[FrankOwens]

Sad but true!

[B Knotts]

I have never had a problem with Drudge. But I use Konqueror on Linux, with the popup setting on smart.

I didn't even know Drudge had popups until I heard someone mention it.

[Lunatic Fringe]

First of all, nothing can be INSTALLED on your computer unless you say yes to something. Granted, some of these are tricky, like Gator. Whether you click yes or no, it installes. The best way to avoid Gator is to click the "X" on the window, and not answer the question it shows.

Second, ADAWARE will flag cookies as spyware. Can you tell us what ADAWARE flagged?

[1rudeboy]

I've tried to install Spybot and AdAware, and all I get is an error message saying that a WS2_32.DLL file cannot be found. Anyone know a way around this?

[agitator]

I never understood what the point of going to Drudge's lame site was in the first place.

[backhoe]

FREE PC PROTECTION:

• Spybot S&D: Removes lurking spyware.
• AdAware: Removes lurking spyware.
• Bayden Systems Popup Popper: Blocks popup ads well in MSIE
• MailWasher: Good for pre-screening & bouncing SPAM
• AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Free anti-viral protection
• Windows Update: At least install the critical ones
• ZoneAlarm: Excellent Firewall
• SpywareBlaster - Prevent spyware from ever being installed!

 

Credit- Martin Fierro

[AppyPappy]

I seriously doubt this is the case.

[BiffWondercat]

Check into Proxomitron. I love the crap outta that program.

[Cold Heat]

Yup! I discovered this a while back.

A popup blocker is of much help with most of the critters. AdAware cleans them up nicely however.

[aruanan]

Drudge Site Ripe with Computer Slowing Spyware

Drudge Site RIFE with Computer Slowing Spyware


Main Entry: rife
Pronunciation: 'rIf
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English ryfe, from Old English ryfe; akin to Old Norse rIfr abundant
Date: 12th century
1 : prevalent especially to an increasing degree <fear was rife in the people>
2 : ABUNDANT, COMMON
3 : copiously supplied : ABOUNDING -- usually used with with <rife with rumors>
- rife adverb
- rife·ly adverb

[Utilizer]

I run Opera and AtGuard. Nothing gets installed unless I specifically allow it, not even cookies. Have not had a single piece of spywared (except for the now-removed Go!zilla prog) for about six years so far. The combo runs quite well, even on older machines.

[AHerald]

Don't know about that. But it sure as heck is ripe with piffle stories about the political thoughts of celebs, the latest doings of gay icons, and breathless, melodramatic reports of apocalyptic quakes and weather.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Bump for future use.

[alnick]

One thing that I do is sites like drudge is when I'm on that site, in the IE menu I click on view, then privacy report, then I right click on each listing in the report that comes up and select "always reject cookies from this site." This helps prevent the obnoxious pop ups. I don't know if it would help to prevent you from picking up spyware.

[Yeti]

You should change your internet settings. In IE, there is a "moderate" security setting. With that setting, nothing can be installed without your permission. That is the default setting, so you must have been playing with it in the past without understanding what you were doing for things to be set the way they apparently are now.

[OldFriend]

Yup, lately Drudge website has caused big time slowdown.

[Cicero]

I'd suggest Spybot Search & Destroy and an associated program, Spyware Blaster. These can be set to block spyware from loading as well as to remove spyware that is already present. AdAware 6 occasionally finds a cookie that is missed by Spybot. No harm in having that too.

Also VERY useful, and well worth the small shareware licensing charge, is Ad Muncher, which blocks popups and ad banners and speeds up internet access as a result.

These programs are especially necessary if your kids use the computer and visit sites (such as music sources) that are plagued with spyware.

[nutmeg]

.

[Chuzzlewit]

Well I just used the Spybot and I have to say, I just got all my speed back. I've had a cable connection for 4 years now, and I was using Drudge as my homepage... Funny thing is, it was just habit, cause Free Republic has always been the first place I go anyway, so I've just made it my home web page.

Drudge has just become irrelevant to me, unless someone can prove otherwise.

To bad, because I rather like his site.

[gaspar]

Checked the service, downloaded, and WOW! Were you right! Thank you very much. The service has perceptibly improved.

[Henchman]

May I suggest POP-UP STOPPER? Free at www.panicware.com. They have a paid version, but the free one works well enough for me. Also, Spybot Search and Destroy, is "free", AKA donation ware. It may not play nice with Ad-Aware, although I never had a problem. There is an American Language (English) version and unfortunately, our second language, Spanish, through a lack of political testicular fortitude.

Anyone notice that our whitehouse.gov has two languages - English and Spanish, If it only had one language, all would presume it was American. The various ethnicities that made this country great, and were smart enough to learn English, would not be slighted and relegated to second class citizenship.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Some proactive measures include tuning up the settings under Internet Options, Security, Custom (roughly depending on Windows version). If you are repeatedly hit from a specific site copy and paste it's address into this list. I downloaded an extensive list of offenders (can't remember where, Google it) and saw infiltration attempts drop dramatically. The time spent entering each bad site name into the listing individually is worth not having to bother with them in the future.
In the "Advanced" settings I changed the Active Hex, er, Active X settings to "Prompt". Far better to click once or twice to prevent these ad scripts from loading than to deal with them after they've gotten loose on your machine. Very few web sites are dependent on them to convey important information, anyway. The responsible sites that do tell you up front.

[WaterDragon]

I now go to the Drudge page only a couple of times a day because of the garbage my computer picks up there. It isn't only Drudge, though....it's just about anywhere you go on the net. I have a spy/pest cleanser I run a couple of times a week.

One of the worst for loading your computer up with garbage is that nifty little Weatherbug!

[Born Conservative]

I ran Spybot and cleaned out all of the "problems" it found, and then went to Drudge. All I got was a tracking cookie from Fast Click.

[bjcintennessee]

Filing for future use and knowledge. Thanks everyone!

[Consort]

[Flightdeck]

So what does this spyware do? Does it collect information on your activities and report back to somebody, or is it just like somebody dumping garbage in your computer?

[mercy]

Thanks a million. Works great! Puter much faster now.

[Rightly Biased]

self

[proud American in Canada]

bump!

[Pagey]

I'm going to do this tomorrow on my work computer as I've noticed this recently With a DSL line.BUMP!

[txdoda]

bttt..

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

My homepage is drudge report and my computer has been slowing own quite a bit lately

Is there any way to get a free copy of AdAware or spybot for use poor college students? Is there anything on Kazaa or Grokster?

[Constitution Day]

BTTT for later.

[Lauren BaRecall]

for reference