Ad-aware

[Mary]

Is there another program out there that does this automatically without
having to constantly run the program and check the little boxes to delete
the spyware. Every few hours or so I have several more to delete. They
just come right back. I update it constantly too.

Thanks
Mary

 

[R. McCarty]

You're trying to push back the tide. Instead of the constant
"Detect & Remove" scenario, you need to "Harden-Up" your
PC. With a little work and a couple of changes you can stop
this stuff from mucking up your PC.

The upcoming Service Pack 2 is going to help with this, but
it's still a few weeks away. In the interim, you can help yourself
by getting a software Firewall. Also, I suspect that if you use
Internet Explorer your Zone Security settings are too lax.
It's a fairly complex subject, but a Google for Security Zone
settings will bring up several helpful sites on how to correctly
set it up. Cookie management is a good thing. With IE you can
setup to accept 1st party & reject 3rd party (Ads,etc) cookies.

As always you have to get things cleaned up before these new
changes will help. AdAware, SpyBot and CWShredder are a
few good tools to identify & remove what's already on your PC.
Make sure your Anti-Virus protection is current and up to date.

If you want to take more comprehensive measures - then you
need to trim back some default Services that XP runs and clean
up the Startups & Watchdog apps that aren't really necessary.
But these two areas are move advanced and shouldn't be done
unless your system is protected by a System Image backup.
(Which is a whole topic on it's own).

 

[francis gerard]

Is there another program out there that does this automatically without
having to constantly run the program and check the little boxes to delete
the spyware. Every few hours or so I have several more to delete. They
just come right back. I update it constantly too.

the 'spyware' to which you refer, are they just tracking cookies? if so,
it's not really a cause for concern, they cause no harm to your machine or
your privacy, per se, they are used mostly 3rd party ad/marketing agencies
(hired by the operators of the site you're visiting) to track and compile
statistics on your browsing habits while visiting that site. no, i don't
like being used for marketing purposes either, and i think ad/marketing
agencies are scumbags too. you're gonna get a lot of those by visiting
virtually ANY website. just run ad-aware every few days to get rid of them,
but tracking cookies are nothing to really worry about.

i believe the paid-for version of ad-aware actively monitors for spyware
(including tracking cookies) and either blocks or immediately expires them
after being set. some sites don't load properly unless you accept their
cookes (even if the source is a 3rd party site), so the trick is to accept
and expire the cookies shortly thereafter. there are dozens of applications
available for protecting your online privacy, some not so good, so be
careful. personally, i am using zonealarm pro which has built-in privacy
advisor, it can be configured to block cookies that you don't want among
many other things.

if you're 'spyware' is not tracking cookies, then please provide more
details.

 

[...D.]

Is there another program out there that does this automatically without
having to constantly run the program and check the little boxes to delete
the spyware. Every few hours or so I have several more to delete. They
just come right back. I update it constantly too.
Thanks >Mary

Mary - so you are saying after a couple of hours on the Internet you are
gettingspyware on your computer? I think this might be normal. Just don't
run it all of the time, I check every couple of days and always have stuff to
get rid of.

It is not critical to check & delete all of the time. Just run it once a day
if you feel like you've just got to get rid of everything. Also, if you have
a lot of stuff to check the boxes of and delete, right click on the window
there, and you will have the option to check the boxes all at once. Then
remove them.

And your solution - if you purchase the adaware "pro" program, or whatever it
is called, i think it constantly monitors & deletes automatically. So spend a
few bucks & there you go... This is how these free program's companies make
their $$, by you the user wanting more options than the free one gives you...

....D.

 

[Alias]

Mary - so you are saying after a couple of hours on the Internet you are
gettingspyware on your computer? I think this might be normal. Just don't
run it all of the time, I check every couple of days and always have stuff to
get rid of.

It is not critical to check & delete all of the time. Just run it once a day
if you feel like you've just got to get rid of everything. Also, if you have
a lot of stuff to check the boxes of and delete, right click on the window
there, and you will have the option to check the boxes all at once. Then
remove them.

And your solution - if you purchase the adaware "pro" program, or whatever it
is called, i think it constantly monitors & deletes automatically. So spend a
few bucks & there you go... This is how these free program's companies make
their $$, by you the user wanting more options than the free one gives you...

...D.

Or she can get the free programs, Spybot, Spywareblaster and Spywareguard
that do not let them get on the computer in the first place.

Alias

 

[Menno Hershberger]

Is there another program out there that does this automatically
without having to constantly run the program and check the little
boxes to delete the spyware. Every few hours or so I have several
more to delete. They just come right back. I update it constantly
too.

You should read the other responses and follow through. I also
suggest that you download install Spyware Blaster from
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
It will block an immense amount of spyware and cookies before they have
a chance to get on your machine. It does NOT clean up anything that's
already on your machine... just prevents it from getting there to start
with.

