Defeating Spyware

“Spybot S&D is pretty good, and it's free as well. I usually run both Ad-Aware and Spybot.”

“I have read that many folks recommend you run both Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware
It seems like one will pick up stuff the other misses...you do have to be careful what you allow them to remove, they can disable a few programs that you may want to use.”

“I find that I can keep even my old windows 98 computer free of adware by using a cocktail of ad-aware, spybot, and spy sweeper.

I get second crack with the shovel when you guys find him.”

“I usually have to go in and relog in to any site that uses cookies after running both programs.

Better know your passwords and login name or what hotmail, yahoo, ect. mail address you used.”

“I have to admit, I'm another adaware fan, have been for years, I use that first, and clean up the rest with spybot,, adaware is a bit of a setup the first time, but after you get the ignore list setup, it seems to work pretty well on its own.”

“I used to remove ad/spyware, tedious bit by tedious bit. Now I've signed up with Spy Sweeper by webroot. Has regular updates like virus protection. Works pretty good.”

“Spyware article at InformationWeek”

“so I do some design work right now for an internet privacy software company...iprive.com

They sound pretty good. I know there used to be one site out there that called themselfs simply "Anonymous" I think it was one of the first privacy sites out there a long time ago.

anyway, they got pretty good reviews back then in pc mag and other computer mags.

I wonder if they are really worth it?? Ya think??”

“speaking of spyware, has anybody noticed that Matt's ads on the right often match the thread subject. =8-O”

“I read in pcworld magazine about CoolWebSearch, a relatively new nasty that isn't removed by ad-aware or spybot. You can download cwshredder through the link in the article or from Merijn.org and get rid of this one for free.”

“I'd like to draw and quarter the person or persons that made CoolWebSearch.”

“I have had extremely good luck keeping spyware off my computer with Spybot S&D. Run it several times, though. It doesn't always catch everything the first time. But if you run it resident after that, it will stop EVERYTHING.
It's free.
You can download it here
I also use CWshredder.”

“my kid got hit by that a month or so ago. Big pain the butt I tell you. Finally got rid of it.”

“Yeah I downloaded the shredder about a month ago, just in case the coolwebsearch deal shows up. So far I haven't run across it, but I don't do much random surfing.”

“I can usually kill it all thru spybot and ad alert.. but most recently had to vanilla format my son's laptop.. it was infected so bad.”

“I really have to recommend Spy Sweeper. I've been running it for about a month now and its great. It actually blocks most nasties before they infect. I run ad-aware as a back up about once a week and get maybe 1 file that Spy Sweeper missed.

It costs $30 but I got it for $10 on sale, after rebate. It would have been free if I qualified for the upgrade rebate, so look around for sales.

You can try it for 30 days for free: http://www.download.com/Webroot-Spy-Sweeper/3000-8022_4-10301356.html”

“Q: if i'm running windows XP with Service Pck2 do I still need to run something like Spybot or Adaware too?”

“Yes.”

“last time I downloaded adaware or spybot (can't remember which one) I had nothing but problems with my computer. My computer ran so slow I couldn't do anything. Based on what happened to me before I am not so sure I want to try it again”

“Norton and McKafee do not seem to get it at all.”

“I also run Norton, or whatever its called now”

“I like spy sweeper too. You have to update it pretty regurally though like your virus protection. I also really like pc-cillin that's blocked everything that got most other folks.”

“Ewker, I had that problem too.
Those programs aren't written to run on 'old' computers.
I fixed my 'problem' by buying a new much faster computer. ;-)”

“SS, I had to buy a new computer because mine so bogged down. So maybe it will work now.

Anyone use the Yahoo spyblocker that is on Yahoo's toolbar??”

“Does anyone run a Mac? Any software suggestions for a Mac?”

“Kinda funny, since Yahoo collects personal info.”

“cat, they probably block everyone else and keep all the info for themselves”

“I had used the LavaSoft AdAware for ages. Luved it. Read a consumer review, found Giant Software. Liked it so much had to have it. Now, Microsoft bought them, and stating they hope to release a BETA in about 30 days. It's still running though. It's excellent.”

“I just downloaded and use Yahoo's spy blocker - it caught a couple things spybot had missed (I also use adaware and McAfee).”

“I don't understand the logic behind Adware and Spyware. Do people really buy products and support a business that just spit in their eye and downloaded unwanted junk into their computer? I know I wouldn't. I've had this stupid Winfixer 2005 Adware on mine for a few days now knocking my browser off with ads and feel like emailing the company to tell them what a bunch of jerks they are, trying to sell me junk while getting on my nerves in the process.”

“Rich, it's simple. It's all a matter of percentages. Direct mail pays off if you have a 3% response. I imagine that adware pays off at some miniscule percentage, like 0.05% or something like that. If a million computers are infected with adware that has your ad in it, you would only need to have about 500 sales to pay for it. Heck, it's probably less than that. So, the reason you get adware is because of all the drooling unibrow quasi-Neanderthals with computers out there who really think that ad is selling them the greatest thing since sliced bread.
last edited: 10/10/05 8:54:53 AM”

“People are just gullible & dumb. SAme reason telemarketers stay in business (major $$$) & we elected a moron for a president.”

“Clinton left office almost 5 years ago. Why are you still picking on him?”

“Clinton for all his faults was a Rhodes scholar. Bush is lucky to produce a coherent sentence, but he is personable. His downfall (besides Hillary) was picking on the military. They’ve gotten too powerful to mess with & it cost him.”

“Don't look at me. You're the one that said Clinton was a moron.”

“I just contacted Winfixer 2005 and gave them a piece of my mind about the trash they unloaded on my computer. It says it's a program to fix problems, but I didn't have any until this thing showed up. I'm so pissed right now I'd like to meet the CEO of this company in a dark alley! I doubt I'll hear back from them, but these marketing tactics should be banned.”

“I just did a scan. Normally, I have maybe three infections. I scan quite frequently. My Spyware Doctor found 103 infections this time!!! Sheeeeeyat! Those adware people are finding ways in. They're as bad as the hackers and virus creators in my opinion.”

“The Winfixer popup is commonly caused by Adware on your system called "virtumonde" which in turn is commonly on one's system because of a Trojan Horse (usually one of the 'Conhook' variants).

Try running the free Spy Sweeper Scan here

The free trial version of Spy Sweeper on that same page will remove the Adware but not the Trojan.

Trojan Remover will take care of that.

good luck!”

“Thanks, I'll give that a try.”

“Sunshine is correct. I make my living fixing computers. I see very few real virus infections, almost all computers have some pestware, frequently they become totally crippled from the infestations. NEVER succumb to a pop-up that tells you your computer is infected and to click the button to get the fix. I use two free pestware removers that are effective 99% of the time and don't come with some other undesireable crap. They are

Adaware
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

Spybot
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Spyware Sweeper is even more effective and does real time monitoring to prevent infection if you're willing to pay for it.”

“trailbum, thanks for the link for the ad aware I have spybot s&d and spyware blaster plus the yahoo spyware but with the ad aware I found 21 additional pieces, again many thanks!”

“I just ran Adaware and it identified that Virtumonde and removed it. I ran Spybot and it found nothing and I'm not sure if I did anything wrong with it, but I thought it was strange that it didn't find anything.
last edited: 10/12/05 9:13:14 AM”