD32 (link) antivirus does have a form of anti-spyware scanning, but I choose not to use it personally. But if you want to purchase a decent virus scanner, NOD32 is one I'd strongly consider.

Greenr

Browntoa wrote: »

tick the following


O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LtMoh] C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe

this one, if you do not use it for translating Japanese/Chinese text in IE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName

these

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime

then click on the "fix selected" button

they are all items that do not need to run all the time , apart from that things look clean

as loaner pointed out , I would think about putting more Ram in the Laptop , 512mb minimum but 1Gb would make it fly !!

easy job to do

Browntoa, would you have a look at what comes up for my laptop which is running really slowly latey??