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xander
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Joined: 2/22/2005
Msg: 26 | |
| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/26/2005 10:01:29 PM | I find that Microsoft's Anti-Spyware software, along with an updated virus protection works just fine. The key to avoiding exposure/keeping privacy is to use precautions far more secure than this. Contradict yourself much?
In a recent test, MS' Antispyware only spotted 63% of spyware on test machines. It's one of the better ones out there, but to accept it as being "enough" is naïve. You espouse yourself as an expert but complain that Spybot is too tricky. They're all about the same at that level. At some point the novice has to trust the source telling them what to remove and what to keep. It's no different, really, than from antivirus software. Either you trust 'em or you don't. Read my first posts in this thread for some trustworthy options to keep yourself better protected.
(Note: Since it was intended as a spyware thread, I stayed off the topics of hardware & software firewalls, valid A-V software and such.)
I've been using MS' software since the day it came out. Can you tell me wherein I would find its registry cleaner options? I'll be dàmned if I've ever seen them.
I'll let "Admin" tackle the accusations that PoF is trying to infect you. | |
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xander
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Joined: 2/22/2005
Msg: 27 | |
| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/26/2005 10:28:15 PM | Big difference between running multiple real-time A-V and running concurrent spyware scanners. Apples - Oranges. If you actually work with computers then you should understand the difference (I'm wondering why you'd have to go in to a place monthly to do a defrag when it's dead easy to automate. Oh, "easy money."). The worst you'll get with concurrent scanners is false positives as one reports something the other missed (MS doesn't report cookies, for example).
The whole point of this thread is for those who are not novices an avenue to provide those who are novices sources of trustworthy information. Please don't discredit those few softwares which have been lauded as the Best of the Best. As I said before, people have to simply trust their software that it is looking out for their best interest and that what it is recommending is, indeed, the best course of action. People do that everyday with their AV and don't think twice. My own customers have no problems accepting that software that I have recommended to them is safe for use. It's one of the reasons they pay me. Not one has ever called me up later to say "Is everything on this list safe to remove?". They just trust.
People *should* be running multiple (trustworthy) spyware scanners. Period.
1.a MS Antispyware (XP/2k) for real-time coverage, set to scan daily
1.b or SpywareGuard (98/Me) for real-time coverage
2. Spybot, updated and run weekly
3. AdAware, updated and run weekly
4. SpywareBlaster, updated and run weekly (spotting a pattern yet?)
5. Hardware firewall (router)
6. Software firewall (i.e. ZoneAlarm/Kerio). XP's is not enough.
7. Firefox browser to replace IE
8. Thunderbird for email if you're using OE (more secure + spamfiltering)
9. Windows Updates kept up to date. (Ignorning the globe by the clock doesn't help you)
10. Antivirus software. If you like Norton, keep it. Otherwise AVG & Avast work very well. (Keep an eye on AVG's updates; sometimes buggy - I prefer Avast because of that)
Don't think I missed anything there. (I'm very familiar with MS' RegCleaner but that wasn't how your post read.) | |
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xander
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Joined: 2/22/2005
Msg: 28 | |
| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/26/2005 10:36:55 PM | "Anyone who knows anything about computers knows that in order for you to gain this information, something has to slip in for the information. Spyware gathers this information and more." in reference to how PoF has identified that 90% of visitors are running spyware.
Nothing has to "slip in" to gain information. By hitting a web page, you have already given them tacit permission to run scripts/java/ActiveX/etc. Your browser bends over and identifies itself. Head over to GRC.com and take their "Shields Up" test. Pages can get TONS of information about your computer - there doesn't have to be anything nefarious or suspicious in their intent. | |
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99
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Joined: 3/6/2005
Msg: 29 | |
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xander
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Joined: 2/22/2005
Msg: 30 | |
| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/27/2005 5:06:51 AM | PTMY, this is a forum for the 'average joe' user -- running through a proxy server isn't usually an option for him/her. If you need a place where you can try to impress the techies, try experts-exchange.
SpywareGuard's coverage of startup/script issues is a bit more comprehensive than Spybot's Teatimer program due to its heuristic nature. While you could run both on top of each other, I think most would find answering two sets of questions for every change a bit tedious.
Those are called "vulnarability tests"? Good to know. I'll try to remember that. | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/27/2005 8:08:08 PM | | Lets keep things simple, most users can barely turn on thier computers and use email. It may seem strange to us, but that is the way things are. 11% of users have funwebproducts spyware installed, along with search assistant and websearch toolbar. They blame us for trying to infect them when all we are doing is displaying a warning.... | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/28/2005 2:08:31 AM | | after downloading and installing ad-aware turn on ad-watch and set it to auto load with windows. this will provent most of spy where from even being installed. but you have to turn this on your self as this is not a standard runing feacher | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/28/2005 2:12:16 AM | to keep it simple for you i will give you step by step on doing it
1 load ad-aware
2 click on ad-watch
3 click on tools
4 click on options
5 click on load ad-watch on windows start up
now it will boot every time with windows and you shouldent have any more trubles.
hope this helped | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/28/2005 5:25:54 AM | | course then again.. having that sh*trunning in the background.. can boggle the performance of your pc down.. the more sh*tyou have on start-up the slower your computer will run.. your best thing to do is to d/l mozilla firefox.. and use that as your defualt browser rather then IE.. pay attention to what you d/l..(if something looks suspicious, most likely it is) run adware manaully but alteast once a week..(make sure you check for new definitions before running it too) look in your startup under msconfig.. and make sure there no weird programs in there.. some spyware likes to put it self in there.. so when you reboot.. it just re-installs itself.. to do that click Start/Run and under the Run prompt type msconfig and hit enter.. then click the startup tab. and uncheck anything you dont want to startup when windows first loads.. on my pc i have everything unchecked except my soundcard software.. | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/28/2005 5:35:31 AM | | unfortunatly ms config can really mss up your computer. and having thing start with windows dosnt slow your computer down it slows yor start up down. having unnessasery prorams runing will slow down your computer but a hardly thing adwatch siting in 6,700K is bottle necking a computer, even if it only has 128mb. as for watching what you download some downloads are unknown and registery changes as well so you wouldent even know if you had them. i can personaly say i havent had any spy where on my computer in a very long to do to 2 facts i run ad-aware and i am carfull of what isites i go to and what i download. you way is a viable option just not a practical one for the end user | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/28/2005 5:41:37 AM | | i guess some people just arent as conserned as me, as for getting as much performance out of my pc, as i can.. i already have many things going on at the same time.. id perfer to keep any unnecessary processes running.. taking stuff of your start-up wont mess with your pc.. if you want you could always go back and put it back on.. im sure theres other stuff in msconfig you could **** up.. but i made sure to clarify.. the start up.. i havent had spyware on my pc in a long time.. i ran into a trojan last week.. but the moment i noticed something was up.. i got rid of it immediatly.. | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/28/2005 5:47:02 AM | | and you could allways turn it off after your computer restarts but honestly when you have a 2 ghz the onlt time any one would care is when gameing. and then there are better ways to increase your comp proformance but i will leave that for another tread on proformance inhancement | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/29/2005 12:48:06 AM | Avast is good. I only run Windows if I absolutely have to, and Mac is alien to me. Avast seems to work well, has no popups or anything, although it does tend to talk to you at inopportune moments (I'm sure the "inform me verbally of updates" can be turned off).
[rant]But that's only if you fools insist on running Windows.[/rant] | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/29/2005 12:58:06 PM | first I would like to say thankx big fish, for helping us all out, Here is a tip that can't be left out, if a pop up tells you to download something that you did not click download to should not be downloaded and no do not install it. also if an E-mail is not from someone you know then delete it it's junk, it can have spywear and virus on them e-mails.
