View Full Version : OT: Does anyone know a good free anti-spyware/adware program?
Condottiere
09-04-2004, 02:15
I have Ad-aware 6.0 and Spybot-S&D installed on my PC, but they can't seem to find and delete Mysearch or something similar to it. Through Google I found noadaware and it found the programs. Unfortunately in order to erase the spyware from my machine, I would have to register and pay $25-$30US. Does anyone know a good free anti-spyware/adware program? I really don't want to have to delete everything on my drive in order to fix the problem.
Your suggestions would be most appreciated.
Ichiro1234
09-04-2004, 03:36
hey a fellow New Englander, glad to meet ya
i've never used these programs ( i use adaware myself) they might work i found them on WWW.Downloads.com
Aluria's Spyware Scanner (http://www.download.com/Aluria-s-Spyware-Scanner/3000-8022-10314632.html)
SpyDocter (http://adlog.com.com/adlog/c/r=6735&s=568532&x-fid=3&t=2004.09.04.02.21.22&o=20:2001:&h=cn&p=2&b=6&l=en_US&&site=4/http://www.download.com/3000-2094-10293213.html)
Spy Hunter (http://adlog.com.com/adlog/c/r=6735&s=568911&x-fid=3&t=2004.09.04.02.21.22&o=20:2001:&h=cn&p=2&b=6&l=en_US&&site=4/http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10209093.html)
hope these work! ~:)
Really my copy of Ad-aware got ride of my search, either that or I turned it off. ~:doh: Still things like that are hard to get rid of. Just ran ad aware and Mysearch had showed up again but adaware found and deleted it. Can't say as to why you are having problems, how's your general PC health because I've found that an unhealthy PC can impede ad-awares effectiveness.
DisruptorX
09-04-2004, 07:24
If you are using IE, deleting it would save you a great deal of time and effort in the future.
Here is a great site for all spyware/malware problems
Just register and follow the instructions that the Helpers give you.
Spyware removal at Spywareinfo.com (http://forums.spywareinfo.com)
Sorry if this is not allowed, it was for a good cause.
Colovion
09-04-2004, 08:51
Spy sweeper
http://www.webroot.com/php/tryme.php?bjpc=64000&vcode=DT02
MuseRulez
09-04-2004, 10:19
I hate spyware ~:mad: It makes me wanna go all :knight: on those b* who spread it. I had trouble with Mysearch too. Try to turn Mysearch off in IE then you'll be able to delete it.
Colovion is correct, spy sweeper is good and free, get the trial version of window washer as well it's pretty good. And to get less crap and pop ups, in general, try mozilla firefox instead of IE and don't ever delete IE, windows throws a tantrum and you need it iirC TO INSTALL updates which are important
You could also start using a next generation browser. IE and Netscape have terrible protection and don't block anything. I use Mozzila Firefox. The browser is amazing. It has popup blockers, a download manager, blocks spyware and adware, google is built right into the browser, etc. I can go on for a long time about how great this browser is. I recommend it to everyone: It rocks.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/start/
Not that I'm affilated with Mozzilla in anyway :saint: ...
Condottiere
09-17-2004, 23:53
I finally got round to trying out these programs. Thanks all for your help.
Really my copy of Ad-aware got ride of my search, either that or I turned it off. ~:doh: Still things like that are hard to get rid of. Just ran ad aware and Mysearch had showed up again but adaware found and deleted it. Can't say as to why you are having problems, how's your general PC health because I've found that an unhealthy PC can impede ad-awares effectiveness.
I don't know why Ad-aware can't detect this type of adware/spyware - my PC is virus free. I've had to use Spy Sweeper and Spyware Doctor to get rid of My Way/MySearch and a bunch of other things that Spybot and Ad-aware couldn't find.
Do Tripod/Lycos affiliated sites have a built in search bar that appears in the IE browser whenever one accesses its pages? or is this just my problem.
Here's the site in question, a WAB wargaming site: http://www.angelfire.com/games/vinceshomepage/BeginPage.htm
I the past I've had to deal with pop-ups, now I have a search bar appearing on the left where My Favorites is located. It seems that this only happens with Tripod/Lycos sites. I've run all four of my anti-spyware/adware programs and nothing comes up apart from harmless cookies.
Lonewarrior
09-18-2004, 01:45
Get pop up blocker, popus if u click on them contain spyware and u will be infected without knowing, but I recomned you get programs like Norton anti virus that come equiped with ad blocking and spyware prevention.
Red Harvest
09-18-2004, 02:43
Try CWShredder. It is pretty good at cleaning up this sort of search site hijack thing. Another tool is Hijackthis.exe. It is handy for spotting unwanted processes that load at startup.
