what is spyware?

[K3STX]

i posted a topic about a funny web-movie at jibjab.com and got a note that after viewing the movie i should be sure to remove the installed spyware that was loaded on my computer simply by going to the website. i am not a computer expert, but how woul an application be loaded on my computer (a mac) by simply viewing the mpg? from what i read (briefly) spyware and adware is "bundled" with free ap;plications (shareware) you install on your pc, but in that case you know you are installing some application on your HD.

does this say a visit to ANY website could spell disaster?

paul

[KA9VQF]

Spyware can be nasty stuff. Do a web search and find a free one. If you can live with the authors eula down load it and install it. Be sure to do a back up on anything you might want to ever see again.
I downloaded Spybot and when I ran it,it caused one of those nasties to fire up and eat my hard drive. There was a lot of stuff I would like to have back from the infected disk but there is simply no accessing it.

I don't care all that much if someone is depraved enough to want to see what sites I have visited so long as they don't mess with my hardware.

[KG4CGC]

Always use a firewall like Zone Alarm Pro 4 and a good anti-viri and Spy-Bot Search and Destroy. It has stopped the nasties many times.
# Problem with spyware is that you don't always know what they are after. You can get it without, downloading a file (that you are aware of). If you have done your taxes on your computer then your SSN is present. With online banking your account number may be present on your HD as well.
# I too do not care if they know where I have been however, couldn't one say that you own that information and if THEY want to know they should pay you for it because THEY are going to make money from that information in more ways than one. It is the PEOPLE who are after your sensitive information that I am worried about. That is why it does not hurt to go overboard to block that information from hackers (thieves).
# An ounce of prevention!
# # # #Good topic Paul.
# # # # # # # # # 73 de KG4CGC, Charles C.

[k8mmg]

Although true what the above 2 have said. More likely what you saw was an advertisement. They have them, where they say "Click here to remove blah blah spyware from your computer" it's pathetic really. Never click on those banners.

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (kc8mxz @ Aug. 18 2004,05:38)]Although true what the above 2 have said. More likely what you saw was an advertisement. They have them, where they say "Click here to remove blah blah spyware from your computer" it's pathetic really. Never click on those banners.
Many of those banners actually install spyware, they don't get rid of it.

False advertising, anyone?

[K3STX]

thanks, guys. I have never even heard of this stuff. (Notice today I use caps, since I am not typing with one hand while holding an infant with the other at 3 am).

I will look for free spyware removal stuff and firewall. I have never worried about it because I have never noticed a problem. When I got to a website to buy something with my credit card I ASSUME since they say their site is secure (https) that no one can get my information. I guess I was just naive. But no unexplained charges to my Visa (yet).

Thanks for the tips. Everyone talks about anti-virus, but I never even heard of anti-spyware.

paul

[K9STH]

Paul:

Ad-aware and Spy-bot are probably the two best programs to eliminate those types of programs from your computer. Both are free for home use.

Do a "google" on both and you will find their home pages.

Glen, K9STH

[K4AY]

The spyware cleaner that I use at work and find to be reliable, that is, it #never removes anything that you need: #Ad Aware from www.lavasoftusa.com #The free version is quite good. #I use it on my wife's Windows computer.

Hope this helps.

Chris

[KC7UP]

Paul -- When using your credit card to be sure if the site is a secure site check the (https:). If the (s) is there then its a secure site, if not then its not a secure site.
Curt

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 18 2004,08:07)]Paul:

Ad-aware and Spy-bot are probably the two best programs to eliminate those types of programs from your computer. #Both are free for home use.

Do a "google" on both and you will find their home pages.

Glen, K9STH
I actually recommend using both... what one doesn't catch, the other probably will.

And be sure to update frequently! You can't catch today's spyware with yesterday's definitions.

[ad4mg]

Both AdAware & SpyBot are conveniently available from one site:

www.download.com

Up to date versions of many freeware & shareware programs are available there.

73/Luke

[KC7UP]

I use spybot however I also use Spyware Doctor which I find to be better . It has found ads that spybot didn't and it gives a better description of the spyware. It's also free.
Curt

[K0RGR]

My kids keep killing the fastest computer we own by visiting websites that install spyware. After a few weeks, the PC is so loaded, it can't even boot up, from all the Spyware trying to start!
In these cases, you need to start the PC in Restricted Mode and run a good spyware killer. I've wasted countless hours trying to overcome this pestilence.