I clean up a PC that had 100% of it's 2.6 P4 intel chip used at boot up just to run spywear. the guy had 122 major spywear on it, with in 5 minutes I had it down to 26 programs running, and it was already 1000% better, then I got spybot off here and deleted the rest but 7 where left that I would need to pay to get deleted, atleast he can use his pc. another was 1066 spywear detected. nice of them to do so, but the worst was one taht said ask you network admin to remove this softwear when it was in admin access lol. that is just so stupid... well windows is full of bugs. and many lame kids to make bots, to what end? to know what you like so they can show you there sites? let's be real if you need porn sites your a target for spywear, if you use Kaza sucker, and if you use IE for the net then your asking for it. Fire fox is decent, I use Netscape, and I have not had probs since it has pop up blockers built in...
Dan, | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 3/29/2005 1:27:58 PM | Good forum.
There are many programs out there that do similar things. Just make sure you keep them running... AntiVirus, Adaware, Spyware, etc and not disabled. Also, remember to do the security updates provided by Microsoft. (ie Service Packs). All of these programs will run differently on each OS platform... whether it is Win95 / 98 / 2000 / or XP. You may not want to install the microsoft updates the same day they come out.. but once they have been around for a few days.. or a week and are been proven then go for it.
Also remember to update the antivirus signature files (called DATs) daily on your system!
If you are really particular, and want to completely lock down a system (ie every time it is rebooted it returns to the original OEM install) look into a program called "Deepfreeze". It works great.. but use with caution!! When a machine is frozen and rebooted... absolutely eveything that has been stored on the system's "frozen" area is gone!! This program has been an excellent tool for anyone working in an area where machines need to be kept clean, virus free and consistent.
Finally remember to keep a "backup" of your system. Norton Ghost (bought on its own for around $75) is excellent for maintaining a backup image of a complete working system (including operating system, applications, personal files, etc). So if you ever get infected with a virus or something and you can't get rid of??? Just restore from your last image!!
And if you don't like today's systems (they are not perfect)... well it wasn't too long ago we were using DOS and dialup 14.4 modems...LOL
Cheers!
RowdyBear | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 4/1/2005 11:25:31 AM | I agree good forum.
I will try to keep it simple but I hope my imput will help most of you.
Now I am not claiming to be a expert here so don't bash me  .
I run a number of program's to keep this junk off my computer and find that my system run's fine.
For those of you that are on shaw cable they have a new Antivirus, spyware and firewall program that can be found here https://secure.shaw.ca/apps/shawsecure/SignUp.aspx.
Also here is a good site to see how well your firewall is working http://www.grc.com/default.htm it scans to see if you have any ports open along with good info on protecting yourself.
Another good program that I did not see mentioned is a2 http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
I myself have used all programs mentioned on this fourm and find them all to be very good.Except Norton AV don't like it don't use it.
One more program you may want to use is RegScrub v3.2 for XP it can help clean your registry (caution for the novice PLEASE READ ALL HELP before using ) I find it very easy to understand and it is a great program to keep registry from being clutterd.
Also for those that don't know make sure to defrag your system at least once a month.
Well I hope this helps and happy surffing and fishing. | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 4/2/2005 1:26:05 AM | Actually the best way to keep your Windows clean from all that nasty spyware is not to run it on the net. Use a Linux Live CD. You don't have to install on to your hard drive, it runs completely from your cd rom drive. And you don't get any of that nasty spyware or trojans, hardly any pop up windows like you get in Windows. You can still download documents and pics right to your c:\>My Documents folder. And when your finished surfing the net, you exit out reboot, it's that simple.
I changed my systems 5 years ago to linux, I haven't had 1 virus or trojan or spyware in five years. But, if your a diehard Microsoft Lover, Spybot is good, but if not setup properly you will still get some spyware, contact someone who knows what their doing. X-Cleaner also is a great self running program (no need to install), and yes it is free. For anti-virus get AntiVir, actually detects trojans and protect you against porn style dialers. AVG 7.0 is also good for a backup antivirus. And yes there all free. Antivirus like Norton, well it doesn't do the job that you are paying for it. Ad-aware SE is also a great program and there too, it has to be set up, and updated. Spywareblaster, will protect against the latest spyware and helps both IE and Mozilla style browsers. We have been specializing in Malware removal for the past 3 years. These are the programs that work, also 1 more note to keep in mind, if you have any file-sharing programs on your computer (ie. Kazaa, Bearshare, Limewire, etc.) you will have spyware. Some of the free screensavers offer you the same garbage, free spyware with your screensaver. And spyware now can be installed from active X in stealth mode within Windows. Some websites also has spyware cookies. So, bottom line, keep all anti-virus, anti-trojan and anti-spyware program up to date at all times and do a backup on a regular basis. Good luck and happy surfing.
