Spyware Stormer ripoff Internet

Background:

Spyware Stormer - Online

Although Spyware Stormer markets itself as "the world leader in spyware prevention and elimination software," the program leaves much to be desired. In fact, The Spyware Warrior List of Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites recommends staying far away from Spyware Stormer.

The Spyware Warrior List reports a number of programs and Web sites that are not to be trusted, as they are sometimes affiliated with the very spyware programs they purport to erase. The list reports that Spyware Stormer is a variant of NetSpyProtector , NoSpyX and SpyVest ; it is considered shady because there is no trial version, the information on its Web site is extremely limited, and the 'free scan' reports false conclusions.

According to an online user forum, people ran into problems once Spyware Stormer downloaded onto their computers. It scans automatically when the PC is switched on, slowing down the computer and hindering user activity. It then requires registration and $30 to 'fix' the problems it finds. It also does not appear in the Add/Remove Programs menu; a suspicious sign that this program is itself spyware.

There are a number of legitimate, free spyware protection programs that can be downloaded in this one's place. Don't even chance it.
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You have a mess on your hands here, Christopher.

What steps have you taken to try to remove this program? Do you have any legitimate anti-spyware programs?

Try these; ALL of them: (all free, just Google for them)

Spybot S&D (Patrick Kolla)
AdAware Personal (Lavasoft)
A-Squared Free (Emsisoft)
Bazooka (Kephyr)

Assuming you are running Windows since you felt a need for spyware removal:

Download and then update all the above programs. Reboot into Safe Mode (press the F8 button after the boot beep) and scan with ALL of these. If you have a fairly new box, you may be able to run all the scans simultaneously. If not, run them one after the other in any order.

Safe mode suppresses many running processes, making it easier to get rid of more problems. I doubt you will rid yourself of this entirely, but you may be able to cripple it.

Reboot into Windows normally. Download "Hijack This" Unzip it and create a logfile. Go to Computer Cops or the Tom Coyote forums and post your log. Wait.

Trained volunteers will read your log and help you remove the last vestiges of the nasty thing from your registry where it usually plants itself firmly.

A word of advice: in the future always check into anything you are tempted to download. Google is free and fast and doing this will save you a lot of misery. A quick Google search for Spyware Stormer could have prevented this catastrophe.

Good luck to you.