recommended anti-spyware

  • Thread starter Thread starter Treetop
  • Start date Start date
Treetop said:
What anti-spyware freeware programs do you recommend?
Click to expand...

==== depends on you, if you spend a lot of time on the computer and are
good about updating, then I would recommend " Spyware Guard" to keep
spyware from
being loaded onto your computer, and "Spyware Blaster", to keep any
spyware that is on your computer from running , and "Lavasoft-Adaware"
to get rid of any installed spyware ....... but all these programs must
be updated manually, and
Lavasoft-Adaware must be run manually..................
if you dont want to be bothered with reg. updates and such, you
might want to get Microsoft's anti-spyware... but I've seen some false
positives .....and it runs all the time in the background , using
system resources .....=======
 
In
Treetop said:
What anti-spyware freeware programs do you recommend?
Click to expand...





http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html - Download Hijackthis. Put
it in a new folder named "Hijackthis". Put the folder on c drive. This is
important for proper logging of info when you get hijacked. Do not use this
program unless you completely know what you are doing. FREE


http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/downloads.html - download and install :
SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard FREE
http://customblockinglist.cjb.net/ - Spyware Blaster Custom Blocking List
Free!



http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download - Download and
install Spybot - Search & Destroy FREE


http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html - CWShredder . Download
the standalone version. FREE

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ - Download the free version of
Adaware and install. Or pay for the advanced version if you want. FREE

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx -
Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) FREE

http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php - If you don't have an antivirus
program and don't want to pay for one then get AVG . It is free and good.
FREE
http://www.free-av.com/ - another antivirus FREE

http://www.ccleaner.com/ - Crap Cleaner. Windows system cleaner like Window
Washer FREE

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm - IE-SPYAD (IE Restricted
zone list) Free!



If you dont have an antivirus you can do free scans at
Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
http://housecall.antivirus.com

McAfee Security - FreeScan
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

Panda ActiveScan - Free online scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Computer Associates:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx

DialogueScience:
http://www.antivir.ru/english/www_av/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml

BitDefender
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Freedom Online scanner
http://www.freedom.net/viruscenter/index.html


I recommend you or anyone else who has a problem with hijackers go here
http://help.lockergnome.com/ .Register. You will then be able to post. By
post I mean post a HIJACKTHIS log. After you register click on "PROBLEM
SOLVERS" forums. Then click on "HIJACKTHIS LOGS". Post your problem in the
HIJACKTHIS FORUM. An expert will get to you within a few days to guide you
to a clean machine :)



All the downloaded programs need updating regularly.




Lew/+Silat
 
What anti-spyware freeware programs do you recommend?
Click to expand...
Spyware is Internet jargon for Advertising Supported software/Website.

One overlooked facility is the HOSTS file:

The hosts file in your Windows directory is used for the translation of
computer names into IP numbers. With Host Administrator, you can edit
this file very easily. (IP Address, Host Name, Alias)

I recommend the following:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

But their are others:

http://www.beemerworld.com/tips/xphosts.htm

http://www.hosts-file.net/downloads.html

http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html

Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a
person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet (where
it is sometimes called a spybot or tracking software), spyware is
programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather
information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other
interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or
as the result of installing a new program.

Data collecting programs that are installed with the user's knowledge
are not, properly speaking, spyware, if the user fully understands what
data is being collected and with whom it is being shared. However,
spyware is often installed without the user's consent, as a drive-by
download, or as the result of clicking some option in a deceptive pop-up
window. Software designed to serve advertising, known as adware, can
usually be thought of as spyware as well because it almost invariably
includes components for tracking and reporting user information.
However, marketing firms object to having their products called
"spyware." As a result, McAfee (the Internet security company) and
others now refer to such applications as "potentially unwanted programs"
(PUP).

The cookie is a well-known mechanism for storing information about an
Internet user on their own computer. If a Web site stores information
about you in a cookie that you don't know about, the cookie can be
considered a form of spyware. Spyware is part of an overall public
concern about privacy on the Internet.

adware

1) Generically, adware (spelled all lower case) is any software
application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program
is running. The authors of these applications include additional code
that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or
through a bar that appears on a computer screen. The justification for
adware is that it helps recover programming development cost and helps
to hold down the cost for the user.

