OT: where's all the spyware gone ?

[Azzman]

Hi all,

Once a week I scan my pc with both Adaware and Spybot S&D, both updated. I
have been doing this for about 4 years now.
The last time either of them found something was back in 2003, about the
same time I started using a gecko-based browser.
I do install and try new software now and then, after 'googling' it for the
present of spyware first.
What are your experiences with spyware these days ?

 

[KeithS]

What are your experiences with spyware these days ?

Similar to yours. I've got AdAware, Spybot, A Squared, Spyware
Blaster, Microsoft AntiSpyware, WinPatrol running on the 'puter.
Hopefully one or more will stop or pickup on any nasties, and I can't
remember finding one for the past year or so.

 

[jmatt]

These are in addition to what Azzman & KeithS use.

ewido security suite free for Windows 2000/XP
http://www.ewido.net/en/features/
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

NetDetox
http://www.netdetox.com/
95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP/2003

RegAuditor
http://www.nsauditor.com/freeware/index.html
http://www.sixfiles.com/dbase/fr-network-internet/anti-spam-virus-spy-tools

 

[Terry Russell]

Hi all,

Once a week I scan my pc with both Adaware and Spybot S&D, both updated. I
have been doing this for about 4 years now.
The last time either of them found something was back in 2003, about the
same time I started using a gecko-based browser.
I do install and try new software now and then, after 'googling' it for
the
present of spyware first.
What are your experiences with spyware these days ?

Little.
Lawmakers around the world and very belatedly MS decided to react to public
annoyance.
The higher minds have finally decided the baser peoples deserve quiet
enjoyment
of property privacy and security , lest they be roused.

The functional aspects of spyware make it readily traceable.

even the nicht so geheime Staatspolizei thinks it is a bad idea, so
perpetrators
risk being declared beyond habeas corpus and liable to rendition

 

[Anonymous]

What are your experiences with spyware these days ?

My AdAware hasn't caught or killed any spyware in a very long time.
Maybe a year or more.

What I HAVE noticed is a dramatic increase in email spams and scams.

 

[Saxman]

Similar to yours. I've got AdAware, Spybot, A Squared, Spyware
Blaster, Microsoft AntiSpyware, WinPatrol running on the 'puter.
Hopefully one or more will stop or pickup on any nasties, and I can't
remember finding one for the past year or so.

Maybe it's because they're not effective?

I use NoAdware which is not free, but it's the most effective out of my
lot.

It costs about £10 for a one-off payment which has been worth it. See the
reviews. Found Winfix and Bearshare for me the othe day.

AdAware is probably the next most effective IMO.

 

[The Six Million Dollar Man]

Hi all,

Once a week I scan my pc with both Adaware and Spybot S&D, both updated. I
have been doing this for about 4 years now.
The last time either of them found something was back in 2003, about the
same time I started using a gecko-based browser.
I do install and try new software now and then, after 'googling' it for the
present of spyware first.
What are your experiences with spyware these days ?

It appears from what you have written that this group has taught you
well. People who take defending their computers seriously are less
likely to be infected with malware.

Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are still effective. A friend had to use both of
them to clear up her system after her father answered "yes" to every
installation request in Internet Explorer! She is now using Firefox
exclusively.

It is important to remember that there isn't a program out there yet
that provides a single solution. Until there is, a layered defence made
up of multiple programs is still the best way of staying scum-ware free.

For those interested, Harvard University has a new project where people
can report "Badware". >
http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/2006/01/horror-stories-wanted.html

 

[Ron May]

Hi all,

Once a week I scan my pc with both Adaware and Spybot S&D, both updated. I
have been doing this for about 4 years now.
The last time either of them found something was back in 2003, about the
same time I started using a gecko-based browser.
I do install and try new software now and then, after 'googling' it for the
present of spyware first.
What are your experiences with spyware these days ?

