[siwelwerd]

With the frequent spyware problems that seem to recur here, I thought I would pin up a topic of how to kick your spyware problem. What programs do you use to eliminate spyware? I personally just use AdAware and Spybot, along with a virusscan program. You can kick a lot of problems by switching from Internet Explorer to a different browser--more info on alternative browsers in this thread

Virusscan programs
Free AVG Antivirus

Anti Spyware programs
AdAware
Spybot
Spyshield
CWShredder
Hijack this
Pest patrol (no free version available)
Spyware Blaster
Spyware Doctor
Microsoft Anti-Spyware Tool
HouseCall

Other resources
Process Library--Here you can check to see if those running processes that you have no idea about are system processes or malicious tasks.
WinPatrol

[someguy]

You can kick a lot of problems by switching from Internet Explorer to a different browser

Bah, stop encouraging that. Somewhere along the line of Windows updates they fixed most of the security issues. I never get any adware anymore, and I use IE all the time.

[Prodigal7512]

I'd also add Spyshield and CWShredder to that list.
They're the next ones (after all the ones you've listed) that I'm getting when I get the internet back on my computer at home.

[Majkai]

Siwelwerd and Prodigal--Do you need more than one type of spyware on your computer? I have AdAware on my personal computer, should I add another one?

[Prodigal7512]

Siwelwerd and Prodigal--Do you need more than one type of spyware on your computer?  I have AdAware on my personal computer, should I add another one?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll defer to Siwelwerd on this one for the final word (He is the tech Mod after all )
But I shall leave you with this analogy. It's like protection when having sex. The pill is good. A condom is good. Both is better.

[DarkShinigami4711]

I feel over-protected... I use everything that has been listed plus a program called PestPatrol that I got through my dad's work. I'll try to find their website and see if they have a free trial or anything. Can't remember if it was free or not... Anyway, I have all that, yet I still can't find a pop-up blocker that works well but dosn't restrict too much without having to mark a site as "safe". Kinda sad, I think.

[linuxelf]

Bah, stop encouraging that. Somewhere along the line of Windows updates they fixed most of the security issues. I never get any adware anymore, and I use IE all the time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

siwelwerd isn't wrong, though. MSIE, for many reasons, is particularly susceptable to malware. It's great that you've never been infected, but millions of MSIE users have, even with all of Microsoft's patches applied. Because of the way that Microsoft chose to integrate MSIE into the operating system, the way it hides its resources in obscurely named registry keys, and such leave it particularly vulnerable. You are correct in that recent security patches have made it more difficult for an attacker to exploit a security hole in MSIE, however, MSIE has many functions that, when used as they are intended to be used, can leave you open to malware. Most adware/spyware that infects MSIE doesn't blow buffers or exploit obscure holes, but instead use the basic API that MSIE provides.

[Cactus]

Along with Ad-Aware and Spybot (with its resident program enabled) I use SpywareBlaster ( http://www.javacools...fd5b9e6852d6ae6 ).

Do bear in mind there are two types of spyware prevention program: Ad-Aware, for example, has to be run at intervals and detects and clears up infections after they have happened. SpywareBlaster and Spybot's resident stop infections occurring in the first place.

And don't forget to update your spyware detector's and your anti-virus software's signatures regularly.

[Katwyld]

Bah, stop encouraging that. Somewhere along the line of Windows updates they fixed most of the security issues. I never get any adware anymore, and I use IE all the time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm glad you haven't had problems. I kept up on my updates, and still had a ton (and I don't visit a whole lot of sites). Since switching to Firefox, it's pretty much nil. Do you use anything else?

Siwelwerd and Prodigal--Do you need more than one type of spyware on your computer?  I have AdAware on my personal computer, should I add another one?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know that there are things that AdAware doesn't find that Spybot does... And things that both of them don't find that Spyware doctor has found. So..... Can't say that it would hurt, I don't think.

[someguy]

Yeah, I have the classic Spybot/AdAware combo. I suppose right now Spybot's immunization could be what's blocking problems, but I think for a while I just had AdAware without any trouble *shrug*.

Well, regardless, I'm happy with how I'm set up.

[siwelwerd]

Siwelwerd and Prodigal--Do you need more than one type of spyware on your computer?  I have AdAware on my personal computer, should I add another one?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like Kat mentioned, they don't find exactly the same things. There is quite a bit of overlap, but most people tend to have 2 or 3 programs installed. The combo I (and a lot of other people) use is AdAware/Spybot, but depending on your browsing habits others may work better for you.

Do bear in mind there are two types of spyware prevention program: Ad-Aware, for example, has to be run at intervals and detects and clears up infections after they have happened. SpywareBlaster and Spybot's resident stop infections occurring in the first place.

