Your computer may not be as secure as you think, thanks to 'spyware'

Stars and Stripes ^ | October 29, 2002 | Rick Chernitzer

[martin_fierro]

Remove Spyware with AdAware

[Sir Gawain]

Yep.

[Jean S]

Thanks Martin. You forgot to mention that AdAware is free. It's a great program.

[Vidalia]

Bingo...

[I still care]

Thanks for the reminder. It's been a week since I ran my ad aware, and just found 29 components BESIDES my cookies.

[mostlyundecided]

I use AD-AWARE to get rid of spyware:

Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility designed for all Win9x / ME / NT40 / W2000 platforms. It scans your system for components of known spyware parasites and lets you remove them safely. Feel free to email if you have further questions : support@lavasoftUSA.com

To download a copy of Ad-aware go to www.lavasoftUSA.com

Another option is: SPYBOT, go to www.voiceofthepublic.com

[Senator Pardek]

Dude, when I check what processes are running on my box, I find a few executables I do not recognize. How do I find out what they are (XP user)?

[Ciexyz]

Can't think of anything any site is tracking on me, except the fact I buy conservative-topic books online.

[agitator]

I had to chew out a client this afternoon over that. Misleading windoze messenger service messages were popping up on every computer, including their server, as if norton anti-virus had detected something but it was in fact spam generated by that [expletive deleted] Gator spam-ware.

I asked, "What software have you installed lately that didn't originally come with the computer I left on your desk?" The answer was a "neat little 'FREE' date manager with lots of nifty little features!"

I asked, "Did you read the ENTIRE license agreement when you installed it?" She replied "No! Nobody ever reads that stuff!"

"Well, had you bothered to read it, you would have noticed that you agreed to allow the installation of software that contacts its home base from your computer, retrieves spam, and then annoys you by popping up system messages in your face. Now that I've killed a half hour of my time, and we're going to kill another half hour of OUR time while we remove that [expletive deleted] spamware off your computer, was that thing really FREE?"

Unfortunately, I can't prohibit the client from installing software on their machines or I would have. As it is that neat little bit of "free" software was anything but "free."

[Sir Gawain]

Just start ending processes. Start with explorer.exe and go from there.

[Sir Gawain]

kidding

[FreedomPoster]

Ad-aware is on every machine I touch, set to do a complete scan on boot-up. It looks like we have a strong consensus on this thread.

Full setup at home:

Router appliance
Ad-aware everywhere
auto-updating Norton AV everywhere
Often running Zonealarm (it's been a little flakey under XP - anyone have anything better?)

[Nachum]

I just downloaded it and ran it. Interesting program, thanks.

[FlyVet]

Remove Spyware with AdAware

I run AdAware daily, and typically find four spyware cookies on my computater. What I wonder is, why isn't this junk made ILLEGAL? Know of any rebellious movements toward this goal?

[Gracey]

Thank you. You're a gem.

[Cicero]

Sometimes if a running executable is named, you can search for it on your computer and tell from its location or its Properties what it is. That isn't a bad idea, because it's good to know what your computer is up to.

I also use AdAware regularly, because my kids seem to visit sites that plant advertising spyware in my computer.

[Cicero]

Gator is certainly one of the worst of them. And Comet Cursor.

[Senator Pardek]

I use AdWare too, and there's still some weird stuff there. Good advice - I'll check where the .exe stuff is located.

[Jean S]

Start with explorer.exe and go from there.

lol, you are not a nice person.