You know, I really hadn't thought about it until reading your post,
but my experience is similar. I run AdAware and SpyBot about twice a
month, and I can't recall the last time either one picked up actual
spyware. Most of the time they pick up routine stuff that is of
little or no consequence (MRUs, cookies, and other things that I want
or don't mind keeping.)

I'm not sure whether that's due to a actual decline in spyware being
written, or due to a combination of other factors.

Like yourself and most others who follow ACF, I do try out a lot of
freeware. Most gets deleted pretty quickly for one reason or another,
some gets tucked away for future use, and some I put to use on a
regular basis. Having said that, I tend to be a little selective. I
don't do trialware or "free to download" stuff, or anything that gets
bundled with other products I don't want. I try to stick to reliable
download sites (Sourceforge, Major Geeks, TUCOWS, etc.,) and I also
like to go to the author's web page first to get a "feel" for what the
software is about. If anything strikes me as dubious, I'll steer
clear of it until/unless I get positive comments about it from a
source I respect.

I do a lot of other things too. I'm behind a router and firewall, run
updated virus software (Avast) and use a hosts file to block me from
known dubious sites. I run IE Privacy Keeper, which does an autoclean
routine each time I close the last browser window, as well as on
shutdown and startup. I run RegSeeker cleanup on a regular basis, and
occasionally run a number of utilities like Startup CPL and some
excellent programs from SysInternals and Karen's Power Tools to check
out what's running (or trying to run) without letting me know about
it.

Putting it all together, the reduction in spyware may be due in large
part to a greater spyware and malware awareness as much as it's due to
anything else.

 

[KHaled]

You know, I really hadn't thought about it until reading
your post, but my experience is similar. I run AdAware and
SpyBot about twice a month, and I can't recall the last
time either one picked up actual spyware. Most of the time
they pick up routine stuff that is of little or no
consequence (MRUs, cookies, and other things that I want
or don't mind keeping.)

I'm not sure whether that's due to a actual decline in
spyware being written, or due to a combination of other
factors.

Like yourself and most others who follow ACF, I do try out
a lot of freeware. Most gets deleted pretty quickly for
one reason or another, some gets tucked away for future
use, and some I put to use on a regular basis. Having said
that, I tend to be a little selective. I don't do
trialware or "free to download" stuff, or anything that
gets bundled with other products I don't want. I try to
stick to reliable download sites (Sourceforge, Major Geeks,
TUCOWS, etc.,) and I also like to go to the author's web
page first to get a "feel" for what the software is about.
If anything strikes me as dubious, I'll steer clear of it
until/unless I get positive comments about it from a source
I respect.

I do a lot of other things too. I'm behind a router and
firewall, run updated virus software (Avast) and use a
hosts file to block me from known dubious sites. I run IE
Privacy Keeper, which does an autoclean routine each time I
close the last browser window, as well as on shutdown and
startup. I run RegSeeker cleanup on a regular basis, and
occasionally run a number of utilities like Startup CPL and
some excellent programs from SysInternals and Karen's Power
Tools to check out what's running (or trying to run)
without letting me know about it.

Putting it all together, the reduction in spyware may be
due in large part to a greater spyware and malware
awareness as much as it's due to anything else.

I think the targets or victimes of such *ware are users who
have not heard of firewalls, or av, etc.. And there are
still such users out there. Seems that you take good safety
measures, which is good enough for most times, until you
encounter such RK's such as Sony, New generation, and new
tools to combat them..

--
KHaled

e-mail: khaledihREMOVEUPPERCASELETTERS at gmail dot com
(correcting antispam crap..)
please start your subject line with the string "==NG=="

 

[Craig]

You know, I really hadn't thought about it until reading your post,
but my experience is similar.

I'm not sure whether that's due to a actual decline in spyware being
written, or due to a combination of other factors.

Interesting topic;

Two things come to mind. First, this group's regular participants may
be showing the benefits of a "continuing education" surrounding these
issues. This means, in a fundamental way, we're probably not indicative
of the general internet population.

