After a run in with a nasty virus, I need to get a spyware removal tool on line. Since my web search turned up many free programs, I felt that I should not have any problems removing the offending germ.
Well, to my surprise, even though these programs advertised themselves as being “free”, you still had to send money. The most common approach was a free spyware scan but you had to pay if you want the spyware removed. Some advertised a free spyware removal program but, it came as a part of a package that you needed to purchase.
While I sympathize with the need to make money, lets be fair in the advertising. After all, if the local garage advertised a free oil change, we would expect “oil” to be included. If not, we would consider it to be deceptive advertising.
My father got this nasty virus on his computer a few days after you mentioned that the techs were re-imaging your machine. He was just as exasperated as you. Instead of hassling with the checklist you and I performed – which evidently did not work, I had him reformat. Hopefully this is not so sophisticated that it has infected firmware.