[MEGATHREAD!!!!]Spy/Adware and you!

[enjoilax]

Heres what you need to keep your computer: 1. Safe from infection, or Clean it if its already infected.

Regardless of whether your computer is infected or not! USE FIREFOX TO SURF THE WEB.

There is absolutely (now) no reason for you to be using any other kind of web browser (Mainly IE). Also if you can, stop using Outlook/Outlook Express for Mail, they use ActiveX controls which the reason why you shouldn't be using IE to surf the web.

If you really do need reasons here are some good ones:
1. http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/09/0737248&tid=172&tid=113&tid=218
2. http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/02/1441242&mode=thread&tid=103&tid=113&tid=126&tid=172&tid=95&tid=99

(http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates&id=0&t=177) (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates&id=0&t=57) (http://www.opera.com/)

1. If its already infected:
If your computer has a ton of spy/adware, or you are not sure and you use IE, then you need to get these programs, run them, and then Restart and then run all of them again.
1. Adaware (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)
2. Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)
3. Microsoft Antispyware (BETA!!! THIS MEANS IT IS NOT A FINISHED PRODUCT.) This is a very good product.... they better keep it free...(https://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)

If you are not behind a router then you NEED to be running a Firewall.
I recommend this one
(http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp)

If you need Anti-virus use: AVG Anti-virus (http://free.grisoft.com/Your-Account-Is-About-2-B-D3l3t3d.php/doc/2/) which, imho, is much better than Norton or McAfee.

2. Keep your computer safe

AIM now packages spyware with their AIM instant messanger. There are somethings you can do to stop it.

1. Get an older version @ oldversion.com I like 5.2 the best because you can get rid of ads, install plugins (Aimutation), skin it, and add features like tabbed IMing. (I use 5.2 + iChat mod (GUI only mod) + Aimutation.
2. Get GAIM which is not that pretty graphically, but ounce you get used to it, its just as powerful as the normal AIM. It also has a ton of features you can make use of.
For instance it always continues the conversation, and bring up your last one even if you closed the window on accident.
3. Get Trillian, which is actually a Multi-IM client. This is great if you have people who use AIM, MSN, ICQ buddies, and don't want 5 different programs open.
4. USE ALTERNATIVE BROWSERS.

Also: I have noticed alot of people here use Webshots for image/photo album hosting... I do want to let you know that their program does package spyware with it.

Smile/wallpaper banners that make you download a .exe file to get the file. DO NOT INSTALL THAT .EXE.

Search toolbars for IE: There is really only one that is trustworthy which is the Google taskbar.

If you have any info please post here or PM me.
I will keep this updated as much as possible.

Here is the original thread i posted at Lacrosseforums.com (http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=12253)

Hope this helps some people out!

edit 1: Posted at iOnMac as well.

edit 2: Anti-viruses also recommended.
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.kaspersky.com/

[boogy]

Yo enjoilax thanks a lot!

now i have to find the damm time to read this whole thread :p

[hitkaiser]

webshots doesnt contain adware/spyware

and for the antivirus i recommend:

Kaspersky (http://www.kaspersky.com)

[iZach]

i have 90% of your suggestions done. I play defense in lax too. I just registered on your forums too, Lax.53

[GadgetGuru72]

Great thread. Although, for anti-virus, I prefer Avast! Anti-Virus:

http://www.avast.com

The "home" version is free, and provides and automatic updates.

The main reason I chose Avast over AVG is because, at the time, AVG didn't scan e-mail when using the Netscape e-mail client. That may have changed with the new version of AVG, I don't know. If somebody else knows, please post.

Also, I like the interface for Avast more than AVG -- just a personal preference thing.

[GadgetGuru72]

Oh, and I guess a second comment I'd make is in reference to your banner for "get Opera." People should know that the free version of the Opera browser is ad supported. So, unless you want to shell out cash for a brower, go with Firefox.

[enjoilax]

Originally posted by GadgetGuru72
Oh, and I guess a second comment I'd make is in reference to your banner for "get Opera." People should know that the free version of the Opera browser is ad supported. So, unless you want to shell out cash for a brower, go with Firefox.

Yea thats true, but honestly, getting anyone onto an alternate browser is just one of the steps into getting microsoft to realise what they are doing.

and to stopping spy/adware makers from making a profit.

I will update the thread to reflect everyone recommendations

[iMacc]

Good thread enjoilax.......I agree that AVG is better than Norton by far :cool:

[n3tfury]

AVG is a must. and free.

here (http://www.giraffe-hunter.com/Junkwarep1.htm) is a great article written by a buddy of mine about spyware tools/removal.

