Beta found no "miners"

[CC]

Every time I run Ad-Aware's anti-spyware program, it
always comes up with several "data miners" picked up
presumably from websites visited.

Just installed MSAS Beta on a different computer, one
that has no anti-spyware software on it. After the first
deep scan by Beta, there were no, none, zero, nada "data
miners". Does MSAS Beta not look for them?

CC

 

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

Every time I run Ad-Aware's anti-spyware program, it
always comes up with several "data miners" picked up
presumably from websites visited.

Just installed MSAS Beta on a different computer, one
that has no anti-spyware software on it. After the first
deep scan by Beta, there were no, none, zero, nada "data
miners". Does MSAS Beta not look for them?

It is well documented that Microsoft AntiSpyware, in this version, does not
scan for cookies. I suspect that the "gremlins" that you see AdAware
finding are nothing more than cookies. If you remove all cookies
from the comparisons that you make, do you then see any difference between
the products? If so, we need to know more.

Cookies are passive text files, and have no capability of harming your PC,
Windows, or any other software or settings. Cookies pose no security risk,
and no danger to the integrity of your system.

The issue of whether or not some cookies ought to be flagged up for removal
is one related to privacy, not security. But given that a cookie cannot
contain any data about you or your PC that the source web server did not
already know, even the sensitivity about provacy might be misplaced.

 

[Guest]

Hi Robin,
The fact that cookie removal is already foreseen in MSAS
means most likely that cookies will be dealt with in a
later version.
So please stop your crusade against cookie removal.
You will look even more pathetic the day that it will be
build into MSAS.

-----Original Message-----

Every time I run Ad-Aware's anti-spyware program, it
always comes up with several "data miners" picked up
presumably from websites visited.

Just installed MSAS Beta on a different computer, one
that has no anti-spyware software on it. After the first
deep scan by Beta, there were no, none, zero, nada "data
miners". Does MSAS Beta not look for them?

It is well documented that Microsoft AntiSpyware, in this version, does not
scan for cookies. I suspect that the "gremlins" that you see AdAware
finding are nothing more than cookies. If you remove all cookies
from the comparisons that you make, do you then see any difference between
the products? If so, we need to know more.

Cookies are passive text files, and have no capability of harming your PC,
Windows, or any other software or settings. Cookies pose no security risk,
and no danger to the integrity of your system.

The issue of whether or not some cookies ought to be flagged up for removal
is one related to privacy, not security. But given that a cookie cannot
contain any data about you or your PC that the source web server did not
already know, even the sensitivity about provacy might be misplaced.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
(e-mail address removed)


.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

There are remnants of a number of features of the predecessor Giant product
still remaining in the Microsoft Spyware UI.

--

Hi Robin,
The fact that cookie removal is already foreseen in MSAS
means most likely that cookies will be dealt with in a
later version.
So please stop your crusade against cookie removal.
You will look even more pathetic the day that it will be
build into MSAS.

-----Original Message-----

Every time I run Ad-Aware's anti-spyware program, it
always comes up with several "data miners" picked up
presumably from websites visited.

Just installed MSAS Beta on a different computer, one
that has no anti-spyware software on it. After the first
deep scan by Beta, there were no, none, zero, nada "data
miners". Does MSAS Beta not look for them?

It is well documented that Microsoft AntiSpyware, in this version, does not
scan for cookies. I suspect that the "gremlins" that you see AdAware
finding are nothing more than cookies. If you remove all cookies
from the comparisons that you make, do you then see any difference between
the products? If so, we need to know more.

Cookies are passive text files, and have no capability of harming your PC,
Windows, or any other software or settings. Cookies pose no security risk,
and no danger to the integrity of your system.

The issue of whether or not some cookies ought to be flagged up for removal
is one related to privacy, not security. But given that a cookie cannot
contain any data about you or your PC that the source web server did not
already know, even the sensitivity about provacy might be misplaced.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
(e-mail address removed)


.

 

[AndyManchesta]

I agree with Robin 100% on this and the comments about
him needing to stop his crusade is stupid, You post on
here to get help and advise on removal of malware,
Cookies are not and will never be malware, they contain
no code so pose no risk to the user.The people who are
worried about cookies need to do some research on them
and not believe all the hype, Also the continued posts
about why Adaware find them and MSAS doesnt is not a
issue, Maybe these same people can ask Adaware why they
removed WhenU from their database and off the TAC list
without mentioning it to any of their users.

They include cookies to make it look like they are a
complete solution but they also remove detections and
never inform the users about this untill there is such a
fuss they have to include them back on to the list. I
notice Adaware have put one or two of WhenU's files back
on recently so at least you know where you stand with
MSAS and if they downgrade something its clear to see
that when you use their scanner.

While Im posting ive tested MSAS's real time protection
recently again Aurora,Lop,Ist,180,Hotbar,Claria,CWS and
alot of other malware and its performing excellent always
letting me know that Im installing a threat and it blocks
the download so people should realise the work MS are
putting into this is great,

Adaware is a good remover but offers no real time
protection for free, MSAS is offering this for free and
its doing wonderfull even at this early stage so its
ignorant of people to keep posting anti MSAS stories
based on them not removing cookies, There is better
things to worry about and in my view MS are addressing
each of them over time,

MS in my view shouldn't include cookies into the scans
but try educate people to what they really are and why
they are not a threat.This is what Robin is doing daily
on here and I respect him for trying and offering his
free time to help users who have problems. Keep up the
good work guys and you know what they say "Make it idiot
proof and someone will make a better idiot"

All the best

Andy

 

[plun]

AndyManchesta wrote :

MS in my view shouldn't include cookies into the scans
but try educate people to what they really are and why
they are not a threat.This is what Robin is doing daily
on here and I respect him for trying and offering his
free time to help users who have problems. Keep up the
good work guys and you know what they say "Make it idiot
proof and someone will make a better idiot"

Well, that last statement can be discussed about tracking cookies.

