Invasion Of Privacy

I'm not sure what programs you use on your computer as far as Spyware detection and removal goes but thought I would mention a few that your maybe not aware of since spyware and privacy have gotten so important lately..
I subscribe to PC World Magazine and it is a very good mag for testing all kinds of computer and entertainment things.. They had a article in last months issue about the best spyware detection and removal programs.. As always when talking about Spyware programs, the first two always mentioned are Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy.. These are both free and both are rated as good, and I've used them both for a couple years now.. A couple others mentioned are a program called SpywareBlaster and another program called CounterSpy. Also a beta program Microsoft has out right now called Microsoft AntiSpyware.
The Spyware Blaster program is free as is the Microsoft AntiSpyware program.. The program called CounterSpy cost $20 but you can download a trial version of it with all features that you can use and update for 15 days before it times out. (great for checking out the current condition of your computer)
Anyways....PC World did alot of tests on all of these programs and rated the CounterSpy program as the best at detection among any of them.. Free or bought programs..
It found all kinds of hidden spyware programs/files in test computers that Ad-Aware and Spybot-
Search & Destroy overlooked. Believe it or not, the Microsoft AntiSpyware program was rated as second best.. Microsoft's program and this CounterSpy are similar in design and I guess at one time were both made by the same company.
I run all 5 spyware programs at the same time on 3 of my computers.. I have always run Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy and have for the past several months ran the Microsoft one as well. I recently added the Spyware Blaster program (which is actually more of a program that keeps spyware from ever loading in the first place. Similar to what a Antivirus program does) and the free trial version of the CounterSpy program as well..
I ran on my computers the Ad-Aware and Search & Destroy programs and they showed my computers as clean.. I then ran the newly installed CounterSpy program and it found at least 15 more programs/files that related to Spyware. One was actually a keylogger program that was somehow installed on my Windows ME computer. A keylogger is a spy program that detects every single keystroke that you do on your computer and can report it back to someone else without your knowledge!! This can include your passwords and usernames and any other personal information... Scary, huh??
Below, I have included links to every one of these programs so in case you might not have particular ones and wish to try any of them.. I ran the CounterSpy program on my wife's computer and it almost tilted it!!! It found almost 200 different programs or files that were or are related to Spyware.
To read about or download:
Ad-Aware: click http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
Microsoft AntiSpyware: click http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Spyware Blaster: click http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
Sunbelt CounterSpy: click http://www.sunbelt-software.com/CounterSpy.cfm ***This is very good at detection!

Another thing to mention is :
Almost every single story I have read about Spyware detectors states that you should run as many different reputable programs as possible. NOT JUST ONE OR TWO!! Almost all stories in some place or another mention about switching to some other web browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer as well.
A web browser called Mozilla FireFox is recommended in place of Microsoft Internet Explorer since it does not have all the vulnerabilities and open security holes that MISE has and that is the reason that 90% of the time, Critical updates needed from Microsoft for your computer are for MSIE related vulnerabilities.
I have run Mozilla in place of MSIE for at least the past year.
If you might be interested in Mozilla FireFox: click http://www.mozilla.org/

Sorry for being so lengthly but thought some of you may want to know your privacy isn't very private on-line.

Woody

 

[hobbles]

I'll have to try Microsoft AntiSpyware and or Sunbelt CounterSpy,, The others I have used for a while and yep, I agree,, they are worth havin,, Don't forget bout zone alarm, winpatrol. bigfix ,
I use Netscape with Yahoo for the browser page,, everything loads quicker,,

also regedit and regcleaner and easycleaner,, all I added are free also,,

 

[rabjr]

Thanks for this post Woodhick. I normally just run Ad-Aware program once a week but I just built two new sweet systems to play with and will definatly look into CounterSpy program and Microsoft AntiSpyware program for them now. eace:

 

[bob1961]

one main reason i don't do anything that has to do with my banking online....if i have to pay bills i make phone calls and pay by phone....my hair on my neck git raised when i hear people talk bout paying bills online....to much to lose doing it that way....but i will use these programs ya just linked to see whats up....thanks :hatsoff: ...................bob

 

[rabjr]

Heh guess this system is to new lol I just dloaded and installed Microsoft Antispyware, ran it and it came up with, has detected no known issues on your computer.

 

[Rebel]

It found 7 on mine.

 

[hobbles]

Microsoft AntiSpyware don't like windows 98 2nd,,

 

[vradin]

One more tool for your arsenal- AntiVir Guard+ Free for personal use, and free updates. Doesn't do unattended autoupdates, but for free...

It's here... --->web page<---

Oh, and while we're at it- for a whole collection of various freeware check the free pages at snapfiles web page

vic

 

[roundball]

.....Spyware detection and removal.....

Thanks for sharing...I downloaded and installed it on mine and it scanned clean, then downloaded and installed it on my Wife's and it found three instances of "Gator" Adware manure...removed them, etc.

Thanks again :redthumb:

 

[Gary]

Thanks Woodhick. I ran Adaware and it found 18. Running CounterSpy, that found 44. What a difference. :hatsoff:

 

Ya'll are welcome for the info I set forth. I hope it helps to keep your computer runing at it's peak and keeps the spys at bay . Scarey stuff when they can tell what keys you used and in what sequence.

Woody

 

[Al Bateman 1]

Thanks Woodhick...I installed Counterspy & it found so much junk in my computer I was up half the night with it. Didn't really finish til this morning :: Will do the same at the shop when I open up this morning. :hatsoff: :thanks:

 

Your more welcome. Hope it cleans out all the spy junk on yer puter' and that you can keep it that way. Glad you found it helpful.

Woody

 

[Slamfire]

I ran ad aware last sunday and got a clean bill of health. I've been using firefox for over 6 months now. My anti virus is McAfee subscription, and updates an awful lot. After jumping throught MS' hoops I downloaded the Spy ware detector and found 3 that ad aware didn't care about. All were listed as moderate in nature, but since I wasn't using any of the associated programs I deleted all of them. Thanks again for the heads up. :hatsoff: :thanks:

 

[horkeye]

Believe it or not, the Microsoft AntiSpyware program was rated as second best..

MicroSoft second best?????

That's EASY to believe!!!!!

:front: