Spyware programs

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Richard Fangnail - 28 Oct 2005 20:49 GMT

I just had a spyware problem where I had to run chkdsk or else I
couldn't run any programs.

I already have Norton AV - couldn't I upgrade that to a spyware
prevention program?

If not, what do you recommend for spyware?

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Imhotep - 28 Oct 2005 20:56 GMT

> I just had a spyware problem where I had to run chkdsk or else I
> couldn't run any programs.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> If not, what do you recommend for spyware?

Spybot Search and Destroy is pretty good...it has some good functionality...

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

Remember you are running Windose so I would recommend using multiple
anti-spyware applications...

Imhotep

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Richard Fangnail - 28 Oct 2005 22:40 GMT

This site below no longer recommends Spybot. What do you think?

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

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Stephen Howe - 29 Oct 2005 00:00 GMT

> This site below no longer recommends Spybot. What do you think?
>
> http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

I think you are wrong. Read what is said carefully.
It recommends not using the immunisation or ad-blocking features of these
products.
That is not the same thing as not recommending SpyBot.

Stephen Howe

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Richard Fangnail - 29 Oct 2005 03:12 GMT

I loaded and ran Spybot, MS-Antispyware Beta and Ad-Aware (free ware),
in that order.

Spybot seemed to find many files, most of which were old cookies. I
thought I told Spybot to fix them. I then ran MS-Antispy and it found
nothing.

Then I ran Ad-Aware and it found some things similar to what Spybot had
found and even remnants of the old blaster virus. It's possible that
Spybot did not fix what it was supposed to fix, but I'm not sure.

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Stephen Howe - 29 Oct 2005 22:00 GMT

> Spybot seemed to find many files, most of which were old cookies. I
> thought I told Spybot to fix them. I then ran MS-Antispy and it found
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> found and even remnants of the old blaster virus. It's possible that
> Spybot did not fix what it was supposed to fix, but I'm not sure.

Did you run these products in Safe Mode?
Running in Safe Mode helps these products.
Some Spyware can be resident in memory and on running anti-Spyware, it can
reinstall the hooks removed by anti-Spyware products. Result - it is as if
you had not run anti-Spyware at all.

Running in Safe Mode means that many of the Spyware is not loaded up which
helps the anti-Spyware products detach/delete Spyware (unless Spyware has
installed itself as a Critical Service).
Run ad-Aware in its deep mode (and go watch a TV programme/make cup of
coffee/chill out with a few beers/soda/cider while it does its job).

Stephen Howe

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PA Bear - 29 Oct 2005 04:34 GMT

That's the opinion of site owner & MVP Jim Eshelman. Many of us still think
Spybot's a worthwhile tool to have in our toolboxes.

Signature

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), AH-VSOP

> This site below no longer recommends Spybot. What do you think?
>
> http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

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Stephen Howe - 29 Oct 2005 21:56 GMT

> That's the opinion of site owner & MVP Jim Eshelman. Many of us still think
> Spybot's a worthwhile tool to have in our toolboxes.

That is not what is said on the web site.
He is talking specifcally about the immunisation feature, which on balance,
he thinks is a negative.
No the pros and cons of that are a separate subject :-)

Stephen Howe

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PA Bear - 30 Oct 2005 03:37 GMT

Robear Dyer wrote:

> > That's the opinion of site owner & MVP Jim Eshelman. Many of us still
> > think Spybot's a worthwhile tool to have in our toolboxes.

<paste>

> Richard Fangnail wrote:
> > This site below no longer recommends Spybot. What do you think?
> >
> > http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

</paste>

> That is not what is said on the web site.
> He is talking specifcally about the immunisation feature, which on
> balance, he thinks is a negative.
> No the pros and cons of that are a separate subject :-)

You're hijacked the thread and are veering offtopic. See <pasted> section
above which you omitted.

It is Jim's site and page: It contains his opinions. He writes, "I [First
Person] recommend you leave these turned off."

I and many others have no problem with using & recommending Spybot's and
SpywareBlaster's immunize functions.

Signature

~PA Bear

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