eliminate spyware

TCO · June 27, 2002, 17:51

Websites can put wierd applications on your computer (from surfing or from downloading applications.) You can eliminate these evil things with free programs like ad watcher (www.lavasoftusa.com). Was a WSJ article about this. I did it and found some evil thingies on my computer.

Virus programs won't find them...

Immortal Wombat · June 27, 2002, 18:07

what do they do exactly?

TCO · June 27, 2002, 18:14

They send info about your surfing patterns to companies that sell the data. Also your username, e-mail, etc.

Immortal Wombat · June 27, 2002, 18:18

Should I care?

All they'll glean from me is an unhealthy obsession with gaming forums.

TCO · June 27, 2002, 18:22

They can reduce your surfing speed. Also can compromise your data security. (But I think are rarely used for that). Also can cause you to get subjected to lots of spam in your email.

DarkCloud · June 27, 2002, 18:49

How do you know that the softwarre to prevent them isn't spying on you itself?

Panag · June 27, 2002, 18:58

hi ,

for years Steve Gibson from www.grc.com has made an excellent program he wrote , with only one thing in his mind , STOP the spyware that certain firms trow on the market .

he also has loads on advice as on how to stop and plug security risk's and holes in your computer .

just check it out for yourself , ...

the problem with "certain" firewalls and antivirus software , no names but some of the largest are in it ,
is that they get your e-mail , see what you are looking at , keep records , etc , ....
spyware can be found most of the time in certain games aswell , some free- and share ware , and the free cd-rom certain internet and computer papers give out are most of the time full of it , ....

you are warned , .....

have a nice day

- Groucho - · June 27, 2002, 19:09

Well, I ran adware and it rid me of CometCursor an annoying little piece of software that had glommed itself onto explorer. Thanks, GP.

alva · June 27, 2002, 19:13

A couple of weeks ago, i installed Adaware on my nephew's pc. When the result came i was shocked. He had over 2 0 0 spyware hits

this is a must have program!!!!

- Groucho - · June 27, 2002, 19:18

ALVA!! My long lost twin! I must say that the top hat is very flattering.

Panag · June 27, 2002, 19:24

Quote:

Originally posted by alva848
A couple of weeks ago, i installed Adaware on my nephew's pc. When the result came i was shocked. He had over 2 0 0 spyware hits

this is a must have program!!!!

hi ,

seeing your location , do you use cable or not , ...

have a nice night

TCO · June 27, 2002, 19:27

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkCloud
How do you know that the softwarre to prevent them isn't spying on you itself?

I read about it in the Wall Street Journal from their computer columnist. Pretty decent source.

alva · June 27, 2002, 19:31

@ panag

I have cable, why?

my nephew is 12 years old and had a few problems.

installing certain hardware, bios settings, games, etc...
so, i helped him out. ( i'm not l33t

, but not a newbie either)

and one of the thingd i did was installing adware.
something that has been on my pc for many long time

Panag · June 27, 2002, 19:44

Quote:

Originally posted by alva848
@ panag

I have cable, why?

my nephew is 12 years old and had a few problems.

installing certain hardware, bios settings, games, etc...
so, i helped him out. ( i'm not l33t

, but not a newbie either)

and one of the thingd i did was installing adware.
something that has been on my pc for many long time

hi ,

next you are going to say "telenet" , ....

in this case , well , dont use a pc-banking system , ....try to get a regular line , or

ADSL , ....by far more secure , .....

its easy to get in and out , in terms of spyware and other nasty things with cable , .......
anyway , there are loads of sites out on the net that can help one to get rid of certain unwanted stuff , including spyware that is only used for some firms to gain money on your back , .....

BTW people "tiny" firewall uses spyware to , so the next day you and the people on your list start to get some mails , okay some show something nice ones in a while

, but after 50 a day or so ......

anyway , grc.com is one of the best site's for years , ....

have a nice day

alva · June 27, 2002, 20:15

Quote:

Originally posted by panag

next you are going to say "telenet" , ....

Indeed

way better then adsl (about 5 times

)
if i do want cable, i have no option but to use telenet.
furthermore there is nothing "valuable" on my pc, no reason to hack it, and if they do, i don't really care.
As long as they don't crash any hardware off course ( but then that can't be called hacking now, can it

)

Quote:

in this case , well , dont use a pc-banking system , ....try to get a regular line , or

ADSL , ....by far more secure , .....

you can now use c-sam. wich should be alot more secure, alltough i don't use it. ( there about 3 banks around my corner)

I-iZ-1337 · June 27, 2002, 21:12

L00kz, th33z websitez j00z00all33 p00tz g00d stuffz on j00r pcz... it iz 1337 haxxorz likez m33 j00 wantz t00 watchez 0ut forz.

alva · June 27, 2002, 22:28

Quote:

Originally posted by I-iZ-1337
L00kz, th33z websitez j00z00all33 p00tz g00d stuffz on j00r pcz... it iz 1337 haxxorz likez m33 j00 wantz t00 watchez 0ut forz.

yeah sure, whatever

Are you saying you ARE going to (try) hack in my pc.
well,be my guest.

i'll help you along, I don't even have a firewall installed at the moment.

please post in english, please

Urban Ranger · June 28, 2002, 00:10

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkCloud
How do you know that the softwarre to prevent them isn't spying on you itself?

You can use a packet sniffer to find that out

faded glory · June 28, 2002, 01:05

Quote:

Originally posted by I-iZ-1337
L00kz, th33z websitez j00z00all33 p00tz g00d stuffz on j00r pcz... it iz 1337 haxxorz likez m33 j00 wantz t00 watchez 0ut forz.

uhuh.....

Well gang, off to play with my poo

TCO · June 28, 2002, 10:22

faded glory. don't quote that idiot. I have him on ignore.

DarkCloud · June 28, 2002, 12:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger

You can use a packet sniffer to find that out

Where do you download or find those?

Thanks for the suggestion!

- Groucho - · June 28, 2002, 13:40

If you really want to get into security, get a copy of Snort and start reading slashdot.

http://www.snort.org

Dauphin · June 28, 2002, 15:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
Should I care?

All they'll glean from me is an unhealthy obsession with gaming forums.

Such an innocent.

Immortal Wombat · June 28, 2002, 15:56

or a liar

faded glory · June 28, 2002, 16:02

holy hell!

278 things on hard drive. Mostly all Webhancer, Gator, Bonzai buddy and doubleclick.

My net speed since deleting these has gone up. However, these were hidden. Some how, I neber saw them. And the only thing I ever installed was Bonzai buddy.

im not deleting the registry ones. Im afraid there important.

Dauphin · June 28, 2002, 16:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
or a liar

Compared to GP, you are an innocent.

Immortal Wombat · June 28, 2002, 16:28

moomin · June 28, 2002, 16:42

Apparently there's some justice in the universe:

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-940072.html?tag=fd_top

Gator is getting some unwanted legal attention.

TCO · June 28, 2002, 18:39

I had a bunch of stuff on my computer. NOt as much as Faded Glory, though!! JEEZ!

War4ever · June 28, 2002, 20:39

yeah i had a ton of stuff.....if you surf alot you going to pick this crap up....especially if you dl things or surf porn