Spyware and Adware and Viruses

[Cyndi]

I have a 6 month old computer and scanned it with Ad-
aware 6.0 by www.Lavasoft.de (free download) and it found
over 169 ad-ware and spyware programs installed on the
computer.
1. After learning about them online I have found that
turning up your Internet Options Setting to Medium High
prevents alot of them from getting into your computer.
2. Turning on your firewall already installed on all XP
versions helps too.
3. Cleaning out cache at least every week or more helps.
4. Run a virus scan every week.
What I don't know is what Programs are suppose to be in
the Add/Remove Programs folder when the computers new. So
I can always be aware of any new Spyware/Adware added to
it... by drive by downloads. Because this is where you
can find some of them hiding... even if I have a removal
program installed I wanna stop this crap. I even had
Malware installed... it tried to call a $39.99 phone
line... in order to get it to stop it wanted me to pay to
get info to uninstall it. I even got the free
www.iwon.com popswatter to stop pop-ups. That how I
discovered I had spyware and adware... after install it,
I still had pop-ups and wrote to them asking why... they
told me about spyware and adware and thats how my journey
began... so lookup "spyware". If your having shut down
problems and other slow connections... most likely they
are why...
So everyone do the above to stop it.

 

[PA Bear]

1. http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

2. Always seek updates for AdAware, Spybot, HijackThis, BHO Demon, et al.
before each use.

3. SpywareBlaster can help prevent "drive by" installs:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
--
HTH...Please post back to this thread

~Robear Dyer (aka PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE)
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Max]

Just a note -- Kazaa is probably the most popular application in the world,
and it is SPYWARE! *hint: use kazaalite, no spyware*

Spyware IS a virus and people making these things should go to jail.

Ya, they say spyware is a good thing? Theoretically yes, but not in
practice! You get free software in return for having a virus installed on
your system that usually hides in the background and runs even if you aren't
using the software you originally installed.

I don't understand how companies like gator.com can get away with this! I've
had to uninstall the gator virus from my parents computer about 5 times.

I highly recommend using Spybot until Microsoft gets a clue about security.
Windows is used by dummies; you can't expect everyone to know this stuff.

-M

 

[Max]

It's so amazing people are paying $30 to a company who:
1. Promotes and spreads spyware viruses
2. Helps people steal, while passing liability onto its users

-M