Good Anti-Spyware Utilites

[dew7]

I have found certain utilities to be very good in the fight against spyware, malware, adware.
I like:
Spybot -- Search and Destroy (all red entries delete)
Adaware (just be careful what you delete)
SpySweeper by Webroot (full version costs money)
CWShredder (helpful in cws variants)
SpywareBlaster (free unless you want auto-updates)
Any other utilities that people have tried and like -- I will analyze the results -- check them with mvps at general 98 microsoft newsgroups and my own research and tell you what I think if my opinion matters to anyone.  These sites can be found from Google -- just type the word(s) in and the search results return -- if you need the site I can post it here for you
Finally, please consider donating what money you can to support the makers of Spybot Search and Destroy and CWShredder because these free utitlities are awesome and the author(s) could always use money to help them in their research -- I guess money makes the world go around -- at least here in the USA

[dew7]

Is no one else as concerned about the spyware issue as me in this forum --- Neil, Copycat, Jeysie maybe?

[Say]

well you probably would be amazed to know that I am I have to (seriously) run like weekly adware and spybot otherwise my pc gets like... amazingly saturated over internet JUNK to the point that it crashed my explorer and absolutly many other things which obviously it tends to seriously annoy me due the fact that Im working, I dont want any weird stuff appearing all of a sudden or ZoneAlarm asking me about weird unathorized installed crap   because that's what it is, junk and annoying and freaking stupid and I wish the ones who do this should just go choke on a peanut.

and btw yeah spybot is really good, so is adaware

[Jeysie]

It's not that I'm not concerned about spyware... it's just that I use Opera and "known-spyware" lists. Seriously, I take precautions to keep spyware from getting on my computer in the first place, so I don't have to worry about taking it off. (shrug)

Peace & Luv, Liz

[dew7]

I will probably have IE 6sp1 for sites that require it and use Mozilla FireFox most of the time due to the spyware and adware that target IE.  Say, do you use a HOSTS File Manager to block bad sites from loading.  I use one and it really is nice because many ads do not even load and it is free and by a MVP (Most Valued Professional) who are volunteers who have been recognized by Microsoft for their contributions.  Gary Terhune 9x MVP has been really helpful to me in the microsoft public 98 gen_newsgroup.  I will give the link to the HOSTS and newsgroup if anyone here is interested or gives a hoot.  Thanks for replying Say and Jeysie -- I appreciatie the feedback.

[Say]

Say, do you use a HOSTS File Manager to block bad sites from loading.  I use one and it really is nice because many ads do not even load and it is free and by a MVP (Most Valued Professional) who are volunteers who have been recognized by Microsoft for their contributions.  

does this means like a pop up blocker or something? because for example... when I've had this problems before it was (I recall this once that it really pissed me off) I was working on my thesis, and I was typing obviously then having msn up there was a new version of MSNplus, I didnt quite get to realize the window that asked me for it, and it installed automatically the version, now   I love MSNplus yeah, but it has like 70% of all the instalation is casino, a new explorer and many other weird things that I would just not have placed on my pc because they modif my explorer info, which at some level is what pisses me off, the fact of violation of trust when you register into these things, I dont feel like I would like to have the need to unistall real player or msnplus or all these programs but sometimes when there are updates they tend to come with internet junk, so, is this going to stop that from happening? or is that just to avoid temp internet files   if that being the case my security system has been increased and it always asks me for anything anyways, so I dont usually install any weird thing it just happens to be that some of the programs I do like tend to somehow trick me now and then  

I will give the link to the HOSTS and newsgroup if anyone here is interested or gives a hoot.  Thanks for replying Say and Jeysie -- I appreciatie the feedback.

I know I would be like the last person you expected to be interested because I dont seem like I would be I guess? but this particular one is one that stalks me down and hates me with passion  

And dont get me started on trojans or black holes or weird stuff   been there, done that and have experienced the weirdest things internet-junk-related lol

[dew7]

Okay use this at your own risk -- it works for me but may not work for you --- scroll down to the bottom to find the file manager


http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

[Louisiana Night]

Dew7, this is off topic, but why don't you take the geek quiz? B'rrr wants to know if anyone can top Knight. *pauses* and the rest of us  

Quiz

Topic
Like I said before, my computer is in such bad shape, I don't need to worry about it. If I really want to avoid viruses, and the like, I'll use a non-Microsoft OS.

[Jeysie]

With regards to startup programs, this list is useful for figuring out which of those cryptically-named programs does what:

List of Info About Taskbar Programs

Peace & Luv, Liz

[dew7]

Thanks Jeysie and Neil for the information.  :>
Spybot -- Search and Destroy is a great free (amazing) utility that will help your pc as well as adaware
Also check out this microsoft site:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp

This site was put up after I researched and mailed to Bill Gates at microsoft about the problems of spyware, malware and adware -- I wanted everyone to know about the problems out there and figured going through Microsoft would be the best way -- I do not need any credit -- I am a crusader against the hackers who is enlisted in the cyper-war against spam, viruses, denial of service errors, trojans, etc.  Have a fantastic day!

[racx_00]

i use Spysweeper and thats all i need for my computer

[dew7]

I use that too as well.  I am very careful when it comes to security to the point of irritating my folks sometimes.  I do not want people stealing my information and have many safeguards in my machine.  Stop Identity Theft By Learning Who Are The Criminals And Why They Want Your Information.  IMO, it boils down to pride, money and power.  For instance, right now I am on a housemate's computer who lets me use it in return for helping him to make his system mostly secure.

[racx_00]

Well i have a fair few hacking skills so im pretty safe

[B'rrr]

they may spy on me they may even hack me as long as they don't mess things up everything is ok by me ; )

[racx_00]

Im gonna steal files from your computer Rob

J/K

[B'rrr]

there are lots of ppl that just hack for fun and not to mess up... or just to look at info at computers without violating it.

but i have like no protection and i can't believe i have never been hacked before...

[Yonkey]

there are lots of ppl that just hack for fun and not to mess up... or just to look at info at computers without violating it.

Yeah, but it's not really worth it.  Most hackers I've met were pretty malicious.  But I guess since these days hackers believe "spyware & spam is secsay", I guess they're more into snooping?  

[dew7]

Spyware Blaster can help prevent spyware from being installed along with the immunize feature in Spybot search and destroy.

[racx_00]

I havent hacked a computer before and im not going to because i dont wanna go through peoples stuff , although some hackers have tried to snoop through my computer

[dew7]

Don't you want to be able to hack the hackers computers?  :> :>