NationStates Jolt Archive

I hate adware and spyware; it's horrible, and even programs like Ad-aware doesn't always catch it all. It should be made completely illegal, in my mind. Though I do love the inherent contradictions, such as adware that downloads itself onto your computer without your request that then spawns pop-ads for pop-up blockers. :rolleyes:
So, opinions on the value and relevance of such software?

I hate adware and spyware; it's horrible, and even programs like Ad-aware doesn't always catch it all. It should be made completely illegal, in my mind. Though I do love the inherent contradictions, such as adware that downloads itself onto your computer without your request that then spawns pop-ads for pop-up blockers. :rolleyes:
So, opinions on the value and relevance of such software?
I agree … spent 8 hours a day working on viral and spy ware issues … now I work hardware networking but manage and train my staff to deal with spy ware issues

The last two years have been tough … I estimate we spend about 400% more time on spy ware/ad ware in the last year then we have in any previous years

I personally think it should be illegal but it is hard to track and a lot of the ad ware companies being out of US jurisdiction …

Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.

Use Mozilla Firefox instead.

My problems with adware and spyware have STOPPED.

Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.

Use Mozilla Firefox instead.

My problems with adware and spyware have STOPPED.
Now maybe I'm being slightly idiotic here, but I've used IE for so long that I simply refuse to switch due to how used I am to working with IE.

Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.

Use Mozilla Firefox instead.

My problems with adware and spyware have STOPPED.
Correction your popup issues have stopped … for now but even as we speak there are new extension based vulnerability ad-ware becoming prominent

It only took some time but we are seeing more and more holes in firefox where things are getting through

Sorry to tell ya but firefox was “invulnerable” because it was new …
(hey I love firefox but no software is bug proof … the more machines that have firefox the bigger target it becomes … more incentive to right ad-ware for it)
They right ad-ware for the biggest target

Now maybe I'm being slightly idiotic here, but I've used IE for so long that I simply refuse to switch due to how used I am to working with IE.
I love firefox ... also opera has a lot of the precursors for firefox ... both cool (fan of tabbed browsing)

I hate adware and spyware as well. It's horrible. I probably spend about 5-6 hours a week trying to take care of those problems, ON MY HOME COMPUTER!!! It's ridiculous. I don't use Ad-Aware because there's a Trojan worm in it. I pretty much just use Norton Internet Security 2005, it's been working pretty good for me.

I hate adware and spyware as well. It's horrible. I probably spend about 5-6 hours a week trying to take care of those problems, ON MY HOME COMPUTER!!! It's ridiculous. I don't use Ad-Aware because there's a Trojan worm in it. I pretty much just use Norton Internet Security 2005, it's been working pretty good for me.
What Trojan worm? I've used Ad-aware for some time and it's only been recently that it's begun to fail slightly. Though it could be because 6.0 is an outdated version...

I hate adware and spyware as well. It's horrible. I probably spend about 5-6 hours a week trying to take care of those problems, ON MY HOME COMPUTER!!! It's ridiculous. I don't use Ad-Aware because there's a Trojan worm in it. I pretty much just use Norton Internet Security 2005, it's been working pretty good for me.
Ok for 1 No such thing as a true "Trojan worm" there can be a worm contained within a Trojan (but VERY unlikely ... worms are self propagating)

And Ad-Aware does NOT contain such a worm … in fact I have their source and have worked closely with their development team for SE

I know you are probably just listening to some roomer about the Trojan but try not to believe EVERYTHING you hear

What Trojan worm? I've used Ad-aware for some time and it's only been recently that it's begun to fail slightly. Though it could be because 6.0 is an outdated version...
Dont listen to them like I said got the source for SE ... no problems.

Another one you might want to look at to run with ad-aware is spybot search and destroy ... they work really good in tandem

Dont listen to them like I said got the source for SE ... no problems.

Another one you might want to look at to run with ad-aware is spybot search and destroy ... they work really good in tandem

Actually, I find that the best combination is Spyware Doctor and Spybot.

Ad-ware: in principle good. If the program it came with clearly states you will have to view ads when installing (or offers you the alternative of paying directly) as well as making sure the adware disappears when you de-install the program I see no problem with it. See opera as an example.

Unfortunately most adware is somewhat ruder and very hard to remove (remembers a certain toolbar...). Since programs that install themselves without permission, don't allow easy removal and even multiply themselves can be classed as virusses I think that making them illegal would be both easy and usefull.
Spyware ... bleugh. If I want to share information I will fill in a survey. My privacy is sacred.

Actually, I find that the best combination is Spyware Doctor and Spybot.
Have done both but I find Ad-aware a bit better at tackling registry keys ...

Lol pluss it is fun taking bets on how many "instances" of spyware ad-aware will come up with :p

Lol pluss it is fun taking bets on how many "instances" of spyware ad-aware will come up with :p

Heh, I downloaded a couple of demos recently and I found 150 instances on my computer...

Don't download demos, kids.

I agree with the pro-Firefox crowd. Mozilla is far superior. I, too, refused to use Mozilla for a long time because I got along pretty fine with IE. Then I got my new computer and decided to try Mozilla once, and I have not looked back. No pop-ups, a tiny fraction of the security loopholes, hardly any spy-/ad-/malware infections or trojan horses, plus far better and faster code as well as the great tabbing ability... Mozilla is just better overall, and it's certainly not any more difficult to use than IE.