Adware has been criticized because it usually includes code that tracks
a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without
the user's authorization or knowledge. This practice has been dubbed
spyware and has prompted an outcry from computer security and privacy
advocates, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Noted privacy software expert Steve Gibson of Gibson Research explains:
"Spyware is any software (that) employs a user's Internet connection in
the background (the so-called 'backchannel') without their knowledge or
explicit permission. Silent background use of an Internet 'backchannel'
connection must be preceded by a complete and truthful disclosure of
proposed backchannel usage, followed by the receipt of explicit,
informed consent for such use. Any software communicating across the
Internet absent of these elements is guilty of information theft and is
properly and rightfully termed: Spyware."

A number of software applications, including Ad-Aware and OptOut (by
Gibson's company), are available as freeware to help computer users
search for and remove suspected spyware programs.

2) AdWare is also a registered trademark that belongs to AdWare Systems,
Inc. AdWare Systems builds accounting and media buying systems for the
advertising industry and has no connection to pop-up advertising,
spyware, or other invasive forms of online advertising.
 
Dick said:
And:

Spybot Search and Destroy (http://safer-networking.de)

SpywareBlaster: (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com)

SpywareGuard: (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com)

Dick
Click to expand...

Prevx home (free) is superb

"I removed my antivirus and firewall software for an entire week during
my test and still ran into no viruses or other malicious code or
spyware. A scan with Ad-Aware found a handful of tracking cookies, but
nothing malicious. It's easily worth every penny (pun intended). I
recommend users install this software."

PS: do NOT remove or turn off your antivirus and firewall, the above
was just for the sake of testing.

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/readproductreviews/fr/aapr091904.htm
http://www.prevx.com/prevxhome.asp
 
if you dont want to be bothered with reg. updates and such, you
might want to get Microsoft's anti-spyware... but I've seen some false
positives .....and it runs all the time in the background , using
system resources .....=======
Click to expand...

While Microsoft Antispyware can be set to automatically update its
spyware definitions, the "AutoUpdater" can be disabled if you like.

The "Real-Time" resident protection can also be disabled. This is a
good idea, as I have found lately, while burning to CD-R. Having MS
Antispyware running in the background while burning caused me to create
a few coasters recently before I temporarily disabled it.
 
Ionizer said:
While Microsoft Antispyware can be set to automatically update its
spyware definitions, the "AutoUpdater" can be disabled if you like.

The "Real-Time" resident protection can also be disabled. This is a
good idea, as I have found lately, while burning to CD-R. Having MS
Antispyware running in the background while burning caused me to create
a few coasters recently before I temporarily disabled it.
Click to expand...
Good advice, Ian. I wonder if the same applies to other AV programs?
If so, it could explain the flubs while attempting to burn CDs.

Helen
 
Helen said:
Good advice, Ian. I wonder if the same applies to other AV programs?
If so, it could explain the flubs while attempting to burn CDs.
Click to expand...

On our old PIII-500 system, I used to routinely shut down my Norton AV
and do nothing else on the computer during the (Nero) burn. Our newer
2.8GHz system doesn't seem to care if Norton or NOD AV is running so I
got out of the habit of shutting down my AV. This MS Antispyware
definitely does interfere with things, though. Since AV programs also
examine files when accessed or modified, any of them can conceivably
interfere with the burning process. If you are having problems,
definitely try shutting down your AV before burning a disk. Just don't
forget to turn it back on again afterwards.

Regards,
Ian.
 
Prevx home (free) is superb

"I removed my antivirus and firewall software for an entire week during
my test and still ran into no viruses or other malicious code or
spyware. A scan with Ad-Aware found a handful of tracking cookies, but
nothing malicious. It's easily worth every penny (pun intended). I
recommend users install this software."

PS: do NOT remove or turn off your antivirus and firewall, the above
was just for the sake of testing.

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/readproductreviews/fr/aapr091904.htm
http://www.prevx.com/prevxhome.asp
Click to expand...

One thing to note about Prevx home

"Prevx Home anonymously and automatically sends us threat data each time
an attack is made on your PC. We sell this data to organizations such as
ISPs and Prevx Enterprise customers. Prevx analyzes this threat data to
track the emergence and spread of new security threats. So like our
corporate customers, you benefit from the continual improvements made to
the security policies that are such an integral part of our security
solutions. "

http://www.prevx.com/prevxhome.asp

http://www.prevx.com/privacy.asp

"Prevx Home is provided free of charge. In return your copy of Prevx Home
will report attempted intrusion events (the Attack Data) to our central
database anonymously. The Attack Data is anonymous and cannot be traced
to you or your PC. We do not receive or record any personal data that can
or will be used to identify you or your computer. We do not require or
request your email address or any other personal details to identify you
or your PC. The anonymity of the Attack Data has been audited separately
by Andreas Fuchsberger of FACTS Enterprise Ltd, Royal Holloway,
University of London. You can read the audit report in full by
downloading this PDF http://www.prevx.com/PrevxHomeAudit.pdf. These
explain the details of the Attack Data and the purpose to which it is
put."

