OT: Computer Gurus: What's Better Than Spybot S&D?

Microsofts AntiSpyware, it's still just the Beta sersion, but it finds things that CCleaner, Spybot and Ad aware leave behind.

 

Not really a worm if you have to manually download it, type your administrator password, install it, delete a few random files and then send it to all your friends...

Jeez, you winders guys get it all done for you...!

 

I run Norton AV, SpySweeper and http://prevx.com/ (home version free from www.tucows.com). I have had zero problems running all three, and PrevX catches alot of stuff the others don't. It also prompts you anytime something tries to modify the registry so you can keep tabs on things pretty good.

Bill

 

Yup, AVG is free and it works! I don't use any other software, and never get anything.

 

Here is my basic procedure for removing spyware/adware

go to Start
Run
type %temp%
delete everything

go to IE on your desktop
right click Properties
or Tools, Internet options while using your browser
delete all cookies
Delete all temporary internet files
go to the security tab and set everything to default
go to the Programs tab and Reset Web Settings
go to the advanced tab and Restore defaults
OK

Empty Recycle Bin

update Spybot
update AD Aware
check the settings in AD Aware to scan archived files

reboot in safe mode
run you antivirus prog
run Spybot
fix anything detected
run AD Aware
delete anything found

you may have to run them more than once to verify everything has been caught

reboot

If this does not fix the issues the next suggestion is to run Hijackthis

!!DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT IT IS!!

BHO are browser helper objects that will typically redirect your browser
these can be deleted if they do not reference an installed prog such as: Symantec, MSN, Spybot, Lavasoft(AD Aware), etc.

Good Luck
PM me if you have any questions
And yes, I work on computers for a living.

 

I have to post this........ No offense intended. Stop using windows! I made the switch to Linux 3 years ago and have NO virus/spyware issues. Much more stable! Obviously, this is not the best alternative for all. If you are a gamer, or have software that doesn't have a linux alternate (very little doesn't), then stick with windows and follow the other posters advice.

 

Then tell me just what it is you guys do to get all this spyware crap on your computers? whatever it is, I don't seem to be doing it...?????

 

this is the cookies privacy level setting I run most of the time (I can turn them off completely for special missions, too). Cookies aren't spyware...unless maybe you have your browser set up to accept any 3rd party cookies?

 

My girlfriend installed Webshots on this computer, and it installed some spyware. Anything from screensavers.com will load your computer up. I removed some spyware from someone's computer yesterday that was installed because of a screensaver from there. Just as a test once, I installed a screensaver from there, just to look and see if they tell you they are going to install additional crap. Well, they do if you read the licensing agreement. I stopped the installation right there (it hadn't even installed yet), and they went ahead and installed 3 different spyware programs on my computer. Disclaimer: not all screensavers are bad! They figured out that people like screensavers with pretty butterflies and waterfalls, and so they started adding spyware packages to them when you install them. Yesterday, a buddy called, and was telling me how he installed a trial version of some software, and it loaded his computer up. It's becoming more and more common.

 

I think Squirrel's point is that he's a little more cautious about installing "free" software on his PC and he's a bit more carefull about where he surfs. Freeware and shareware are no longer to be trusted; the naked women of the internet can be just as dirty and diseased for your computer as in real life. Tread with caution.


Ed

 

Exactly. Maybe I don't have trouble because of my strange allergy to advertising...I really really despise blinking banners and such crap, so I stay away from places that have such things, and I block images from ad servers, and I leave scripting disabled so that many ads just don't appear. And I ignore any and all ads that I do happen to see.

Any time you click on an external link on a web page, or even an internal link on a "questionable" web page, you're opening yourself up for trouble.

Just say no.

 

Tread with caution, I second that.

I work on PC's for a living and all I use is shareware and freeware on my PC. Due to the nature of my job, I surf every facet of the web, from porn to computer terrorism and I have no problems with this software. It's about educating yourself before you install the latest and greatest from the WWW.

Just because you read about it in a blog doesn't mean that an eleven year old Japanimation junkie didn't write it.

 

The tried and true is what I go for...I'll let the other guy suffer with the latest and greatest!

Another thing about my security practices--I have HTML in email disabled, and I never ever click on a link in an email message, unless I have a very good understanding of where that link goes. I also never click on any attachment in email unless I know for SURE what it is and who it's from,and then I only "save as..." the attatchment, I don't let it execute. Fake links can hide in email very easily if you have your email set up to see all the pretty fonts and colors and images, so I just have it show up as plain text. It's pretty easy to spot the vicous spam this way!

 

Two things that I do, first off I go to trendmicro.com and run a complete scan from their tools tab. its run through your browser. I got Notron professional on my puter and trend will get stuff that norton missus.

The other thing I do and this is info I got from the Dell guys is I start my computer in safe mode and run a virus scan, a lot of stuff you can't remove can be removed in safe mode.

 

Install "free" software, screensavers, etc. & visit sites (such as "free" photo & website hosting). What pisses me off is the guys that use these photo sites & link to them without telling us. Geeze guys your ISP gives you FREE hosting for personal pages/photos *without* all the bullshit...
BTW AVG wreaked HAVOC with the 'puter I tried it on (I think it was the ME machine).
I'm not running *any* anti-virus now (since InoculateIt went commercial & I went broke) & I get just about *nothing* on my machines. I still hope/expect to get the linix machine to recognize the modem (when I get time) & start using it.
BTW best place to get TRULY freeware is FreewareHome.com. NO adware, spyware, etc. - JUST FREEware.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Remember 1/2 of the population is below average.

