"Scary Spyware results" Topic

I was just reading an independent test of spyware removal software. Scary, both for the relatively low success rates of detection and removal and for the appalling amount of malware some sites dish out.

link

After a lot of tests and research my work use both spybot and lavasoft's adaware. Both free. Both seem to work pretty good.

Both have recently gone to new versions, so if you use this stuff and see that there are no updates for a week or so, check that you ave the latest version. You'll have to remove and then install the new version.

When you do your first scan the results are shocking, it's like living in a cyber fishbowl. However there are some good programs out there to protect yourself. I use ZoneAlarm, Adaware, SpywareBlaster/Guard and Spybot.

NO, I don't work for any of the companies above I just hate the idea of my every move being reported to complete strangers.

Simplest solution is to stop using IE and Outlook. Most spyware and viruses use security holes in both of those applications to propogate themsevles.

The recommendation I had been given by our tech guys was to use two (or more) or the better spy ware detectors, hopefully those that one misses the other catches.

The first time I ran one on one or office computers for common use I was really scared, it had over 800 different cookies ,Trojans etc, Since then we've affectionately renamed the computer typhoid Mary.

I use the Adaware to clean out some malware and adware and spyware from our computer. I had three malware programs that were trying to highjack my browers - and adaware helped me locate them and to delete them from the system. It was a little frustrating at first because they included a program that recycled them when deleted. It took me awhile to figure out how the recycle system worked.

What really bugs me is that some of this spyware and adware are planted on "good" websites. One thing that my son suggested was that I stop using internet explore and switch to Avant Browers which has some tools to block cookies, adware and spyware. In using the system, it surprising to click on MSN for news and to see how many blocked URLS appear at the bottom of the screen.

Joel

SpywareBlaster with Spybot v1.3 have kept my computer clean for over a year.

Pixelgeek has the right idea, I recently switched from I.E. to Firefox....WHY did I wait so long? The sites load much faster and the spyware/malware has all but stopped.

Ad-aware from Lavasoft is excellent, and Spybot is a good backup.

All of the garbage fragged my last machine, but it was pretty old, and needed replacing anyway.

This shouldn't really be an issue. If you're forced for whatever reason to use Windows, use alternative browsers/email clients.

At work we've banned use of both IE and Outlook and have since had very few malware/virus problems (knock on wood). Use a hardware firewall, an up-to-date antivirus program and alternative communications clients and you *will* be safe enough.

Cheers/Fredrik

I've been using Spybot for a few weeks now and it seems to be doing the job. One particular spyware/adware program keeps returning though-DSO Exploit. Every time I run a scan it comes up, I "search and destroy", and it immediately comes back. Spybot says it's fixed the problem but it obviously hasn't. Anyone any ideas on what this is and how to get it off my poota?

Come on- I can't wait forever…