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HijackThis
HijackThis lists the contents of key areas of the Registry and
hard drive--areas that are used by both legitimate programmers and
hijackers. The program is continually updated to detect and remove
new hijacks. It does not target specific programs and URLs, only
the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites. As a
result, false positives are imminent, and unless you're sure about
what you're doing, you always should consult with knowledgable
folks before deleting anything.
If persistent spyware is bogging down your computer, you might
need HijackThis. The tiny program examines vulnerable or suspect
parts of your system, such as browser helper objects and certain
types of Registry keys. Pressing the Scan button generates a log
of dozens of items, most of which are just customizations. Don't
check off an item and hit the Fix checked button unless you're
sure it's malware. Clicking Info on selected item tells you why
the entry was flagged as suspicious, but not whether it's actually
malware. To find that out, search the Web for that item's name or
go straight to a forum, such as SpywareInfo or Computer Cops.
Saving the log creates a text document you can post to these
forums.
The latest version adds powerful tools to the Config window. The
process manager and hosts file editor help you excise virulent
infections. The unique ADS Spy tool scans for alternate data
streams, which some browser hijackers use to hide from spyware
removers. The program still installs into whatever directory in
which you unzip the file, which can make it hard to locate.
HijackThis is a serious tool for any user who needs to root out a
serious infestation, but wield it with caution.
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