Im looking into buying a spyware-adware detection/removal tool, and was wondering what kind of reccomendations you guys would make. Any success stories, bad downloads, etc?
Posted by SteelHorse (Member # 1725) on :
Run both Spybot and Adaware, I do!
Posted by Mike2001SS (Member # 2088) on :
I have spyware nuker by webroot and it works great
Posted by twobratSS (Member # 2180) on :
We have both Spy Sweeper and Ad-Aware. Together, they seem to get the job done.
Posted by Sizzle (Member # 503) on :
We use Ad Aware at work. Works good. I personally don't get much spyware on my machines.
You may also want to try the Firefox web browser. There are a few compatability isses here and there, but overall it is much less aggrivating to surf using that browser vs IE. However, Windows XP SP2 is going to add some nice blocker and tabbing features to IE I have read.
Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
For those of us that don't know... what the heck are you talking about....? Is it so you don't get those annyoing pop up ads?
Posted by FireChicken (Member # 2067) on :
quote:Originally posted by MM: For those of us that don't know... what the heck are you talking about....? Is it so you don't get those annyoing pop up ads?
yep. Spyware is a term used to describe software that makes pop up ads. Spy ware is commonly installed on your computer from teh following sources:
1. Any computer that comes with microsoft windows bundled with it (HP, compaq, dell, etc)
2. Downloading software like kazaa, morpheus, emule, etc.
3. There are also some websites that try to install the stuff on your computer. You know how you might go to a webpage, and a message pops up trying to install macromedia flash, quicktime, etc? Well, there are websites that try to get you to install software under those pretenses as well.
Some of the more common ones are bargain buddy, aconti, GAIN, there are hundreds of them.
Ad-Aware is available free from lavasoft, and will detect, and remove (if you so desire) these spyware things from your computer.
But popup ads arent the only issue. These programs can also consume system resources, making your computer run slower. They can also use internet bandwidth to send siganals to websites to open popup ads, slowing your internet speed. They are sort of like viruses, worms, and trojans, except they are made not to destroy your computer, but to make it do something slightly different.
Posted by ss_rs_z (Member # 1888) on :
quote:Originally posted by blkragss02:
quote:Originally posted by SteelHorse: 2 of the best.
Spybot worked for me, after I went back and got the updates. I had a program sneak on to my computer that would add things to "My Favorites" drop down menu. I would delete them and the cookies, but they would install themselves again in less then 5 min.
Posted by Sizzle (Member # 503) on :
One HUGE spyware offender is Webshots. And users can install it with a minimal set of rights to a workstation. Ugh!
Posted by KevinA (Member # 139) on :
be sure to set your security settings for IE at the medium setting. Microsoft also has a good article about spyware right on thier main page.
If you still have problems, hijack this can help you but beware it is a very powerful tool and you don't want to delete anything unless you know what it is.
cws shredder is a good tool if you can't get rid of the cool web search bar.
There are some great security sites out there that can help you resolve these problems.
Posted by twobratSS (Member # 2180) on :
quote:Originally posted by CamaroSCG: Spybot worked for me, after I went back and got the updates. I had a program sneak on to my computer that would add things to "My Favorites" drop down menu. I would delete them and the cookies, but they would install themselves again in less then 5 min.
We were having a problem with that as well, but the programs we downloaded have seemed to alleviate that problem.
Posted by HotWheelSS aka HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
Spybot and AdAware here.
Posted by 96blackSS (Member # 2105) on :
quote:Originally posted by blkragss02:
quote:Originally posted by SteelHorse: 2 of the best.
I use both SpyBot and AdAware like many. I also use Hijack This and CWS Shredder as Kevin said. These are very helpful for those pesky problems you can't seem to get rid of no matter how much you run SpyBot/AdAware. Do be careful with them though.
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