Thanks, Ron, for your input!
If you are targeting Trojans, add a2 to your arsenal.
Trouble that I found with a2 is that it's registerware to dl the
signature files. Like many others in this ng, I don't like
registerware, only freeware. So had to give that one a pass.
Some popular anti-spyware apps:
MSAS Beta - real time protection, nightly scan
(
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
Thanks, got some info re this one in another thread (the one where I
ask specifically about this one. It's recommended on the site
HijackThis sends one off to re malware removal and protection).
The trouble with this one is that it has to go in and validate your
Windows. Again, don't like people messing around inside my system so
had to give this one a pass.
Okay, I have Ad-aware and also Spybot. Not that they seem to do much
re Trojans, however. But thanks much for the additional 2 names
above. I'll check those one out in very near future.
a2 (a-squared free) - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/)
Dang, as mentioned, registerware.
Ewido Security Suite - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/)
Got this one after all yesterday. After all sorts of cleaning, popups
and problems still coming up so scanned with this ewido.
Spybot S&D - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/)
(Check. Have this one.)
I also tried TrojanHunter, simply because it was recommended on the
site mentioned before. It's only 30 days but it seemed to target
stuff ewido didn't find or didn't deal with. Not sure about that, but
many, many items came up with TrojanHunter that Ewido seemed to have
missed.
The problem is still persisting. Now that I've run a ton of apps
several times and popups are still coming up (though no more virus
warnings so far), I think I can now narrow it down to a hijacking or 2
of some sort. I'll have a better idea next time I log on. My uncle
got his laptop over a year ago and my teenage cousin is on that
computer, too, a bit. I've warned them to NOT dl all those nifty
toolbars or search bars and to NOT fall for all those panic msgs
saying their systems are .... whatever .... !!! So I think they'll
all be practicing safer hex from now on <g>.
I'll also install Firefox and put in Adblock so they should be better
off soon. I've found that despite the problems I'm having with
Firefox, I'm reluctant to give it up. I do a lot more "dangerous"
stuff with my system, yet it came out clean even after using all the
apps that I later tried with my uncle's system. So the combination of
stuff I'm doing is keeping me safer despite the fact that I'm doing
potentially more "dangerous" stuff.
When I get back in today, I'll log on to my uncle's laptop and see
where I stand and go from there.
All of the above are freeware apps, and most can be upgraded to a
professional version for a fee, about $30 USD, which includes a one or
two year subscription.
Thanks!
D
