ADWARE/SPYWARE EMBEDDED IN FREE REPUBLIC?

Self | 11/26/04 | Dixie Sass

[dixie sass]

What is with the underlined words/phrases in FR?

[JoJo Gunn]

Oops.

You can say "Huh?" again....

[JSteff]

You are right. I have removed it from several computers at work. Actually it was easier to do in the Win 98 machines.

As far as the ones that go out and get a new copy of themselves... use the Spy Bot replacement host file. It has many of the sites where the spyware comes from as restricted hosts.

The browser will not go to those sites. Then run ad-aware and then spybot. Install ad-aware 1st and then spybot. Should get rid of most stuff.

[anniegetyourgun]

And, BTW, how ever did we miss this?!?

[onyx]

I saw it.
Read thru the comments.
Didn't ping you because I noticed the admin mod's comments.
The thread is legitimate in his/her opinion.

[OldFriend]

Getting pop ups on FR for the very first time. Boo hoo.

[RWKindaGuy]

I have found that a combination of SPYBOT Search and Destroy and ADAWARE will find nearly all of the spyware, adware and malware on my system. I also use SPYWAREBLASTER and the Shareware version of ADWATCH (comes with AdAware) which help keep that crap off of my system in the first place. A great place to find all of this is at:

http://www.majorgeeks.com

RW

[Read2Know]

Try this this site. Pretty comprehensive testing results. http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-guide.htm

Careful for bogus comparison sites that lead you to buy spyware that rids all spyware, except their own!

[Darksheare]

*embarrassed*
I'm one of those closet tinkerers who likes to beat programs into submission....

[boris]

(((they're the fnords))).

Don't tell anybody!

[pending]

Something nobody has mentioned, spybot has a
newer and most excellent tool, called "resident".
This loads at startup and runs in the background,
showing an icon in the
taskbar. This actively prevents the junk from
getting in.

Dixie, I hope you won't take some of these comments
personally,some paranoia is justified around here,unfortunately.
I do think some of the folks
jumped the gun a bit here though.

I also use Firefox, Ad-Aware, SpyBot S&D, the
excellent free virus tool AVG and the Zone Alarm
firewall. Unfortunately all are necessary today,
but thankfully the combination gets it done.

I have not tried the newest Zone alarm though...
can't speak for it. A link for older versions is below.

You are right to be a bit unsure about
online downloads. But
In terms of security/safety...even
if you purchase something in a store,
the first thing they will recommend
is to update it online.
It is the nature of fighting
virus/trojan/spyware/adware/crap ad infinitum
that we need to continually update these tools.
One should update them, even immediately after
installing them to be sure we are up to date.



I have not had an issue with anything since
using the new spybot, and especially the excellent
Firefox browser. These are widely respected,
highly regarded tools.

You will find these items on the pages linked below:

firefox Click "free download" on this page:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

spybot Scroll down this page, click Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Adaware from CNet's Download.com
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

AVG Click the link marked "AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition download" at:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl7.php

Zone Alarm Newest version Click the little red box "free download at: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

Zone alarm, older versions at, appropriately "old version.com"
http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=zalarm

---

Note to AVG users...
"On December 31, 2004, support for AVG 6.0 will be discontinued. All virus database updates, program
updates, as well as technical support for the product
will no longer be available after this date! In order
to continue to be protected by AVG Anti-Virus, you
must be using AVG 7.0."

AVG 7 is still free. I am using it, it has been solid and trouble free.

Later

[boris]

It's OK; they can't see them anyway.