I had an infection of one of these search sites similar to yours last year. I had to do quite a bit of digging and manually hunted down files and killed them in safe mode. The blasted thing was preventing me from setting my home page, etc. It took a couple of tries, because if one of the 3 or 4 components was missed, it reloaded all of the rest.
Who cares about piracy? Death to trojan and virus writers. Bring back draw and quartering. Heck, I would donate $500 to the legal defense of anyone who snuffed one of the SOB's. :whip:
EatYerGreens
09-18-2004, 11:50
If anyone can find a decent jack-of-all program which isn't also master of none, then I'd be glad to hear about it. Until then....
I went and registered my copy of AdAware 6.0, so I'm sticking with it. New update files seem to crop up at the rate of 2 or 3 a week.
Since it specifically looks for Adware, I also use Spybot S&D. Each finds objects which the other one does not, so they complement each other.
IE-resident Spybot seems to be finding and blocking "DoubleClick", "AvenueA.Inc" and "Adviva" at just about every forum I go into lately, including this one. They make fresh attempts on every thread-list, entering a thread and every sub-page of a thread. They also seem to crop up on an increasing number of non-forum type websites.
Adware and spyware are very specific categories but I use a third program which also finds and blocks things which the pair of them sometimes miss - Pestpatrol.
The list of categories it can deal with is so long that I can't do it justice here. You need to check this program for yourself and you'll note that not all the categories are set to be searched for in the default settings.
As well as the ability to run HDD scans and zap any files which your other s/w has left behind, there is also a memory checker (as in search for memory-resident nasties) and 'Cookie Patrol'. If a cookie lands on your system and is on PP's ***t-list, it gets deleted immediately.
I installed the MSN toolbar into IE and it's telling me how many pop-ups it has blocked (the count seems to carry over from one IE session to the next). With the aformentioned three progs doing their thing, I wasn't having any problems with pop-ups anyway, so I can't say whether this function actually serves a practical purpose. Still, it's nice to know how much crud I've avoided and which sites are dishing them out.
Naturally, I have virus-scan and Mcafee claims to also deal with spyware but I've yet to see it detect anything of this kind - I reckon SS&D inoculation is stopping them getting through in the first place.
The thing to watch for is that each company's dat file is only incremented in accordance with samples their users send to them. There could be a lot of duplication but, equally, some might have gaps which another is able to fill and vice versa. Not all users will have the same combination of programs, after all. I'd recommend using a combination of two or three rather than relying on a single program to handle everything.
Time to go and get my dat file updates.... ~:wave:
I agree with EYG. I use PestPatrol, Adaware, Spy Sweeper and Spybot Search and Destroy once a week. Maybe it is overdoing things but they usually seem to identify some different nasties between them.
There is no one program that will do-it-all for you. You need a combination of products coupled with a good Anti-Virus program. I use F-Secure AV but that has some problems running with the latest version of ZoneAlarm so I am still using ZoneAlarm v4.5 rather than the latest v5.
I also like the fact that Spybot now tells you when a particular site wants to download a cookie like DoubleClick or whatever. I just wish you could tell Spybot to always block these cookies by default as opposed to being asked at every download attempt which can get very time consuming!
Tomcat
For me at least half of these problems can be evaded by using mozilla firefox. It has far fewer security holes
This is OT, but this thread seems to be the best place to ask. I have installed Spybot and ran it on my computer. The program came up with a 'DSO exploit'. I repared it (through Spybot) and ran the program again. The exploit was still there. So I removed it, restarted my computer and ran spybot again. Still there.
Does anyone know how I can get rid of this 'exploit'? Thank you in advance.
try safe mode boot or ask Krae and co in the apoth
From WinXP News today, hope it helps ~:):
What is DSO Exploit and How Do I Get Rid of It?
QUESTION: I recently installed "SpyBot" and successfully removed some items. One remaining item is "DSO Exploit" authored from Microsoft and described as a "hole" to enable Microsoft access to my computer. Question: do I need this and if not, how do I delete? I do have automatic updates for Windows installed. - Dan M.
ANSWER: A "DSO Exploit" is actually a security flaw in Internet Explorer (not an intentional "back door" into your computer). It can allow untrusted software to run on your computer under some circumstances, so it does need to be fixed.
However, if you have all the latest IE patches, it is fixed. And if you're running automatic update, you should have all the latest IE patches.
It is a known issue that some anti-spyware programs still report it after it's gone. For more discussion of this issue, see below:
http://www.winxpnews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=040921QC-DSO_Exploit
Tomcat
Morindin
09-21-2004, 22:57
Hi guys, I ran spybot for a while and kept it up to date, but I found it only picked up about half the stuff ad-aware picked up, so I never use it now.
For those search bars, there is a specific fix on the internet to get rid of those, just google for a fix.
