Tech: Spyware

Subject: Tech: Spyware
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 01:29 PM

Well I've just run Spybot and AdAware again, and once more they find the usual suspects Data Miner programmes mostly, and some cookies. How can I stop these recurring, surely if these programmes can detect them ,then something could stop them finding a home on my PC. Would it help to stop accepting cookies? remember I'm not on Broadband.
Giok

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 01:31 PM

John,

Mozilla seems to have stopped most of that stuff for me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 01:40 PM

the registered version of ad-aware has a feature called adwatch - which is suppossed to block anything it can detect.

not accepting cookies should help.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 02:25 PM

We delete all of our cookies prior to running our weekly backup which includes Spybot and Adaware and then we restore our Mudcat cookie which is the only one we care about.

When we run Spybot, it always detects five files which are not really spyware, they're just records of what we've been doing that are generated by (we think) Windows. Otherwise, it finds nothing.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: treewind
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 02:25 PM

What you need is Mozilla Firefox to stop most of that stuff ever getting in again.

Just blocking cookies stops the more benign stuff, but it's not use against exploitation of ActiveX controls and other MSIE weaknesses.

Plus it's an altogether better browser. Tabbed browsing, pop-up blocker, fast, easy to use, looks nice (much prettier than plain Mozilla).

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: Hillheader
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 03:17 PM

John

I've just downloaded "Antispyware" from bid bad Microsoft. It's a Beta version valid for 6 months but it's great. It found stuff Adaware missed completely - even old versions of spyware which were apparently inactive.

Upshot is that my system now works about three times faster than it did before I installed the program.

I'm not a big fan of Microsoft, but credit where it is due - this looks good.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: treewind
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 06:27 PM

Not much credit due to Microsoft. They bought the program from Giant Software (or maybe they bought the whole company) and are reselling it, complete with interesting new bugs. According to one review, it works well if it doesn't crash. OK, it's beta, but...

They'll give it away free with Windows until the other antispyware providers are out of business, then they'll start charging for the necessary updates. Wouldn't be the first time, and Bob Cringely's predictions for 2005 also suggest it will be a disaster in many ways.

All this to patch holes caused by their own sloppy design.

Be very afraid.

Anahata
(hiding behing a firewall with Firefox and Linux)

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 06:59 PM

I run Spybot, Ad Aware, Firefox at home and at work. For damned good reason! And I'd run Linux if it were possible, but for a variety of reasons it isn't (right now).

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 07:36 PM

Just found this article of the known weaknesses of IE.

IE weaknesses

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: John Routledge
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 08:41 PM

Having just installed Firefox/Thunderbird a week ago I can confirm that they are delightful to use. I feel much better using them than IE/OE :0)

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 08:57 PM

I just tried to log on at Wells Fargo (a U.S. bank) to see if a check was deposited, but Mozilla tells me that it doesn't have the right algorithms for a secure setup. I have to use IE (or Netscape--one we've largely neglected in this discussion).

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: GUEST,Dearest - brucie
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 09:59 PM

We got your numbers - we got your URL - got your system - we got your last 20 sites visited - we got five passwords - and all your Excell related docs. Give us time - if there is gold we will find it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 10:00 PM

Nothing is secure - we all live in glass-houses.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 10:44 PM

check out SpywareBlaster for convenient protection
from active X problems

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 10:49 PM

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html



"Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted pests.
Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
Restrict the actions of potentially dangerous sites in Internet Explorer.

SpywareBlaster can help keep your system spyware-free and secure, without interfering with the "good side" of the web.

And unlike other programs, SpywareBlaster does not have to remain running in the background.

SpywareBlaster is freeware for personal and educational use. "

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: treewind
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 01:45 PM

Re: Wells Fargo: get a better bank if they can't operate a proper web site. And tell them you're NOT using IE for security reasons!

Re "glass houses": yes, but some glass is thicker than others and it helps not to leave the door wide open.

I've won a little victory at work where I'm responsible for IT on a small network - we ditched Adaware after installing it, running it once on every PC and then deciding we didn't really want to pay for it - and after a trial week of everybody using Firefox the directors have agreed it's official policy now and I've deleted the MSIE links off all the desktops!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 10:04 PM

I downlaoded used the MS Antispyware yesterday and it cleared out spyware which Norton would not clear but only give an alert over. I will now switch over to Firfox and see how that goes.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spyware
From: John C.
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 01:43 PM

I recently installed something called 'Spy Sweeper' from Webroot. It detected loads of spyware, and seemed to speed up my system as a result, but it also seemed to make the system at bit unstable; finally I had to remove it - but I'm stuck now! Help!