Hellfire
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 posted on 6/5/04 at 12:12 AM |
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Spyware Detection
Curious as to the cr*p on my machine I downloaded a free spyware detector. Despite having updated software to detect viruses/trojans I had  587
different spyware contaminations on my machine. I got BPS Spyware Remover to find them and
kill them - rather worrying, but now no more annoying pop-up's!!!!
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Benzine
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 07:58 AM |
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on my last scan i found 44. I told my friend to scan his and he found 2305! 
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Wadders
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 08:05 AM |
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Good link hellfire, just done mine & found 320.
i]Originally posted by Hellfire
Curious as to the cr*p on my machine I downloaded a free spyware detector. Despite having updated software to detect viruses/trojans I had 587
different spyware contaminations on my machine. I got BPS Spyware Remover to find them and
kill them - rather worrying, but now no more annoying pop-up's!!!!
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DaveFJ
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 08:41 AM |
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Another good free one is Ad-Aware
it can be worth while running both as there are somethings that will not be detectec by one but will by the other
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 08:46 AM |
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I've just found 46 - one of which was from this LocostBuilders web site!
(I guess that this is the cookie that keeps track of logins and messages read)
Am I right, ChrisW?
David
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ned
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 08:56 AM |
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you say spyware, but i bet a lot of the stuff is genuine/legitimate/not going to cause you any problems or steal any personal data. As mentinoed a lot
of them are probably just cookies for websites.
imho as an IT guy, people that are silly enough to run dodgy attachments they don't know the origin of deserve all they get!
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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flak monkey
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 09:09 AM |
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Ned is right, a lot of programs that search for spyware/adware often pick out cookies. For instance...i have been on this websie for 30mins this
morning...browser buddie tells me it has allowed 404 cookies form this site...and blocked 406 indirect cookies.
Cookies arent as bad as everyone makes out really, most of them will do no harm!
Spyware and adware however is a different story...adware being incredibly annoying creating the stupid pop ups. And spyware being one that reports
your internet usage to whoever.
Run ad-aware or hijack-this once a week if you are paranoid...or once a month and you arent likely to have any problems. And as Ned
says...dont open dodgy attachments on emails...or ones that you get in pop up windows on the net!
Cheers for the links Hellfire...
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Peteff
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 10:21 AM |
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Tracking cookies.
A lot of these are in your temp internet files along with data miners.They are used to let websites know your browsing preferences. Adaware seems to
find a lot of them every time I scan.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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kingr
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 11:49 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ned
imho as an IT guy, people that are silly enough to run dodgy attachments they don't know the origin of deserve all they get!
Hmmm, I would say that's a little brutal, especially given that you can be infected by highly malicious adware simply by not being absolutely
bang up to date on your service pack. Coolwebsearch is a particularly nasty piece of adware that you can get simply by visiting the wrong website
without Windows XP service pack 1a (not just 1, that won't do). And lets face it, downloading a 100mb+ service pack on dialup simply isn't
feasable for a lot of people.
Kingr
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Hellfire
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 07:38 PM |
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quote:
originally quoted by ned
imho as an IT guy, people that are silly enough to run dodgy attachments they don't know the origin of deserve all they get!
Oooh ned - if I didn't know you better 
Most of the spyware on my PC came from downloads of music (which I have since gone out and bought!) which contained small applets, I know it's
irresponsible and blah blah... but have you heard the force-fed regurgitated '80's sh*te in the charts lately! It's enough to drive
you bl**dy mad! Maybe I'm getting old...
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britishtrident
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 08:53 PM |
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Yep you found the the spyware removal tool that is just a spam magnet --- the original version worked and it got good reviews in mags then they
turned it into a spam magnet unless you buy the paid version.
Clearing it out ain't easy -- first before you do anything if you have a version of windows with system restore turn it off.
Identify and terminate the running process and delete the file. Windows own task manager won't tell you much I use freeware programs called
startup.exe from http://user.mc.net/lindy/apps.htm and TaskManager from www.securitysoftware.cc .
Then run Ad-aware or Bazooka these should find the offending item but won't stop it re-installing you need Hi-jack this to identify clear out
any malevolent registry entries.
Test the system by restarting a couple of times then do another sweep -- if clear turn system restore back on.
Do regualar Ad-Aware and Hijack-This sweeps.
Finally install a decent free AV program (AVG works well) a free firewall (Kerio), if you want extra protection use a Proxymitron as a provy server
running as localhost.
[Edited on 6/5/04 by britishtrident]
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Hellfire
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 10:07 PM |
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I've placed a copy of HijackThis for download on our website (HERE) go to
"Otherbits/Technical"
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flak monkey
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| posted on 6/5/04 at 10:16 PM |
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Seems quite a popular program that  had it for ages....
Cheers,
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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britishtrident
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| posted on 7/5/04 at 04:36 PM |
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Hi-jack is a great tool but because it needs the user to have some knowledge of what should be running it is ideally installed on top of a fresh
windows install and then run at fairly regular intervals.
Another freeware worth using is Avant browser --- really just a a much improved web browser running on the standard Internet Explorer engine but
has all sort of features to block pop ups and control cookies and more. It runs on most windows version except it won't run on some NT4
computers.
Here is my current list of must haves for any Windows user
Avant Browser
Kerio Personal Firewall or Tiny Personal Firewall
AVG -- great free anti-virus for personal use
K9 --- the very best Spam block and its free
Startup.exe -- lets you know whats actually starting at windows startup.
Karens Registry Pruner ---- exactly what is says on the label.
Ad-Aware
Other useful stuff
Mozilla or Mozilla Fire Bird
Lansuite 602
Proxymitron
Pop Tray
[Edited on 7/5/04 by britishtrident]
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JoelP
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| posted on 7/5/04 at 07:01 PM |
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cheers for the link hellfire, it said i had 600 odd, only 20 or so were real spy/ad ware, but best to be rid of it all. Most cookies of
'good' sites will be back in days anyway, so no harm done cept a few mins wasted logging in and finding customer numbers etc... all
good. id been trying to get rid of a few specific ones for ages now, finally a result!!
Beware! Bourettes is binfectious.
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