Posted on 01/18/2003 8:49:27 AM PST by Sir Gawain
Just thought I'd give this little PSA since I'm such a nice guy.
Many of you are already familiar with Lavasoft's AdAware, but you may not be familiar with SpyBot Search & Destroy, which is actually more powerful and more up-to-date. Lavasoft hasn't updated their definition file since September because they're working on a new release, so it won't clean newer spyware creations like CommonName. I would keep AdAware however. It's still very useful.
SpyBot also has a lot of other cool functionality built into it, like a clean on startup in case you are unable to remove the spyware's .exe or .dll because they have processes running. Yes I realize you can just unregister the .dll then reboot and delete it, but not everyone knows how to do that.
Here are a few other cool (and free) tools to help keep the stuff off your PC:
(From website) "SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed.
How? By setting a "kill bit" for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the installation of any of them from a webpage. You can run Internet Explorer with Active-X enabled, but you will never even get a "Yes/No" box popped up, asking you to install a spyware Active-X control (Internet Explorer will never download or run it!). All other Active-X controls or plug-ins will work fine.
The SpywareBlaster database contains information on these known spyware Active-X controls. Make sure you run the Check For Updates feature frequently to get the latest database! (And make sure you check the new items to protect your system against them!)
As a side benefit, setting this "kill bit" will also prevent the spyware Active-X from running, in many cases, if it is already installed on your system.*"
(From website) "SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware! And you can easily have an anti-virus program running alongside SpywareGuard.
Features Listing: Fast scanning engine
Scans exe and cab files - the two most popular file types for distributing spyware
Signature-based scanning - for known spyware (list)
Heuristic/generic detection capabilities - some spyware programs can be detected even if the code undergoes significant changes
Small size - with a small size and small definition sizes, download and updates are quick
SG Control Panel - provides easy access to help and integration options
SG LiveUpdate - provides an easy updating solution
Spyware files are blocked before being opened or run - they are not simply shut down after they are loaded in memory (and after they have performed their tasks)
The full path to the spyware executable is provided on the alert screen
Once a spyware file is detected and blocked from running, the options are provided to either continue or to delete the spyware file
It's a free download
Most of this info and much more can be found at http://www.spywareinfo.com/
I run McAfee's Guard Dog (part of their Internet Security package), which alerts me whenever a site that I have not visited is trying to put a cookie on my computer. Many FreeRepublic threads are trying to do this, and Guard Dog is giving me the opportunity to block these cookies from being downloaded.
I can't tell you for sure which objects are causing the cookies to download, but this thread from MSNBC is trying to put an MSNBC cookie on my computer.
I just thought you'd want to know (if you don't already).
-PJ
That's what I thought you meant but wasn't sure.
The name of the file that you downloaded should be "spybotsd14.exe"...or maybe "spybotsd11.exe".
Go to "Start" then "Search" or "Find" and search your hard drive for that name or just "spybotsd". It should come up with the location of it.
If not, just download it again and make a note of the path to it before you click "OK".
I do agree but what it doesn't say is, "open the file only if you know the sender is a cautious and paranoid as you are about new viruses."
Cheers,
knews hound
I have KLite ver 2.0 on one PC at home and there are some additional feature differences but that's about it. One thing that is a nuisance is a new "Participation Level" that rises as people upload from you and drops when you download. The upshot is that with a low participation level, you will receive more frequent "Reqeued" messages as you are put lower on the list to access the file you want to download. Downloaders with higher P levels get preference. It's supposed to encourage uploading and sharing.
However, as with all software schemes to force you into a certain type of behavior...there is a way around it. Consequently, my Participation level is always at 1000...Diety Level. Let me know if you'd like to know how. If you stay at ver 1.76, you won't need it.
Get rid of Spy Guard and Spy Blaster. You don't need them. Keep your Zone Alarm installed no matter what. That protection is top priority, especially if you use a cable modem or DSL. Perhaps you should install the Spybot S&D first, then the Zone Alarm and then the Pop Up Stopper.
Spybot S&D shouldn't tell you to uninstall the Zone Alarm. It might find it in a search and see it as spyware for some reason but if so you can just exclude it from future searches. Or if it DOES have a problem with Zone Alarm Pro, perhaps you can download and install the Free version of ZA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.