Spyware: How do I remove and avoid spyware?

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Hi, a quick question. Spyware Doctor keeps telling me I have cool web on my pc. Worringly it tells me that these traces are in my antivirus / firewall and other antispyware apps. Of even more concern is that having removed these apps and cleaned up all registry traces of them, it then finds them in the 'replacment' apps I have installed. Not only that but none of my other anti-spyware apps including Trend Micro (with built in CWS) detects this traces. On a final note under the description of the spyware problem Spyware Doctor then displays 'toss' as the recomend action. Is it possible that Spywaredoctor itself has become corrupted and it seems unable to remove the infections and merely finds them in other applicaitons having removed those it has initilaly identified. Any help would be appreciated as I spent way too long trying to deal with this already.

someone is sending text messeges to my boyfriends cell phone, from my cell phone number, that i am not sending, and i dont know who is doing this. it seems like my cell phone has been hacked, the messeges are very rude.
can you tell me how people can do this? cant hey hack my phone? could using a computer to do it?

I've worked in a called centre. They say to type.
"Kill Message" and hopefully the messages will stop. Also If the problem persists and you suspect it's someone you now you may call your telecommuncations company and recieve a new phone no. for free because of the nature of the change.

If i wanted to download a risky file from bittorrent such as a game, would my computer be safe if I downloaded it directly to a CD or DVD?

No. New article on that: http://ask-leo.com/free_downloads_are_they_safer_if_i_download_directly_to_cd_or_dvd.html

How can I detect cellphone spywear? If found can I link it to a source for possible prosecution after a investigation?

I also wrote an article on removing spyware and adware @ http://www.leahey.org/2006/08/22/how-to-safely-and-thoroughly-remove-adwaremalwarespyware/

I'm not sure what your policy on spam is, if you consider this spam I'm sorry.

Try using Firefox instead of I.E. Its a help as well.

If you have recurring spyware/virus problems give this procedure a go: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407
I have used it several times and it has never not fixed my problem.

Take a look at http://www.putertuner.com

Has a step by step process to clean off spyware and adware, and a section on speeding up your computer as well.. cool little website

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