 

[Allan]

I use adaware and also spyware blaster. Spyware blaster
catches them before they got onto your computer. My Ad-
Aware program then only catches a few tracking cookies
and that is all. Spyware Blaster is a free program but
like all, must be updated each time you use it to keep
yourself safe.

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

 

[Rob J]

You could try Aluria's Spyware Eliminator which lets you
schedule unattended scans and automatically delete
spyware found

 

[Plato]

Is there another program out there that does this automatically without
having to constantly run the program and check the little boxes to delete
the spyware. Every few hours or so I have several more to delete. They
just come right back. I update it constantly too.

Odd, perhaps its a setting you've done ie for the checkboxes. When I run
it the boxes are automagically checked and the app just lets me delete
all no problem.

Anyhow, my guess is that what your finding is cookies which you will get
even from the most "reputable" websites. Personally I dont consider
cookies a problem, but of course others may have different opinions.

 

[...D.]

Or she can get the free programs, Spybot, Spywareblaster and Spywareguard
that do not let them get on the computer in the first place.
Alias

Sure. However I have tried out Spybot & Spyware Blaster & I ran adaware, &
there was always stuff that adaware caught that the others missed. I mean
always. Now I just run adaware after this experience.

....D.

 

[Alias]

Sure. However I have tried out Spybot & Spyware Blaster & I ran adaware, &
there was always stuff that adaware caught that the others missed. I mean
always. Now I just run adaware after this experience.

...D.

Suit yourself. Spywareblaster, however, cannot be "run". Spybot protects
your computer if you immunize. AdAware only finds them after the fact.
Spywareguard cannot be "run" either but it, like Spywareblaster and Spybot,
will protect your computer. It is advisable to have all of them on your
machine.

Alias

 

[francis gerard]

Sure. However I have tried out Spybot & Spyware Blaster & I ran adaware,
&
there was always stuff that adaware caught that the others missed. I mean
always. Now I just run adaware after this experience.

...D.

spybot is very buggy too, ime... i stopped using it

 

[Plato]

after being set. some sites don't load properly unless you accept their
cookes (even if the source is a 3rd party site), so the trick is to accept

Problem is lots of "legit" sites, ie maybe your bank or favourite
retailer forces you to have their cookies. I agree tho, it's not that
big of an issue. You can delete them manually anytime if you want.

 

[Erik Jan]

Plato schreef:

Odd, perhaps its a setting you've done ie for the checkboxes. When I run
it the boxes are automagically checked and the app just lets me delete
all no problem.

Anyhow, my guess is that what your finding is cookies which you will get
even from the most "reputable" websites. Personally I dont consider
cookies a problem, but of course others may have different opinions.

Since I began to use Mozilla Firefox I have no problems anymore. Spyware
blaster protects me from data miner cookies, and ad-blocking relieves me
of many ads, which is very nice on a slow connection. No more hijacking
of homepages, or installation of malware. The problem is solved!

Erik.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Is there another program out there that does this automatically
without having to constantly run the program and check the little
boxes to delete the spyware.

Yes. Spyware Blaster can do this, and also Spybot Search &
Destroy, when used in immunize mode.

I rely primarily on those two, but also run Adaware once a day.
Adaware rarely finds anything--perhaps one or two tracking
cookies a week.

 

[Mary]

Yes, they are tracking cookes. Also I had the paid version of Ad-aware and
to me it wasn't worth the money I already spent on it. I would get errors,
etc. Could be I didn't know how to use it. Also I have a good anti virus
software and also a DSL router with built in fire wall protection.

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and will try some of the
suggestions out.

Thanks again
Mary

 

[Mary]

Wow, I shouldn't have one tracking cookie after all these great suggestions,
lol.

Thnaks again
Mary

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Wow, I shouldn't have one tracking cookie after all these great
suggestions, lol.

Thnaks again

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Chris]

You can buy the full version of adaware which comes with
adwatch. This monitors your machine and gives you the
proactive approach you need. Also you are probably
worrying about the cookies which keep appearing, but you
should not worry so much about them. Its the process,
and reg keys you need to monitor.

 

[...D.]

Suit yourself. Spywareblaster, however, cannot be "run". Spybot protects
your computer if you immunize. AdAware only finds them after the fact.
Spywareguard cannot be "run" either but it, like Spywareblaster and Spybot,
will protect your computer. It is advisable to have all of them on your
machine. >Alias

Ok maybe you got me on a technicality. I thought I remember Spyware blaster
as "immunizing" your system, putting "stops" in to prevent uploading of
spyware. Am I remembering correctly? So it's not "running", only when
getting updates & immunizing then... (??).

....D.