If this world only was run by good guys this wasn´t a problem ! Now
we have bad guys also using these "tracking cockonuts" and
for time being remove them all until a user can handle tracking cookies
in a better way and sort out spammers, Viagra trackers, porn trackers
and so on Alan Ralsky probably earns a lot using "tracking
coockonuts" when a user click on a spam link and and every move is
tracked.....

IMHO

 

[AndyManchesta]

I knew you would have something to say about that post
Plun

I think people should just install Ccleaner then use that
when they finish on the net for the day to remove all
cookies and temp files then the user doesnt have to worry
about tracking cookies, Or use IE's built in settings
which I posted last time, ControlPanel> Internet Options>
then delete cookies , Or from the same page press the
Privacy tab and restrict cookies getting onto the system
if they cause concern to some users.

I understand your view on this Plun and can see some
people really want a way to stop them but thats already
there by using IE's own settings or as I do use Ccleaner
before shutting down the pc each day to remove all the
junk so its not a big problem,

It does gives people a excuse to call MS so maybe it
would help them to include it for the people who are
scared of cookies, I dont share that view but in the same
sense Im not saying Im right and they are wrong, Its just
I think they are not a threat so I try share that opinion
but you think they are a threat so its good you post your
views aswell so MS get to see both sides

Thanks Andy

 

[plun]

AndyManchesta expressed precisely :

I think they are not a threat so I try share that opinion
but you think they are a threat so its good you post your
views aswell so MS get to see both sides

Yup

Technically there is no threat but practically we have a threat.

A user clicks on a Viagra spam link, goes to Viagra and collects a
cockonuts, then this user goes to Antivirus Gold collects again.
And at last to abetterintenet an installs a good freeware.

This is worth $1 for the spammer......... :')

 

[AndyManchesta]

I know what you mean there was a user on here who said he
had MungaBunga on his system which is meant to be able to
hack into accounts but all it really does it open a
backdoor on their pc and replaces netstat with a bogus
version to prevent the user detecting whats going on.

Then it goes round sites clicking links without the user
knowing at a incredible rate, I assume this makes MB
loads of money especially if enough people fall for it
and run MB on their system so I agree there is a hidden
side to the web and the dirty tricks are getting worse,

Its making money for the scum but the genuine users are
the people who suffer but then thats the same for dialers
when installed on modem connections it causes a huge
amount of problems and the people behind it makes tons of
money so I appreciate your views but cookies are not the
main problem out there for users and I must admit Im
happy to leave them out of my list of threats

I noticed the avi file in the MS Antispy folder for
scanning cookies so it means people will get there wish
one day so thats even more reason to not worry too much
about it,

If MS have already added the avi file for cookie scanning
it means its coming soon so we can live with deleting
cookies manually or using programs like Ccleaner for now,
Or even use the privacy tab and block third party cookies
then its not a problem at all.


Andy

 

[plun]

AndyManchesta has brought this to us :

If MS have already added the avi file for cookie scanning
it means its coming soon so we can live with deleting
cookies manually or using programs like Ccleaner for now,
Or even use the privacy tab and block third party cookies
then its not a problem at all.

Well, CCleaner removes all cookies (except those you manually keep)
and Lavasofts Adaware, Spybot and mostly all other major
3rd party security tools can handle tracking cookies from cookies.

So for me this is really easy, remove them until its practically safe
to use these "cockonuts". We don´t need them. And as you know this
function is a mess within IE6, I am just going to test this with IE7


Its just to download and test for all users which do not like to be
tracked.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/downloads/default.mspx

 

[Guest]

no discussion about MSAS detecting tracking cookies so
far. if they do add this feature it might effect the
performance of this antispyware and some system
requirement might change dramatically. although MS or
people think that tracking cookie is not a threat, it
should add this feature for precaution and should add it
since every antispyware has the tools to detect tracking
cookie, i think they should follow the standard for
standalone antispyware.

 

[\old\ devildog]

Try WinPatrol. ( www.winpatrol.com) You can set it up to delete the cookies
you want to get rid of by using text filters such as "hitbox", "gator",
"sex", "kanzaa", "xxx", or just about any textwant to use to filter. Simple
to use and it even helps block the crudware from getting on you computer in
the 1st place.
It has many different uses and is a well written piece of code. Both
freeware and a paided version is available. It will even lock your host file
and home page to prevent hijacking.

"old" devildog


: AndyManchesta has brought this to us :
: > If MS have already added the avi file for cookie scanning
: > it means its coming soon so we can live with deleting
: > cookies manually or using programs like Ccleaner for now,
: > Or even use the privacy tab and block third party cookies
: > then its not a problem at all.
:
: Well, CCleaner removes all cookies (except those you manually keep)
: and Lavasofts Adaware, Spybot and mostly all other major
: 3rd party security tools can handle tracking cookies from cookies.
:
: So for me this is really easy, remove them until its practically safe
: to use these "cockonuts". We don´t need them. And as you know this
: function is a mess within IE6, I am just going to test this with IE7
:
:
: Its just to download and test for all users which do not like to be
: tracked.
:
: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/downloads/default.mspx
:
: --
: plun
:
: