Why Spybot finds these but Ad-Aware doesn't

[Terry Pinnell]

This is a common occurrence on my Win XP Home PC. I just ran Ad-Aware
SE with latest definitions and it found only one 'critical object' (a
tracking cookie from RealPlayer.)

But then I ran Spybot (with latest definitions) and that found 6 more
'Tracking Cookies': Adviva, Doubleclick, Mediaplex, Statcounter,
Tradedoubler, and Zedo.

Why didn't Ad-Aware SE also report those please?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Terry;
You will need to Ask AdAware that question.

Cookies are not really an issue.
They certainly are not critical.
Some spyware detectors detect cookies more to give users false
confidence since detection of cookies raises the number of problems
found.

Most browsers including Internet Explorer already control cookies as
configured by the user.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

This is a common occurrence on my Win XP Home PC. I just ran Ad-Aware
SE with latest definitions and it found only one 'critical object' (a
tracking cookie from RealPlayer.)

But then I ran Spybot (with latest definitions) and that found 6 more
'Tracking Cookies': Adviva, Doubleclick, Mediaplex, Statcounter,
Tradedoubler, and Zedo.

Why didn't Ad-Aware SE also report those please?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie (excerpt)

| In particular, they are neither spyware nor viruses, despite the
| detection of cookies from certain sites by many anti-spyware products.

Reporting and removing harmless cookies makes the product more important.
Not a Windows issue anyway.

[X-Post: 2 Groups]

 

[Mike Cawood, HND BIT]

This is a common occurrence on my Win XP Home PC. I just ran Ad-Aware
SE with latest definitions and it found only one 'critical object' (a
tracking cookie from RealPlayer.)

But then I ran Spybot (with latest definitions) and that found 6 more
'Tracking Cookies': Adviva, Doubleclick, Mediaplex, Statcounter,
Tradedoubler, and Zedo.

Why didn't Ad-Aware SE also report those please?

The latest version of Ad-Aware is Ad-Aware 2007, you are using an old & out
of date version of the program.
Regards Mike.

 

[Gerry]

Terry

What is the date of the Ad-Aware definitions? Have you updated them
recently?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Tony Meloche]

Notwithstanding the purple prose in their promotions ("Gets what the
other ones miss!!", etc.) no anti-spyware/malware program catches
everything. It is pretty uniformly recommended here that you run not
one, but two, three, even four of the many good (and free) programs of
that type. Run a different one each day. Because, as I said, *no* one
program gets them all, and one gets what the other misses and
vice-versa. Running two anti-VIRUS programs simultaneously is a very
bad idea. But running several different anti-spyware/malware programs
on your computer is considered good practice.

Tony

 

[Gerry]

Tony

You're preaching to the converted. It was still worth making the point I
made because the version of Ad-Aware being used does not automatically
update definitions.



Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Tony

You're preaching to the converted. It was still worth making the point I
made because the version of Ad-Aware being used does not automatically
update definitions.



Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not sure what makes you conclude that? My Ad-Aware SE Personal, Build
1.06r1 *does* update its definitions regularly. Hence my opening
comment: "I just ran Ad-Aware SE with latest definitions."

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Notwithstanding the purple prose in their promotions ("Gets what the
other ones miss!!", etc.) no anti-spyware/malware program catches
everything. It is pretty uniformly recommended here that you run not
one, but two, three, even four of the many good (and free) programs of
that type. Run a different one each day. Because, as I said, *no* one
program gets them all, and one gets what the other misses and
vice-versa. Running two anti-VIRUS programs simultaneously is a very
bad idea. But running several different anti-spyware/malware programs
on your computer is considered good practice.

Tony

Thanks all. I hadn't realised how subjective this area was, so am
reassured.

If I decided to add a third regular program, any recommendation on
best choice?

 

[Gerry]

Terry

I need to clean my spectacles more often. You did say latest
definitions. My copy of Ad-Aware SE does not auto-update. I need to see
if their is a reason why.

Some freeware versions Ad-Aware and Spybot do not provide realtime
protection. Thety rely on the user doing periodic scans. Windows
Defender does provide realtime protection.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

However, do not take on Windows Live Onecare, which includes Window
Defender.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Tony Meloche]

Not sure what makes you conclude that? My Ad-Aware SE Personal, Build
1.06r1 *does* update its definitions regularly. Hence my opening
comment: "I just ran Ad-Aware SE with latest definitions."

And I was replying to the OP, Gerry - sorry if it appeared it was a
reply to you.

Tony

 

[Tony Meloche]

Thanks all. I hadn't realised how subjective this area was, so am
reassured.

If I decided to add a third regular program, any recommendation on
best choice?

"Best" is probably subjective, but Spyware Terminator and Super
Anti-Spyware are both very good, and free.

Tony

 

[Frank]

This is a common occurrence on my Win XP Home PC. I just ran Ad-Aware
SE with latest definitions and it found only one 'critical object' (a
tracking cookie from RealPlayer.)

But then I ran Spybot (with latest definitions) and that found 6 more
'Tracking Cookies': Adviva, Doubleclick, Mediaplex, Statcounter,
Tradedoubler, and Zedo.

Why didn't Ad-Aware SE also report those please?

This would be a setting in AdAware's config.

 

[Richard Urban]

Possibly YOUR misuse of Ad-Aware? Try running a deep scan. Also, the two
programs use two different, independently developed, sets of definitions.
Why would you expect all programs to pick up all of the same malware. That
is being foolish.

Most knowledgeable users know to run 2, or more, different programs when
they have a definite problem.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[paul]

This is a common occurrence on my Win XP Home PC. I just ran Ad-Aware
SE with latest definitions and it found only one 'critical object' (a
tracking cookie from RealPlayer.)

But then I ran Spybot (with latest definitions) and that found 6 more
'Tracking Cookies': Adviva, Doubleclick, Mediaplex, Statcounter,
Tradedoubler, and Zedo.

Why didn't Ad-Aware SE also report those please?

1. Download and run firefox to protect your from future spyware
attacks and pop ups which are coming in through internet explorer
(Trojan downloaders, win32 ) .Then update your windows through firefox
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/05/spyware-fighter-essentials.html

Also install internet explorer 7 which is now free for everyone
oct2007
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/10/internet-explorer-7-available-now-to.html
This should stop 50% of the spyware and popups attacking your
computer

2. Run the vundo and combo fix
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/05/vundofix-and-combo-fix.html

3. Run the anti spyware remove programs spybot
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/spybot-search-and-destroy-spyware-and.html

and superantispyware
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/04/superantispyware-home-edition-free.html
to get rid of the nasties

4. Run a free online virus scan to be sure you computer is virus and
spyware free.
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/online-virus-scan.html

5. Get the clean up tools to clean up the spyware from your temp
folder (the place they are stored when downloaded by internet
explorer)
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/clean-up-tools-to-prevent-people-from.html

WHAT DO YOU DO IF EVERYTHING FAILS TO REMOVE THE SPYWARE or You are
not sure your computer is spyware and virus free?
If everything fails to get the nasty spyware removed let the experts
take a look at whats happening on your computer.Visit the HijackThis
Logs and Analysis forum.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

Wiping your computer clean is NOT the solution.
Asking /paying someone else to fix the problem is NOT the solution .

TAKE A STAND NOW!
IT's YOUR COMPUTER !!