Second, I'm now curious as hell to check in on the computers of my
nieces and nephews...Usually one or two of them grind to a halt
w/spyware-adware-caca after about 6 months.

Data-point: No spyware/adware/virus here for over 30 months.

-Craig

 

[KeithS]

Maybe it's because they're not effective?

I use NoAdware which is not free, but it's the most effective out of my
lot.

D/L'd the trial NoAdware and scanned, found nothing, so I reckon
they must be pretty effective after all )

 

[Frank Bohan]

My AdAware hasn't caught or killed any spyware in a very long time. Maybe
a year or more.

What I HAVE noticed is a dramatic increase in email spams and scams.

Adaware has found Advanced Search Bar to have multiple spyware/adware, but I
have been unable to find any confirmation or evidence that there is any
malware involved. I have therefore put ASB on the ignore list. Apart from
this it has only found negligible risks such as MRUs and cookies which have
not yet been deleted.

===

Frank Bohan
¶ The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

 

[bambam]

Maybe it's because they're not effective?

I use NoAdware which is not free, but it's the most effective out of
my lot.

It costs about £10 for a one-off payment which has been worth it. See
the reviews. Found Winfix and Bearshare for me the othe day.

AdAware is probably the next most effective IMO.

What a load of crap!
It's bad enough when people recommend perfectly good payware products in
here, and then you recommend an inferior payware product in a freeware
group! You are just the sort of person that spammers love.

http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000023.html

http://castlecops.com/reviews-117.html

http://www.howardsmusings.com/2004/06/02/noadwarenet_scam.html

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#naw_note

 

[Phred]

Similar to yours. I've got AdAware, Spybot, A Squared, Spyware
Blaster, Microsoft AntiSpyware, WinPatrol running on the 'puter.
Hopefully one or more will stop or pickup on any nasties, and I can't
remember finding one for the past year or so.

Probably not enough room left on the 'puter for the poor bloody things
to install themselves.


Cheers, Phred.

 

[David]

My AdAware hasn't caught or killed any spyware in a very long time.
Maybe a year or more.

What I HAVE noticed is a dramatic increase in email spams and scams.

My experience is the reverse of that. I used to get ten or so SPAM
each day about twelve months ago. Now I get around one a week.
--
David
Remove "farook" to reply
At the bottom of the application where it says
"sign here". I put "Sagittarius"
E-mail: justdas at iinet dot net dot au

 

[Don Boring]

I recently installed Ad-Aware on a friends
computer and he had 57 SERIOUS spyware
infections. But the program got rid of everyone
of em.

DB

 

[Azzman]

Thank you all for replying.
It seems that the experiences are similar.
Problem exists between keyboard and chair.
Those who are aware of the down-sides of the internet (viruses, spyware,
etc) have not much trouble to keep their noses clean.
And are called upon by the 'ígnorant' to sort things out for them.
It almost seems that Spybot S&D and Adaware are programs for people
helping other people out. My experiences are that the same people keep
calling me for the same problems over and over again.
(OT)
Get yourself one of these:
http://tinyurl.com/6buwq
(/OT)

 

[David]

Thank you all for replying.
It seems that the experiences are similar.
Problem exists between keyboard and chair.
Those who are aware of the down-sides of the internet (viruses, spyware,
etc) have not much trouble to keep their noses clean.
And are called upon by the 'ígnorant' to sort things out for them.
It almost seems that Spybot S&D and Adaware are programs for people
helping other people out. My experiences are that the same people keep
calling me for the same problems over and over again.
(OT)
Get yourself one of these:
http://tinyurl.com/6buwq
(/OT)

LOL. I'm very tempted.
--
David
Remove "farook" to reply
At the bottom of the application where it says
"sign here". I put "Sagittarius"
E-mail: justdas at iinet dot net dot au

 

[Condon]

OT: where's all the spyware gone ?



With the cowboys, apparently.