Placid Tramp
09-22-2004, 11:48
I have Ad-aware 6.0 and Spybot-S&D installed on my PC, but they can't seem to find and delete Mysearch or something similar to it. Through Google I found noadaware and it found the programs. Unfortunately in order to erase the spyware from my machine, I would have to register and pay $25-$30US. Does anyone know a good free anti-spyware/adware program? I really don't want to have to delete everything on my drive in order to fix the problem.
Your suggestions would be most appreciated.
Ad-aware 6.0 is out of date (I even don't think you can get updated definitions for it anymore)
The brand spanking new version is Ad-aware SE personal v1.05, visit the Lavasoft website for a download.
I have Ad-aware & Spybot-S&D installed & Ad-aware picks up a lot of spyware that SB-S&D misses.
KukriKhan
09-22-2004, 13:17
Some of you have tip-toed around providing info/links about spyware removal, etc., worried that it's not allowed here at the Org. To clear up the issue, here's the policy:
We don't support, and will repress discussion of warez products, no-CD cracks, hacks, p2p products, and the utilization of so-called malware.
Discussion of how to defeat/delete spyware, and other "phone-home" software is OK. Discussion of pop-up ad blockers is OK. Discussion of freeware, shareware, and free-trial software is OK.
Discussion of malware used to take revenge on spyware and ad company sites, is not OK.
Discussion of ways to defeat copyright protection devices/programs is not OK.
Discussion of ways to obtain for free, software that the general public has to pay for, is not OK.
Every post in this thread is fine. I do check links provided, to insure the linked site doesn't provide stuff/info that we don't support.
I hope that clarifies the issue. Sorry to hijack the thread. Please carry on.
Raven2004
09-22-2004, 15:30
Spyware and other trash are widely spread on the net lately. I get it once I was searching by a mp3 song, a pop-up explodes in my screen, I went to close it, click on the wrong place while the pop up was still loading... pshhhhhhhhhhhhh infected!!
After a week trying ad-aware and Hijackthis and getting the "Coolsearchweb" replicated once and again... I made a complete format and installed my OS again. It took me 2 hours to get my computer like new, I think it is the only way to keep your system absolutely free of this trash.
My advice, format and install again, it will be faster than surfing the net looking for some tools that can work or not.
Good luck ~:)
Using Mozilla solves many problems with pop ups and securityy holes
I'm partway into an effort to get our entire organisation (1000+ employees) to switch to Firefox. The techs who have to go around fixing all the infected computers are ecstatic.
Just switch and all will be well with your life, the universe, and everything.
Morindin
09-22-2004, 22:10
I used firefox for a while then switched back to IE after SP2 came out.
Firefox is extremely slow on multiple testing machines, buggy, and SP2 really fixes IE's most fatal flaws.
Tabbed browsing really doesnt make a hell of a lot of difference to me either, and ever since running SP2 I've really had minimal problems with spyware and trojans.
Morindin
09-22-2004, 22:12
[no edit function :(]
Im not saying Firefox is bad - I just find it "clunky", and some of the added advantages it brings are somewhat cancelled out by XP2.
Condottiere
09-23-2004, 00:31
Get pop up blocker, popus if u click on them contain spyware and u will be infected without knowing, but I recomned you get programs like Norton anti virus that come equiped with ad blocking and spyware prevention.
I already have Norton 2004 Professional Edition as well as ZoneAlarm. Do you know of a way of closing pop-ups without having to click on the "close" symbol? I heard somewhere - may not be true - that clicking on the "x" can sometimes install programs on one's machine.
Morindin
09-23-2004, 00:38
...or just get service pack 2 if you have Windows XP which does the same thing better - and also blocks a lot of dangerous ActiveX and other scripts not only in IE but also in Outlook/Outlook Express.
It also adds plenty of other useful functionality that should have been in WindowsXP a long time ago.
The SP2 popup blocker is also available with the later versions of MSN for those that do not have WindowsXP or cannot be bothered getting the full service pack.
Condottiere
09-23-2004, 00:44
I believe I've finally rid myself of the MySearch/My Way - the thing is I don't know how it actually worked. I first ran Spyware Doctor and when it finished scanning, Spy Sweeper. Both detected a number of cookies, but no spyware. I then decided to run Spybot-S&D and Ad-Aware 6.0 simultaneously. For awhile it looked like everything was going to freeze up, but in the end spybot stopped running followed by Adaware. The former didn't find anything significant, but the latter had 3 entries for "My Way". This was strange, because previously this program never found any spyware programs. Now when I go go tripod/lycos sites, I still get the occasional pop-up, but no Searchbar appears on the left of my screen. Could running a number of anti-spware/anti-adware programs as opposed to one at a time, be a better option?
Well, at the advice of several in this thread, I'm starting using Firefox.
