Tech - Spyware?

[bachok83]

Got tired of spyware?
- just post your problems regarding spyware here and we can discuss about them (of course try to fix them)

How do i know that my pc is infected?
- some spyware will show up popups while loading internet browser, some of them put unwanted bars, for example, search engine bars, on your internet browser.

- do you think those bars are really cool?? hmm nahh now i'm done. Dude !! those bars are only fake bars...they are looking for your credit card numbers, your id, you passwords etc. They put files on your pc and try to spy on you.

How to get rid of them?
- we have provided one software to eliminate most of the spyware (but not all). You can go to the download (http://www2.recom.org:8000/modules.php?name=downloads) session on top of this site and look for software called spybot. Run the software and fix all the problems found by spybot.

if you still have problems, please do not hesitate to post them here.

[nhisyam]

Lavasoft Ad-aware 6 is a good spyware remover program..I've tried after i read about its efficiency finding spyware in windows. PC WORLD also recommends this software. RPI too.. =)

It's free...

[CrAzyCow]

yeah.. i am using AdAware n so far it has done a good job in removing all the hidden cookies n craps tht is in my comp. Recommended.

[littlebigone]

crazy cow, you've been eating too much grass :P. \

anyway, I've tried both and I think the one on recom is better and faster than adaware. plus it's reaaly cool...'seek and destroy'...anyway...give it a try.

[nhisyam]

i've tried seek n destroy... it's a really good program.. but sometimes it removes some important files(windows files) in your computer.. that's what happen to me..i'm sticking with adaware now ..

[screw3d]

You should use -both- Ad-aware and Spybot S&D as one can detect spyware that the other can't. Another program to use is HijackThis (http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/) but this requires a little more expertise.

[__earth]

S&D is pretty powerful, provided you know which file belongs to the system and which is not.

[ian]

hey guys, im noob here, but lemme suggest smt. SpywareGuard, anyone?

Supposed to stop spyware being downloaded and offers real-time protection.. Well that's wad it says.. I use it together wiv Spyware Blaster, till now it's great. the website is www.javacoolsoftware.com

Oh yeah, Spybot and Ad-aware are great.. Ad-aware personal edition dusnt offer much real-time protection tho :cry:

[youngyew]

An obligate promotion here: :P

If you are tired of seeing spyware everywhere and have no idea where they came from, you are most probably using Internet Explorer as your regular internet browser (and have no extra protection measures).

One of the things you can do is to upgrade to Windows XP SP2 with increased security settings, and tweak the settings in IE here and there. But that's a hard way, and people seem to have favoured the other way: dump IE. Nowadays we have very good alternatives to IE, for example, Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox) and Opera (http://www.opera.com). By using either of these very good browsers, you not only reduce the chance of getting spyware , you can also enjoy tonnes of extra features that are unavailable in IE. Try them out, and I can ensure that there's no turning back.

Anyway, it is important to know that neither Firefox nor Opera removes the existing spywares in the computer. They only prevent new spyware from installing in the operating system.

p/s: Firefox and Opera don't pay me anything. :P

[vseehua]

there's one more software u cn try...

it's spywareblaster from www.javacoolsoftware.com

it's supposed to stop spyware at it's entry point...and it does not remove spyware..

and to update youngyew's link...mozilla firefox have been moved to www.mozilla.com ...

there are also antivirus that can detect exploits in webpages as well...nod32, kaspersky, and bitdefender all offers such capabilities...but u'll have to pay for them of course...as for free alternatives..i'm still looking and good ones will be AVG-free, Antivir PE Classic...there are ones who recommended Avast, but i haven't really tested on my pc yet..hehe...

remember that using firefox or opera doesn't guarantte that you won't get a spyware inside your system as well...download only softwares that are approved by major sites to be free from spywares...and refrain from installing emoticons for msn pack that comes from dubious sources...cz most of them do contain spywares...

[Excal]

Try using firewall

For example, Zone Alarm has its spysite blocking features, OS firewall, etc.
Besides, a firewall will monitor traffic in/out of your PC so, most of the times you can prevent spywares from communicating with those outside. I think there are test for your firewalls such as GRC's shields up, and there are also leak test available(can't remember the website though)

[vseehua]

Try using firewall

For example, Zone Alarm has its spysite blocking features, OS firewall, etc.
Besides, a firewall will monitor traffic in/out of your PC so, most of the times you can prevent spywares from communicating with those outside. I think there are test for your firewalls such as GRC's shields up, and there are also leak test available(can't remember the website though)i am using my router's firewall... and keep my own computer safe with safe computing practices, and regular maintenance...