 

Ever wonder why they call it "safe" mode? It's because "regular" mode is unsafe!
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

You just shot an unarmed man!
"Well, he should have armed himself."

 

I've been quite successful getting external modems to work with linux. now I'm on wireless broadband, linux works fine with it too. But I still actually USE win2k, it's far more convenient--I only play with linux to see if I can get it running. If you do use linux, and you don't mind moving in slow motion, try Knoppix or one of the other CD based operating systems, guaranteed no spyware will get in there.

I have never run any AV software at all....and still I've managed to not get my computers infested....how about that?

 

My linix machine is Lycoris Linix (their tech guy was an idiot!). It seems great but it just didn't recognize the modem when it installed. Haven't taken the time to mess with it. My only problem with linix is there are no great html editors or paint programs (like 1st Page & PSP - I hate the "Gimp"). I still plan to use the windoze 2000 for those.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

I don't take shit; I don't give a shit. I'm not in the shit business.

 

Using the internet (including www, email, IM, etc.) should be similar to having a home. You don't just let anybody in, even if they "look nice". Discretion (especially if it almost borders on paranoia), as squirrel and others have mentioned, goes a long way in this deal.

Using Windows and IE at their default settings is like propping every door open, letting anybody or anything (stray dogs, bugs, etc.) come and go as they please.

 

First off it's Linux, with a "u"... Second if you used a different distro you'd probably find that it will work well. Try Fedora, Debian, SUSE, or Slackware for better support for a wider variety of hardware. There are good HTML editors and paint programs for Linux.

NVU is a fine HTML editor, though a text editor is probably the best...

Gimp is great paint program and a kick ass photo editor... Sorry you can't grasp it, but you can try Tux Paint or get Corel Paint 9 for Linux...

The choices are out there...

 

I use Sygate free firewall with Mozilla. Ad-aware, and Webroot are my sweepers and I've got to bring up Ccleaner.com again as it was only mentioned once. it works.
I also have winpatrol.

As mentioned don't click the flashy ads. If you have Firefox this will stop "99%" of the ads out there which will also speed up browsing.

http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/adblock

 

I don't run any anti-spyware or virus protection and I don't have any spyware running or virsues.... oh wait I use a mac. except for at work. carry on.

 

I don't have any viruses or spyware and I don't use any anti-software...and I only paid a couple hundred bucks for the parts to build my computer....

Oh, carry on

 

Just so you know.
Not all bad-stuff is noticeable until you try to clean it off. Then you're up shit-creek. I've had many machines that I had to reformat and do a complete reinstall due to "non-existant" viruses or programs on so-called CLEAN PC's..

Just don't do any online bill paying including paypal purchases, until you are sure that no one can see your junk.

As you said: carry on.

 

Ha ha, you funny guy.... so sorry your feelings hurt...

I do IT for a living, have for the last 10 years or so. I prefer my servers to be *nix based... I'm a big fan of the BSD's, though Linux will do in a pinch. I have to support some windows stuff, not so much with my new gig I'm starting in a few weeks. But personally (at home) and for my desktop at work I use a Mac. And all those "I can build a PC for a couple of hundred bucks" comments, go ahead, if it's for a couple hundred bucks it's crappy second rate hardware. If you buy commodity hardware (Dell, HP, etc.) then Apple is no more expensive. And it has a lower TCO. Not to mention it plain works, and works better than Windows for just about everything short of gaming, but then again I have a PS2 if I want to do that. I try to help those that use PC's but it always degenerates to "Macs suck" or "PC's suck"... If a PC gets you on the HAMB so be it.....

 

heh...my brothers run Macs, I'm the cheapskate in the family! I can't see spending real money for hardware (and in the case of Macs, software) that will be obsolete in a year. So, I buy obsolete hardware to start with. And scrounge software.

The big computer companies pretty much all suck, so I figure if I give them as little money as possible, I'm ahead of the game.

Kind of like how I build old cars.

(btw, our first computer was a gift PS/2, we still have it in the basement, a model 30/286)

 

I was getting ready to jump in on the Mac vs. PC thing, but I'll save that for one of the computer geek forums elsewhere on the net. So nevermind.

Meanwhile... as a weak attempt to bring things back on topic for this board...a photo I messed with for my desktop/wallpaper... on my Mac .

 

my current machine is going on 6 years and still runs fine. Not the fastest around, but its faster then my 1 1/2 year old dell I have to use for work.

 

Damnit man I get chidded no matter if I spell it with an "i" or a "u"! LOL! The OS works well it just didn't recognize the modem when I installed it. I can't afford to buy anything like Corel when PSP works SO well on the windoze 2000 machine. And 1st page is the best HTML editor I've ever seen including ones that cost over $100 - & it was free. Simple text editors don't compare: I can do editing/writing ten times faster with 1st Page.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Remember 1/2 of the population is below average.

 

Yup, virus scan in safe mode is good. You can also run system restore from safe mode. Many times it will uninstall spyware if you know when your PC started slowing down.

One other thing I do in addition to running the free version of AVG, enabling WinXP firewall and using a router (hardware firewall): I use web-based email (mine is Yahoo, but any will do). The advantage is that 1) it will automatically filter out 90% of your spam, and 2) the other spam that gets through, you can look at the sender and subject info before you open it and delete it without touching it.

I have NEVER gotten a virus, trojan, worm, etc. when following these steps.