Spy/Adware scanner??

[Guy Smith]

What is the best Ad/Spy/Ware scanner please? Preferably free!

 

[jeffrey]

There isn`t one that is the best. Most people run several at one time. I
use 5 at one time, I have Spybot Search & Destroy, Spyblaster, Spyguard,
Guardbar, and Pestpatrol, All but Pestpatrol is free. One program isn`t
enough to cover everything, so most run 2 or more.

Jeff

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

There probably is no best one. I run three and each finds something the
others did not often enough that I continue to run all three. Here is a
site for comparison and resources:
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
I run Adaware, Pest Patrol, and SpySubtract (I'm still evaluating). The
first is free.

 

[Guest]

I use Ad-aware and find it to be quite good - also would suggest Spy Bot

 

[Guy Smith]

Thank you all.

So that is the trick. I already use SpyBot but also tried another one called
NoAdware (an evaluation copy) which showed up a stack more probelms. So I
assumed SpyBot was not doing its job hence I asked the original question
before splashing any money out on new software.
I use Opera most of the time, it seems to be impervious to adware, and only
use IE when I have to because it is so anoying. I was hoping that the XP SP2
was going to help but it doesn't. The problem is my kids use IE and go on
realy crap sites and download "free" software all the time!

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Thank you all.

So that is the trick. I already use SpyBot but also tried another one
called NoAdware (an evaluation copy) which showed up a stack more
probelms. So I assumed SpyBot was not doing its job hence I asked the
original question before splashing any money out on new software.
I use Opera most of the time, it seems to be impervious to adware,
and only use IE when I have to because it is so anoying. I was hoping
that the XP SP2 was going to help but it doesn't. The problem is my
kids use IE and go on realy crap sites and download "free" software
all the time!

I like Spybot & AdAware - make sure you have the latest versions (1.2 and SE
1.05 respectively). CWShredder is also good. HijackThis! is useful but
potentially dangerous if you aren't very careful and aren't familiar with
registry editing.

I suggest you set up your kids with limited user accounts and tighten up the
IE security for them.....may help too. Or keep them off your computer if
they keep mucking around with things they shouldn't.

 

[Steve N.]

Thank you all.

So that is the trick. I already use SpyBot but also tried another one called
NoAdware (an evaluation copy) which showed up a stack more probelms. So I
assumed SpyBot was not doing its job hence I asked the original question
before splashing any money out on new software.
I use Opera most of the time, it seems to be impervious to adware, and only
use IE when I have to because it is so anoying. I was hoping that the XP SP2
was going to help but it doesn't. The problem is my kids use IE and go on
realy crap sites and download "free" software all the time!

We use Ad-aware and Spybot S&D, and occaisionally CWShredder and
HijackThis for some problems. My observations are that Ad-aware and
Spybot S&D tend to find different problems at different times, which I
suspect partly due to differences in when updates are available and new
threats appearing faster than the updates do. Make sure to use the very
latest builds of the programs and check for updates every time before
scanning. In some cases you may need to update, restart the system in
Safe Mode and scan for problems as some threats are pretty good at
hiding from scanners when they're active.

Steve

 

[Haggis]

We use Ad-aware and Spybot S&D, and occaisionally CWShredder and
HijackThis for some problems. My observations are that Ad-aware and Spybot
S&D tend to find different problems at different times, which I suspect
partly due to differences in when updates are available and new threats
appearing faster than the updates do. Make sure to use the very latest
builds of the programs and check for updates every time before scanning.
In some cases you may need to update, restart the system in Safe Mode and
scan for problems as some threats are pretty good at hiding from scanners
when they're active.

Steve

last version of spybot was 1.3 ...there hasn't been an update for ver 1.2 in
months

 

[Ken Blake]

In

What is the best Ad/Spy/Ware scanner please? Preferably free!

None of these is perfect, and each find things the others don't.
So the "best" is a combination of products.

I use Spyware Blaster, Adaware, and Spybot Search & Destroy.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Spybot S&D is a good program. NoAdware is not.

NoAdware is listed under Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products
Here...
Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

NoAdware
no-adware.com
noadware.net
no-adware.net
[[noadwarenow.com aggressive, deceptive advertising (1, 2, 3, 4, 5); has
exploited names of "ad-aware" (1, 2); earlier version was same app as Adware
Hitman, Consumer Identity, Protect Your Identity, SpyBan, SpywareAssasin,
Spyware C.O.P., SpywareKilla, The Adware Hunter, & TheSpywareKiller - (Note:
other domains associated with NoAdware include: adware-destroyer.com,
adware-removal.biz, free-adware-scan.com, dbxml.org) [A: 6-26-04 / U:
10-10-04] ]]

 

[Rock]

What is the best Ad/Spy/Ware scanner please? Preferably free!

Run these programs to check for spyware/malware. After installing
update them, then boot into safe mode and run them. You should update
and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Ad-aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

Pest Patrol Free Pest Scanner
http://www.pestscan.com/ScanOrTrial.asp

If you’re still having problems after running these then run HijackThis
and post the log to one of the specialty forums, _NOT_ this one.

