|   OT: Anyone use Spyware detection software? | JDaniel
Nov 7, 2003 8:15 AM | | I never have until this week. My boss recently downloaded and installed the free version of Ad-aware, which scans your computer for spyware running in the background. He found over 500 spyware files on his home pc! He said it ran like a new machine after the clean-up. Apparently these things use up a small amount of your system resources (memory etc.).
So I just did the same here at work. It found 93, including two which it labeled as hostile attacks to my browser.
Most are probably innocent enough, but it pi$$e$ me off that these things are on here at all.
If you haven't done this, I'd recommend it. The download and install only took about 2 minutes total.
It's available at www.lavasoft.nu
It also has a reference file that must be updated, just like virus definitions.
JD (making his public service announcement of the day) |
| re: OT: Anyone use Spyware detection software? | HYFI
Nov 7, 2003 9:14 AM | | I posted about this a few weeks ago. Yes it works. Most of the files he found were probably cookies but I also found lots of nasty things that should not have been there. |
| Yes, I use Ad-aware as well. | DarrenH
Nov 7, 2003 9:18 AM | | Been using it for at least a couple of years now. Maybe a little less but it has been awhile.
What the program mostly detects now are cookies design to collect personal information and then forward that information to whoever tracks your internet activities. The program refers to these cookies as "data miners". In the past, after updating to a newer version, I have found registry keys and actual programs.
A lot of this spyware stuff comes from programs like Kazaa or Webshots and is installed without your prior knowledge. Sneaky bastards.
I run Ad-aware once a week and check often for newer versions.
Darren |
| re: OT: Anyone use Spyware detection software? | nobody
Nov 7, 2003 11:31 AM | | Might wanna try sbybot. It's another free one and seems to do just as good a job, while taking up less space and being easier and quicker to run. Of course, as long as you found something that works, I'm sure your're fine. |
| re: OT: Anyone use Spyware detection software? | fkelly5
Nov 8, 2003 4:54 PM | | Yeah, I currently use both ad-aware and spybot. I would also suggest running both wekely and make sure you always download their updates prior to running. Ad-aware seems to have alot of updates. I guess both are finding new spies and cookies and offering more coverage to eliminate them.
The longer you wait to download it seems the more spyware needs to be cleaned. I have avg about 5-6 per week after the first month of use. It's amazing what lurks out there. |
| |