Ad Aware seems to do a pretty good job - so far, I've been able to stay ahead of the infections, but some have gotten through anyway.
The kids know how to bypass Ad Aware to get some junk they think they really need.

The worst infection we had was on a PC used by an exchange student who was staying with us. The young lady must have visited a Spanish web site of ill repute, because thereafter, whenever you booted the PC, up would pop an endless string of Spanish language porno ads - complete with some pretty explicit photos. Scratch and reload one PC.

One of those darned popup nuisances pops up and tells you that you have PORNOGRAPHY on your computer, and offers to sell you some garbage to remove it. My XYL saw that on my kids' PC and went berserk. I ended up wiping the system and reloading it just to make her happy. @#$%@$#! Scratch another PC.

I generally oppose the death penalty, but I will make an exception for anybody who advertises this way! Popup ads, Spyware, viruses, worms, all sporn of the Devil!

[n3ijw]

just be careful, some spyware removal apps are nothing more than spyware themselves!

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

like some others in this thread, I also use Spybot and AdAware. Switching to a browser such as Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/) will help reduce your risk as well.

Then again, you could also run Linux/BSD, but that's a whole different thread!

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (K0RGR @ Aug. 18 2004,14:00)]I generally oppose the death penalty, but I will make an exception for anybody who advertises this way! Popup ads, Spyware, viruses, worms, all sporn of the Devil!
I have to agree with you, RGR. #Even using the microsoft os, though, there are ways you can lock the system down pretty well and prevent all those purveyors of malware from bogging down your system. #This becomes especially important when you have several people using your computer.

I've been accused of being paranoid, but the last time i got a virus on my home computer was around 1988 or '89.

Adware is a newer development, but i think i have managed to get a handle on that too. #Besides using a good firewall program and anti-virus software, i use a modified "hosts" file that prevents anyone from going to known malicious sites.

I also use "IE-SPYAD", which writes directly to the windows registry and helps to avoid known malware sites.

All of this may seem a little extreme, but it works for me...i run the lavasoft Ad-Ware program every now and then, and it has been almost 3 years since it found any adware on the system.

For anyone that is as paranoid as i am about runnning Windows, here is a link to some interesting reading and some good software.

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/main.htm

73
Chuck

[K3STX]

From what I have been reading today there is no freeware/shareware to remove this stuff from a Mac. In fact I have been reading that there are only very few instances where Macs (or Linux) is targeted. But I think I will BUY one, from Norton, anyway.

All the products mentioned above are not available for Mac OS.

paul

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (K3STX @ Aug. 18 2004,15:36)]From what I have been reading today there is no freeware/shareware to remove this stuff from a Mac.
I'm not too sure of that, since i haven't used the Mac much...

It is true, though, that most viruses and malware are targeted at the #PC. #Most people seem to think that Macintosh and Linux users are immune to viruses and malware. #The simple truth is that the writers of these things tend to go after the OS that is most common, so microsoft users catch the brunt of it. #If and when the other operating systems gain popularity, the folks that write these things will start to target them. #A couple of viruses have already shown up that target the cell phones with advanced features and PDA's. #As these devices become more commonplace, more degenerates will try to find their 15 minutes of fame by writing code that targets them.

No OS is immune, the best you can do is to try and understand whatever OS you are using and protect yourself as best you can!

73
Chuck

[KA8NCR]

Quit using Internet Exploder and you eliminate one vector of infection. IE still continues to allow ActiveX execution and that's how they infect your machine just by viewing web pages.

You still need to be careful when running downloaded software. My son's PC was so loaded with garbage because one malware program came in with an instant messenger program and it just installed more and more garbage.

I run a Firewall which will block pop-ups, on screen banners, worms, trojans... I also run Anti virus software which scans the temp. internet files every 5 secs. I also recommend Ad-Aware. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KC8QMU]

I would suggest going to download.com and downloading "ad-aware se", it catches many things that ad-aware 6.0 doesnt.
And with it's free price it may be the bargain of the century. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w6ez]

What are the differnces in the two programs?

[w8ob]

Although both programs are great at detecting and removing spyware try out spyware blaster a program that prevents the sites from installing spyware on your PC in the first place. After running blaster for two months here and checking with spybot search and destroy spybot reports zip for spyware being installed on my disc. Best thing its a freebe but it works so well I opened the wallet and sent in a donation.