I personally use it, but some of you might be put off by this feature.
 
I installed Spyware Blaster on my W98 machine and it wouldn't run. Is
it only usable on XP?
 
I installed Spyware Blaster on my W98 machine and it wouldn't run. Is
it only usable on XP?
Click to expand...

Works on mine but interferes with the ability to remove icons from the
desktop by dragging and dropping them into a folder. I've ended up
removing it.
 
My main problem with this software is that it requires too
much user interaction when installing new software.. If they
introduce a learn mode then I think it would be real good...

Currently I am using a new(ish) program called AntiHook,
which provents hostiles from penetrating your system, One
thing that I should point out, if you decide to install the
"rule editor" you will require the .NET framework. The
program works fine without though..

<Quote>

AntiHook is a real-time intrusion detection and prevention
system that dynamically protects users from malicious
software such as unseen viruses Malware, Spyware, Trojans,
and keyboard loggers. In addition AntiHook provides fine
granular application isolation and allows the user to monitor
and control all suspicious activities and detect them as they
happen. This helps secure user's data, protects their
privacy, and prevents unwanted activities. AntiHook can
operate as a standalone module, relying on its local database
only and not requiring an update of data definitions.

</Quote>

AntiHook: http://www.infoprocess.biz

--
KHaled

e-mail: khaledihREMOVEUPPERCASELETTERS at fusemail dot com
(correcting antispam crap..)
please start your subject line with the string "==NG=="
 
KHaled said:
My main problem with this software is that it requires too
much user interaction when installing new software.. If they
introduce a learn mode then I think it would be real good...

Currently I am using a new(ish) program called AntiHook,
which provents hostiles from penetrating your system, One
thing that I should point out, if you decide to install the
"rule editor" you will require the .NET framework. The
program works fine without though..

<Quote>

AntiHook is a real-time intrusion detection and prevention
system that dynamically protects users from malicious
software such as unseen viruses Malware, Spyware, Trojans,
and keyboard loggers. In addition AntiHook provides fine
granular application isolation and allows the user to monitor
and control all suspicious activities and detect them as they
happen. This helps secure user's data, protects their
privacy, and prevents unwanted activities. AntiHook can
operate as a standalone module, relying on its local database
only and not requiring an update of data definitions.

</Quote>

AntiHook: http://www.infoprocess.biz
Click to expand...

I have tested PrevX for quite some time, and by using the "authorized
install mode" (I don't know the exact name, since it has been some time
ago), which is available from the context menu of the tray icon you
don't have to interact THAT much.

I agree with Aaron: It phones home, that was my main concern and reason
for uninstalling the program. I still find traces of the program on the
system, even after several regseeker runs!

Dick
 
David said:
Works on mine but interferes with the ability to remove icons from the
desktop by dragging and dropping them into a folder. I've ended up
removing it.
Click to expand...

Hi David,

That's funny; I have SB on full protection, but I can move icons back
and forth to folders (W2KPro here).

To Prospero33: A friend of mine runs SB on the W98 box there, no
problems at all, is an error displayed or are there other programs
running which could SB prevent to run (some spyware is known to target
anti-spyware software).

Dick
 
Hi David,

That's funny; I have SB on full protection, but I can move icons back
and forth to folders (W2KPro here).

To Prospero33: A friend of mine runs SB on the W98 box there, no
problems at all, is an error displayed or are there other programs
running which could SB prevent to run (some spyware is known to target
anti-spyware software).

Dick
Click to expand...

I have two machines with both running W98 Lite. I have no problems on
either until I install SB. Immediately I am unable to drag and drop
anywhere. Disabling the protection is insufficient. To get back
functionality I have to uninstall SB completely. It doesn't seem
logical to me but then they are computers. ;-)}}}
 
[email protected]:

I have tested PrevX for quite some time, and by using the "authorized
install mode" (I don't know the exact name, since it has been some time
ago), which is available from the context menu of the tray icon you
don't have to interact THAT much.

I agree with Aaron: It phones home, that was my main concern and reason
for uninstalling the program.
Click to expand...

Dick, I'm just raising the point as information for the user to decide
whether to install prevx or not. I'm neither for or against it.
I still find traces of the program on the
system, even after several regseeker runs!
Click to expand...

That's pretty normal. Even for much beloved proggies like ZA free :)
 
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