And don't forget to update your spyware detector's and your anti-virus software's signatures regularly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would hesitate to even call it two types of spyware prevention--I would call the two categories prevention and treatment, with Adaware falling in the treatment category and the latter two programs you mentioned as preventative measures.

I also want to emphasize your second point, because it is critical--out of date definitions are only marginally better than no protection at all.

Yeah, I have the classic Spybot/AdAware combo. I suppose right now Spybot's immunization could be what's blocking problems, but I think for a while I just had AdAware without any trouble *shrug*.

Well, regardless, I'm happy with how I'm set up.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't doubt that you use IE and don't have any of the "classic" problems with it--I never really had any of those problems when I used it either. I think a lot of it has to do with browsing habits. However, the general consensus is that you are in the minority, and for the majority of people, switching off of IE does decrease the amount of spyware/malware, so it is worth mentioning here.

[Katiz]

I am also a user of Microsoft Anti-Spyware. It's free and you can download it here: http://www.microsoft...&displaylang=en. Obviously you need windows to run it. But it does automatic updates, automatic computer scans, and runs in the background to prevent anything from downloading. It's actually a program that was produced and marketed by a completely independant company till MS bought them out. So it's in beta, but it's already a complete product.

Other than that I have Spybot and Adaware, but I only scan monthly because MS's program is so good at picking everything up. I also have McAfee AntiVirus, which picks up on some spyware, but isn't exactly something to completely rely on.

[Katwyld]

I also have McAfee AntiVirus, which picks up on some spyware, but isn't exactly something to completely rely on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Norton finds stuff sometimes, too. Never gets rid of it, but it finds it. Sad thing is, it tells ME how to get rid of it when I go to the site. I can never find it where it tells me, and if I run Spybot/AdAware afterwards, it doesn't come up the next time Norton runs.

[someguy]

Norton finds all adware and spyware but is completely incapable of removing it.

I hate Norton though, because it uses up too much system resources and it will turn itself back on if you turn it off. If you try to do something like keep it from starting with Windows, it will throw a massive tantrum, say it's been tampered with, and force you to reinstall.

[Katwyld]

Norton finds all adware and spyware but is completely incapable of removing it.

I hate Norton though, because it uses up too much system resources and it will turn itself back on if you turn it off. If you try to do something like keep it from starting with Windows, it will throw a massive tantrum, say it's been tampered with, and force you to reinstall.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah,... I tend to leave Norton on to keep protecting all the time. Probably has something to do with having the cable internet and always being connected. Just feel a little better that way....

[DarkShinigami4711]

Wow, I think this topic needs to STAY pinned, all those links to various Anti-Spyware programs is helpful as hell. And it's growing! As for PestPatrol, sorry if it dosn't help (what with being pay-only and all), but like I said, I got it from my dad's company (he runs some programs off my laptop, so it needs to be protected to their standards and whatnot). It's a good program if you're willing to shell out the cash for it (or work for a company willing to give it to you or a family member). Any of those work well for blocking popups? I know some popups are spyware-related, but I need to find one for the regular ads that appear on sites. And has anyone else had problems with these ads that don't pop up in a new window but appear actualy over top of the site you're trying to access? In the same window and everything? Annoying little buggers...

[someguy]

Once we gain the ability to block ads on the page, ads will become meaningless, companies won't be able to get money from advertising, and we'll all have to pay through the nose for every site we visit.

[DrCBVI]

Well, firefox has an extension called 'Adblock', and you can select certain aspects of a page and scrap 'em, pictures, flash, whatever, I've found it very useful - it also comes with a Wildcard function so you can block all the images/anything else from a particular website. Adblock is here for anyone curious.

[n9zee]

Well, just to throw another not-free program into the mix, I use Webroot's Spysweeper. (Webroot). I find it's pretty good for a yearly subscription style program, and it plays rather nicely with Norton. For some reason when I tried Spybot, my comp didn't like it... I tried the demo of spysweeper and it had no problems.

[goldsend]

Bah, stop encouraging that. Somewhere along the line of Windows updates they fixed most of the security issues. I never get any adware anymore, and I use IE all the time.

Just because you don't think you see it doesn't mean that it isn't there. Microshaft has a very poor security set-up in its browsers. sometimes the biggest issues are tracking cookies that you did not authorize but IE has allowed through anyway. Just check your Temporary Internet Folder and check out how many cookies you have compared to how many sites you visit regularly. A major problem with IE is that it will allow even banner ads to add cookies and adware that doesn't look like its doing anything but can localise advertisements, track internet surfing, watching e-transactions and logging your habits to web and ad companies that exist only to track peoples habits on the web.

As an aside there is also a really neat tool out there made by BillP studios called winpatrol that watches for things like that as well as a hundred other items like what programs start up at windows logon, what cookies you have and how many BHO's(browser 'helper' objects) you really have. you can find it www.winpatrol.com. they even have a freeware version that is very helpful.