[podio]

I have AVG and have no problems with it. My parent's use internet explorer, but we a have zone alarm firewall (because of cable) and they never download anything. I use firefox.

[shabbs]

From what I've read, Microsoft's Anti-Spyware software will NOT be free once it's out of beta. This is too bad because it actually stood up quite well against AdAware and SpyBot S&D in recent tests.

Cheers.

[n3tfury]

you know, about half of the virus/spyware issues that people have is lack of common sense.

[shabbs]

Originally posted by n3tfury
you know, about half of the virus/spyware issues that people have is lack of common sense.
No doubt. I believe the single most important thing to do if you're on the 'net with a broadband connection is to get a router. Even if you have only one machine connected, the router acts as a firewall and will protect you quite well against a lot of threats.

Routers are so cheap these days that there's really no reason that everyone should not have one.

Cheers.

[n3tfury]

not only do you use the ripper of choice for people in the know, you also have a solid coconut.

[shabbs]

Originally posted by n3tfury
not only do you use the ripper of choice for people in the know, you also have a solid coconut.
HA HA! Thanks!

Having the knowledge is one thing, sharing it is another.

If we can raise more awareness of these issues and how to prevent them, the 'net will be a safer place.

Cheers.

[smirf83]

Why is AVG better than Norton? I have Norton Internet Security 2003 (Antivirus + Firewall + other random crap) but the subscription's run out and I don't want to renew if possible.

[GadgetGuru72]

Originally posted by smirf83
Why is AVG better than Norton? I have Norton Internet Security 2003 (Antivirus + Firewall + other random crap) but the subscription's run out and I don't want to renew if possible.

I use Avast (which is also free), so maybe I'm not the best person to respond to this question, but both Avast and AVG are better than Norton because they're not as bloated and so they don't slow down your computer. Also, they are free and do just as good a job at stopping viruses.

As I said above, I chose Avast simply because it scans e-mails in the Netscape e-mail client, whereas AVG only scan Outlook and Outlook Express. Both are great programs, though.

[n3tfury]

i use AVGmostly because it's not such a huge resource hog/bloaty program as Norton is, and it's free. i also use the paid Server edition for my LAN server and have used it for a web server also with great results.

i've used Norton Internet Security and it's bloated as hell. it WORKS, but i can't stand extra popups, etc. the outlook virus scanner was slow as snails also.

[n3tfury]

lol gadget, you beat me to it.

[polarthunder]

Another good web browser is Maxthon. Some sites don't support Firefox yet, so eventually you'll need to go back to IE to go there. Maxthon, I believe, is basically a buffed up version of IE. Not sure exactly, but it was also recommended by PC Magazine, so it can't be all too bad. I'm using it right now, it's got plenty of features.

[GadgetGuru72]

People keep making comments like "some sites don't support Firefox yet," but other than Windows Update I have not seen a single site that isn't supported by Firefox yet.

[enjoilax]

Originally posted by GadgetGuru72
People keep making comments like "some sites don't support Firefox yet," but other than Windows Update I have not seen a single site that isn't supported by Firefox yet.

agreed. I have only come across one site other than Microsoft sites that don't support firefox well, and that is Lajo.biz, but whoever did the programming on that site is... BLAH.

[polarthunder]

Well, only one comes to my mind right now, but I guess it doesn't really count. Shutterfly.com, a pic sharing website, says you may encounter errors if you use firefox. I guess that's about all that happens with the other sites too. OK, fine, can't think of any.

[n3tfury]

Originally posted by GadgetGuru72
People keep making comments like "some sites don't support Firefox yet," but other than Windows Update I have not seen a single site that isn't supported by Firefox yet.

same.

[shabbs]

I have seen a few sites that don't render very well in Firefox - but that's only because those sites have been tailored for IE and use IE-only layout settings. This is a very bad practice, but they'll learn.

What I usually do when I come across a site like that is just fire off a note to the site admin letting them know that I could not view their site properly using Firefox and that Firefox is the only browser I intend to use and if they want me to visit their site, they should make it Firefox friendly (and they should follow the W3C standards).

As Firefox and other standards-compliant browsers become more and more popular, sites will have no choice but to comply. It's only a matter of time now. The only language they talk is $$$ and as soon as they start to see traffic drop off, they'll adjust.

Cheers.

[cPod08]

I use Firefox and I haven't seen too many sites that don't load well. There's also only a few sites that require IE to run like Window's Update and Online Virus Scans. That's the only time I'll use IE. Otherwise FF all the way. :D