Don't think I'm ever going to go back. This is great. Thanks dudes.
Morindin
09-23-2004, 00:57
I believe I've finally rid myself of the MySearch/My Way - the thing is I don't know how it actually worked. I first ran Spyware Doctor and when it finished scanning, Spy Sweeper. Both detected a number of cookies, but no spyware. I then decided to run Spybot-S&D and Ad-Aware 6.0 simultaneously. For awhile it looked like everything was going to freeze up, but in the end spybot stopped running followed by Adaware. The former didn't find anything significant, but the latter had 3 entries for "My Way". This was strange, because previously this program never found any spyware programs. Now when I go go tripod/lycos sites, I still get the occasional pop-up, but no Searchbar appears on the left of my screen. Could running a number of anti-spware/anti-adware programs as opposed to one at a time, be a better option?
From my experiance - no. Adaware provided it's updated usually finds everything spyware S&D finds + more.
Someone has already mentioned there is a newer version of Adaware available that you should download.
http://www.howtouniverse.com/CI/removehotbar.html
There is a link on that article on removing hotbar, mysearch, and other such nasties.
EatYerGreens
09-23-2004, 22:13
I also like the fact that Spybot now tells you when a particular site wants to download a cookie like DoubleClick or whatever. I just wish you could tell Spybot to always block these cookies by default as opposed to being asked at every download attempt which can get very time consuming!
Tomcat
You can do that. Go to the Spybot-resident icon, in the right hand end of your taskbar, right click on it, hover cursor over "Resident IE" until the pop-out menu appears. Make sure "Use resident in IE sessions" is checked and also click the line at the top to "block all bad pages silently". No more clicking on dialogue boxes.
Actually I still leave this feature switched on as I like to see exactly what is being blocked, as well as where and when they are being sent in my direction. With Pest Patrol, you get the 'plop' sound and, if curious as to what was blocked you can look at the Cookie Patrol log. As mentioned before, PP finds things which SS&D misses and vice versa. After finishing an online session, an AdAware scan sometimes find things both of them missed.
I've seen their blurb about AdAware SE but wasn't sure what the benefits of it were and haven't downloaded it yet. If I'm paid up on AA6.0, would I be suddenly back to demo-only functionality on SE?
Interesting to note McAfee claim spyware/adware functionality but these things are getting through their firewall (latest updates and all) and none of them show up on V-scans. Maybe because SS&D, PP and AA6 are getting there first!
Btw, I also have the DSO exploit thing showing up but checked those links and they basically say you're okay if you've been to Windows update. I've got everything short of switching to SP2 and am already wary of that given the mixed reports about compatability with TW games.
Morindin
09-23-2004, 22:19
You can do that. Go to the Spybot-resident icon, in the right hand end of your taskbar, right click on it, hover cursor over "Resident IE" until the pop-out menu appears. Make sure "Use resident in IE sessions" is checked and also click the line at the top to "block all bad pages silently". No more clicking on dialogue boxes.
Actually I still leave this feature switched on as I like to see exactly what is being blocked, as well as where and when they are being sent in my direction. With Pest Patrol, you get the 'plop' sound and, if curious as to what was blocked you can look at the Cookie Patrol log. As mentioned before, PP finds things which SS&D misses and vice versa. After finishing an online session, an AdAware scan sometimes find things both of them missed.
I've seen their blurb about AdAware SE but wasn't sure what the benefits of it were and haven't downloaded it yet. If I'm paid up on AA6.0, would I be suddenly back to demo-only functionality on SE?
Interesting to note McAfee claim spyware/adware functionality but these things are getting through their firewall (latest updates and all) and none of them show up on V-scans. Maybe because SS&D, PP and AA6 are getting there first!
Btw, I also have the DSO exploit thing showing up but checked those links and they basically say you're okay if you've been to Windows update. I've got everything short of switching to SP2 and am already wary of that given the mixed reports about compatability with TW games.
SP2 is fine with TW - at least some people have had success installing it (ill be able to find out tonight! :). I personally feel it's probably safedisk or some such thing that causes problems with certian CD drives.
SP2 is worth it, honestly.
Oh, and I also find the Windows XP firewall works fine. You shouldn't need to pay for a firewall because it doesn't matter how much money you spend on one, software firewalls will always have their limits.
Besides, spyware works differently and firewalls probably wont stop them. :)
Thanks, Tomcat. That link explains it.
EYG, Ad-Aware SE is free for Personal Use - currently at version 1.05.
It certainly found a few more little nasties when I upgraded to the new product. I am running it on 3 PCs and had no problem ugrading although it does uninstall older versions before installing itself.
Thanks for the tip about "block all pages silently", though I tend to agree with you, it is often a good idea to know where the wretched spyware stuff is coming from.
Tomcat
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