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 4/2/2005 1:50:20 AM | Have you ever looked at the Microsoft updates for IE , OE or Windows, thousands of updates. So to me these programs are holier than swiss cheese. Firefox has a couple of bugs but there browsers are rock solid. They are constantly fixing those issues and offering updated browsers. Latest from the Mozilla site for Firefox is 1.1.2 and Thunderbird is also 1.1.2. The new versions even have a checker for the latest update and will installed when it is available. Not let MS, where they keep trying to patch the leaky IE & OE. Go for the good stuff. Who ever said that to you, must have been a diehard Microsoft Lover, that info is false.  | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 4/6/2005 11:21:41 PM | Hmmmnnn????
Well I am happy I am running on a Mac and simply perplexed by the lengths you all have to go to keep your systems clean in the world of microsoft and PC's.
My Mac is supposededly not immune but it is harder to target the Mac OS, and I just do not get the problems you all seem to have.
Only thing buggy I've noticed lately is the display of text portions of POF profile pages don't display quite right or align when viewing. But I think that's an interface discrepancy
I was concerned a few months back when my nieces computer became so infected, that she lost her drive in the attempted fix, so I started looking into it and found a site called Spywarriors that was all free and documented much of the same recommendations given above......oh they also have forums where they offer very specific technical advice for users to help get rid of what might been installed, how to trouble shoot for specific virus's and how to keep your machine safe once it has been cleaned.
It seemed like a very well run site totally devoteed to dealing with these issues, plus they keep an ongoing list of free utilities and comparisons on their effectiveness and use, constantly updated.
Incidentily does anyone have any info on MySpace being guilty of these trojan installs, their site seems a little buggy to me.
Oh the only add blocker I use is an oder shareware program called WebFree it works pretty good and the shareware license is only $20, in case other Mac users need one. I don't think it runs in Mac OS X though but maybe another version does. | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 4/8/2005 4:50:49 AM | I use a new browser called SlimBrowser. It is awesome no pop-ups and or spyware. Do a google search for it and you should find it. Make sure it is the browser though. I screwed up at first and got something I didn't want.hehe All in fun | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 4/9/2005 11:18:46 AM | Can anyone help me!!!!!!!!!!!!
i had something that deleted all of my web page files from my computer and now i cannot even access those pages or even get into my c-panel to get them back,,,,,,, the only sites that it restricts me from is my own?????????????? do you know what this could be or how to fix it? | |
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| IMPORTANT --> Spyware - Popups, Homepage Changing, etc
Posted: 4/12/2005 11:01:26 AM | this is for windows xp
heres how i get rid of spyware if i have a highspeed connection that is always connected
first
run hijack this, see what problems your comp has using hijack this, you have to import
the hijackthis logfile to www.hijackthis.de
then check your host file, xp is C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
host file is where all thsoe annoying redirects are
then boot your computer into safemode with networkihng
run the liveupdates for microsoft antispyware then run antispyware with full system scan
typically this would take care of the problem with spyware, but you can also run adaware
after that
also clear out your internet explorer cache,delete temporary files, check your downloaded
program files
uncheck enable third party browser extensions, enable install on demand, and put a check
into use tls 1.0
take your computer out of safemode with networking, now that should fix all the problems
o ya, also delete the restore points and recreate them causea spyware hides in there to.
o ya, also disable all spyware startup items and spyware services
if your running any os other then xp, and you got spyware,
i can help you with that to, but its a bit more tricky | |
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