OT-Could Someone Explain Spyware?

Re: OT-Could Someone Explain Spyware? *LINK*

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>Here is a web page with some definitions:


Spyware

Re: OT-Could Someone Explain Spyware?

Dan Donaldson

>That is weird. I use Spybot Search and Destroy all of the time, with no problems. There is an option to have it create a restore point before doing anything so that if something happens, you can boot into safe mode and restore the configuration. I also use Adaware and spywareblaster. This combination keeps my computer pretty clean. (I also run anti-virus, a software firewall [Zonealarm pro] and a hardware firewall in my router.

Re: OT-Could Someone Explain Spyware?

Bruce, a MN galoot

>My son loaded spybot on my computer, which runs on Win98SE, and it locked up so tight I had miserable problems with it. I got into safe mode, disabled spybot and just use AdAware now. It might make a difference which OS you're using, just a guess.

bruce

Spyware from web pages

Steve Elliott

>I learned the hard way that even with Norton antivirus installed, just browsing web pages can result in spyware infection. Norton gave me a notice that it had just detected the virus but couldn't fix it. After that my browser always went to a new homepage and just didn't work right.

I downloaded a couple of spyware programs, but they couldn't get rid of it. Each time I booted up the virus had generated a new name for itself and was back at work.

Finally I did a search on Google using the name of the virus and got one hit: a message board in Europe that wasn't even in English. I left a post in English asking for help, and got a prompt reply that gave me detailed instructions for using four spyware programs. After that (problem still not fixed) they had me run a diagnostic program and post the results. From the list of programs running on boot-up, they told me which ones to kill. I also had to do a little hacking of the registry, with their guidance. AND IT WORKED!

I got prompt, detailed help for free. The message board was like this place, lots of people willing to share their knowledge with strangers for free.

OT Scumware, what to do (long)

Matthew Springer (Mtn View, Ca)

>Sorry, in advance, for the long post.

Spyware/Scumware is icky. I work for a certain very large search engine company and we have to deal with this mess all the time on users computers. It sucks. I run Linux and it still sucks, but less. It's the phone call every child dreads: "You're Dad's having trouble with his computer again."

The best thing I've found to tackle it on Windows is the one, two, three punch of Mozilla, Ad-Aware and not runing anything older than XP/win2k. The main line of defense is not to use Internet Explorer or Outlook. That'll get you quite a bit of bang for the buck.

1) Mozilla (which is the open source version of Netscape) has the Firefox browser and the Thunderbird email client. Religious debates on software aside, Mozilla is effectivly much more secure than Explorer. Be sure and set your browser to ONLY except cookies from originating websites and ALWAYS manually confirm allowing it to set or not set a cookie. On email side, don't use the preview pain and don't allow your client to auto-execute anything.

1.5) On email, use web based email if you don't want to deal with viruses. If anybody wants a gmail invite, email me and I'll send you one. And yes, I've got lots of invites, so don't be shy (but do mention you're from WC, else I get all confused). Gmail works great and is getting better all the time. Yahoo and hotmail also work, but I'm somewhat biased :-).

2)Ad-Aware is from Lavasoft; it works great and is free. It mainly deals with tracking coockies, but it'll also kill rogue threads. I run a pretty tight Windows ship at home and still manage to pick up loads of crap.

3)Run a later version of Windows. Gotta hand it to Bill, later versions of Windows are MUCH better than earlier attempts. Windows XP is nice in that

it's somewhat autopatchable. Remember, the half life of an unprotected Windows box on a non-firewalled persistent connection (DSL, cable) is ~1 hour, so get them systems patched.

Also, it goes without saying, DO NOT install anything you don't understand. Download accelerators, etc are a crock, you have plenty of screensavers and how many smiley face icons do you need?

Finally, DO NOT open any spam, ESPECIALLY to click on the unsubscribe button. They won't unsubscribe you and now they know you're alive at that email address. Just delete it without reading it; this goes double it if involves things you shouldn't be looking at anyway!

Hope this helps.

-Matthew

Re: OT-Could Someone Explain Spyware?

Raymond Overman

>Spyware uses scripting languages to install and run applications on your computer. It can also use cookies to track your movements from one site to the next. Generally, you get spyware from visiting websites that use it to track their customers or visitors.

I use spybot, ad aware, AVG virus protection, Norton Antivirus, and Mozilla Firefox to try to combat pop-ups and spyware. Unfortunately, it still creeps in sometimes.

The best way to keep from getting spyware or viruses is not connect your computer to the Internet unfortunately. But what fun would that be since you wouldn't be able to get to Wood Central?

Raymond Overman

http://www.overmanshop.com

Also, a good book

Matthew Springer (Mtn View, Ca)

>Forgot to mention, there's also a good book from O'Reily press called:

"Degunking Windows" which is pretty good.

big thanks for authoratative post

Bill Tindall, E. TN

>

Search Engines

Ryan Stagg -- Cincinnati

>Ahhh...Mountain View...major search engine company...you must work for the *best* search engine in the world -- Ask Jeeves!

(tongue planted firmly in cheek)

;-)

Re: OT-Could Someone Explain Spyware?

mfitterling in Lake Wales, FL

>Yeah, I expected to be able to go to a restore point, too, but no go. Couldn't get the thing to run on the hard drive until I reformatted and reinstalling everything.

Thanks All

mfitterling in Lake Wales, FL

>Thank you all for the useful information.

One thing that I did also

Dan Donaldson

>I am running XP pro, and run the account that I normally use in limited mode. This means that neither I, nor any program can do an install. If I want to install anything, I have to log in as admin. Also, I use the program permissions to disable Internet Explorer so that it cannot be run from a limited account. I also use Firefox and can't see why anyone that has tried it would ever go back to IE. the tabbed browsing is the greatest thing since sliced bread, plus it has extensions that give it a built in news aggregator and a few other neat items.

Re: OT-Could Someone Explain Spyware?

Dan Donaldson

>Wow, that is too bad. I have been using it for quite awhile, and it has never caused me any probem.

Re: Search Engines

Matthew Springer (Mtn View, Ca)

>>Ask Jeeves...

Guffaw, guffaw, chortle, chortle.

Actually, I drive past the remains of both AltaVista and Lycos on my way to work every morning, which is pretty impressive since I only have a 3 minute commute. We're in SGI's old corporate campus, so that itself is a good object lesson in hubris and humility.

Come to think of it, A9 is actually around here in MV somewhere, dettached from the Seattle mothership, bringing their coffee in by secret pipline from Seattle, no doubt.

-Matthew