Spyware

[JonasPetrovic]

What's the best (free) method to combat spyware? I used
Spybot for awhile with what appeared to be success. I
think the program Adaware may have caused my system to
crash twice. Is Spybot safe? I have heard that it is
just opening up your system to viruses and attacks. I
use a firewall to protect my computer. Is this enough?
Thanks.

 

[Mike Bright MSP]

Jonas,

There are quite a few SpyWare removal tools out there,
you named Ad-Aware and SpyBot. Both of these are great
tools and probably the most popular. They work in the
same way, some people prefer SpyBot, over Ad-Aware.
Sometime's one can remove stuff that other can't it
really can depend. I wouldnt worry about the Saftey of
the applications. Considering the amount of user's who
use them you'd have heard about it if there was serious
issues with SpyBot.

Plus as you mention you have a firewall installed and
running. Which is always a good safety barrier. The
firewall will be more then suffice to prevent internet /
network based attacks on you system.

Just to check you also have an Up-To-Date Anti-Virus
package??? Because together with a Firewall & SpyWare
Removal Software & Anti-Virus your gonna be well covered.

Anyway that's my ten cents worth.

Mike Bright MCP, MSP

e:[email protected]

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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

Additionally, you should learn to practice "safe hex," to prevent
future occurrences. To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start
with these links:

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/

List of Antivirus Software Vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500

Home PC Firewall Guide
http://www.firewallguide.com/

Scumware.com
http://www.scumware.com/


Bruce Chambers
--
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