HijackThis
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

Forums to Interpret HijackThis Logs:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

What is the best Ad/Spy/Ware scanner please? Preferably free!

To deal with issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Smiley Central, Xupiter,
Bonzai Buddy, or KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately
(but without understanding the consequences) installed, two products
that are quite effective (at finding and removing this type of
scumware) are Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search &
Destroy from www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions.
It's even possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your
system against most future intrusions. I use both and generally
perform manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.

Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
varieties of scumware are available here:

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml

More information and assistance is available at these sites:

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

The Parasite Fight
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Steve N.]

last version of spybot was 1.3 ...there hasn't been an update for ver 1.2 in
months

I think you meant to reply to Lanwench.

Steve

 

[Steve N.]

I like Spybot & AdAware - make sure you have the latest versions (1.2 and SE
1.05 respectively).

Sybot S&D is at 1.3 and 1.2 will not get updates. There is also a newer
build of AAW available now.

CWShredder is also good. HijackThis! is useful but
potentially dangerous if you aren't very careful and aren't familiar with
registry editing.

Quite true.

I suggest you set up your kids with limited user accounts and tighten up the
IE security for them.....may help too. Or keep them off your computer if
they keep mucking around with things they shouldn't.

Good advice, however I have seen tons of spyware get through for limited
accounts, too. Teach the kids safe computing habits and train them not
get so click-happy. I see it all the time in the computer labs in our
schools, kids do a google search and click on the 1st link they see
without even reading, then click all over whatever web pages come up.

Steve

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Sybot S&D is at 1.3 and 1.2 will not get updates. There is also a
newer build of AAW available now.

Whoops - typo. I knew that.

 

[Steve N.]

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] wrote:

Guy Smith wrote:


Thank you all.

So that is the trick. I already use SpyBot but also tried another
one called NoAdware (an evaluation copy) which showed up a stack
more probelms. So I assumed SpyBot was not doing its job hence I
asked the original question before splashing any money out on new
software.
I use Opera most of the time, it seems to be impervious to adware,
and only use IE when I have to because it is so anoying. I was
hoping that the XP SP2 was going to help but it doesn't. The
problem is my kids use IE and go on realy crap sites and download
"free" software all the time!


I like Spybot & AdAware - make sure you have the latest versions
(1.2 and SE
1.05 respectively).

Sybot S&D is at 1.3 and 1.2 will not get updates. There is also a
newer build of AAW available now.

Whoops - typo. I knew that.

My whoops, too; you're correct AAW is at build 1.05 although 1.03 seems
to work fine.

I spent all day yesterday updating & cleaning up 24 computers at an
elementary school (man, what a chore!). All have been used with limited
accounts only. Spybot S&D found 4 to 8 problems on each PC, AAW found 37
to 50 problems on each but noticed many tracking cookie entries found by
AAW were of the same name. Makes me wonder if it's a difference in how
the two programs enumerate them.

Our ESD (Educational Service District, provides internet access for ours
and several other school districts) is starting to look a product to
automatically block and eliminate spyware in addition to viruses. I hope
they find something decent and soon, I've got plenty of other work to do.

Steve

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware look for things in different ways. There is *no*
one good anti scumware program. You need more than one. Empty Temporary
Internet Files and Cookies folders before running any anti scumware program.
Heck, you need to empty these anyway.

[[SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from
ever being installed.
The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And
SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.]]
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

MVPS HOSTS file is a free download from:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/

Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Just like anti virus software, you need to keep these updated.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] wrote:


Guy Smith wrote:


Thank you all.

So that is the trick. I already use SpyBot but also tried another
one called NoAdware (an evaluation copy) which showed up a stack
more probelms. So I assumed SpyBot was not doing its job hence I
asked the original question before splashing any money out on new
software.
I use Opera most of the time, it seems to be impervious to adware,
and only use IE when I have to because it is so anoying. I was
hoping that the XP SP2 was going to help but it doesn't. The
problem is my kids use IE and go on realy crap sites and download
"free" software all the time!


I like Spybot & AdAware - make sure you have the latest versions
(1.2 and SE
1.05 respectively).

Sybot S&D is at 1.3 and 1.2 will not get updates. There is also a
newer build of AAW available now.

Whoops - typo. I knew that.

My whoops, too; you're correct AAW is at build 1.05 although 1.03
seems to work fine.

I spent all day yesterday updating & cleaning up 24 computers at an
elementary school (man, what a chore!). All have been used with
limited accounts only. Spybot S&D found 4 to 8 problems on each PC,
AAW found 37 to 50 problems on each but noticed many tracking cookie
entries found by AAW were of the same name. Makes me wonder if it's a
difference in how the two programs enumerate them.

Our ESD (Educational Service District, provides internet access for
ours and several other school districts) is starting to look a
product to automatically block and eliminate spyware in addition to
viruses. I hope they find something decent and soon, I've got plenty
of other work to do.

Steve

 

[Haggis]

I think you meant to reply to Lanwench.

Steve

oops ! ...sorry Steve (I lost track of the thread!) :>