I just installed a bunch of new anti-spy-/ad-/malware and anti-virus software onto my computer last night, because I did the mistake of using IE for a few minutes to get at a few files while Mozilla was a bit preoccupied (with about 60 open tabs and a lot of downloads as well as protecting itself against like a billion infiltration attempts). In the few minutes I used IE I managed to get 7 new trojan horses, 228 "Critical" spy-/ad-/malware and a few miscellaneous viruses. My computer then crashed, and would crash again if I tried to open IE again or close any of the hundreds of trojan/malware programs running on the back ground, and at random intervals in any case.

So I brought in the heavy artillery (HiJackThis 1.99.0 (http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html), GriSoft Anti-Virus (http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/) and Lavasoft Ad-Aware 1.05 SE (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/), all of which I suggest everybody to get). A few self-replicated pieces of code in the registry are still holding on, but they are crippled and can't do any harm anymore. Score one for Team HJT!

If I ever meet someone who actually creates adware for a living, I'm going to assrape him with a one of those F-16-style HOTAS joysticks.

i also use firefox.being that IE is designed to be easily hacked.but anyways.

adware that installs itself should be considered another form of virus,kind of obvious.it isnt something you asked for,you dont control it,you cant remove it.how is this NOT a malicous virus?

Heh, I downloaded a couple of demos recently and I found 150 instances on my computer...

Don't download demos, kids.
Record for me (and NOT personal machine)
was 21 k ... on one machine

(yikes!)

I did a scan of the SAN with our roaming profiles
236 milion (that was including cookies for 13 k people)

i also use firefox.being that IE is designed to be easily hacked.but anyways.

adware that installs itself should be considered another form of virus,kind of obvious.it isnt something you asked for,you dont control it,you cant remove it.how is this NOT a malicous virus?
IE was designed to be hacked? really now that is a pretty hefty accusation

IE was designed to be hacked? really now that is a pretty hefty accusation

Not "hacked" but rather utilised to bring more multimedia to the consumer.

If you want to avoid adware, use any browser other then IE, and avoid P2P programs that are on the FastTrack network, since most developers need to pay to use it.

What Trojan worm? I've used Ad-aware for some time and it's only been recently that it's begun to fail slightly. Though it could be because 6.0 is an outdated version...
he was probably running heuristics or the files got infected seperately because ive never caught anything in ad-aware

a good program too is spysweeper, but it only has a 30 day trial thne you have to buy it

Eh, I just use McAfee SecurityCenter's virus/adware stuff; works okay, as far as I can tell. Couple holes here and there, but it's not awful.

I have a question, though: how do some people GET some of these viruses? Is it from reputable websites or what?

Eh, I just use McAfee SecurityCenter's virus/adware stuff; works okay, as far as I can tell. Couple holes here and there, but it's not awful.

I have a question, though: how do some people GET some of these viruses? Is it from reputable websites or what?
Much of it occurs from P2P networks; Kazaa, for example, is rife with adware and spyware, which is why Shareaza is much better.

Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.
Stop using IE.

Use Mozilla Firefox instead.

My problems with adware and spyware have STOPPED.


spybot search and destroy is good too.

AIM has spyware included now. Weatherbug and wild tangent are both spyware companies...

Eh, I just use McAfee SecurityCenter's virus/adware stuff; works okay, as far as I can tell. Couple holes here and there, but it's not awful.

I have a question, though: how do some people GET some of these viruses? Is it from reputable websites or what?
Are you talking about viruses or Ad-aware (and if viruses you have your three main “classes” of infection … Viral, Worm and Trojan)?

spybot search and destroy is good too.

AIM has spyware included now. Weatherbug and wild tangent are both spyware companies...
Yes but only if you load the full version with game support ... I use Gaim as the messenger of choice (ported from *nix)

spybot search and destroy is good too.

AIM has spyware included now. Weatherbug and wild tangent are both spyware companies...
1) choose not to install those files
2) spybot s&d is not anywhere near as good as ad-aware or spysweeper, they pick up far more spyware,malware, and adware files. spybot only picks up a couple exe files that adaware does not catch

Are you talking about viruses or Ad-aware (and if viruses you have your three main “classes” of infection … Viral, Worm and Trojan)?
Well, malicious (or at least annoying) software in general, I suppose.

Being not so computer savvy myself, I'm going to ask a dumb question. Does adware and spyware affect only PC's, or does it affect Macs?

Well, malicious (or at least annoying) software in general, I suppose.
Currently
Most common to least

1) websites (specifically game or share sites with active X controls … never click yes if you can help it)
2) Trojans , the Trojan “virus” has a tendency to download and install mal-ware (these are what is spread by p2p networks)
3) Legit programs that carry mal-ware (AIM and some others including yahoo search bar)

Now once you get 1 piece there is always a chance that the program itself starts installing more …

AdAware SE

Spybot S&D

Thats all I have to say on the subject.

Being not so computer savvy myself, I'm going to ask a dumb question. Does adware and spyware affect only PC's, or does it affect Macs?
Adware and spyware dig into the registry of the computer, mainly; the operating system does not matter. Adware and spyware affects Macs, PCs, and Soloris, Unix, and Linux computers equally.

Being not so computer savvy myself, I'm going to ask a dumb question. Does adware and spyware affect only PC's, or does it affect Macs?
They tend to shoot for the biggest audience … there are some mal-ware for safari … but no massive hit.

M$ is the biggest target … and IE is the biggest browser … so they get a lot of focus

Adware and spyware dig into the registry of the computer, mainly; the operating system does not matter. Adware and spyware affects Macs, PCs, and Soloris, Unix, and Linux computers equally.

Well, theoretically it could but there is very little spyware in the wild for non-Windows machines.

Personally, except for tracking cookies, I almost never find any spy/adware on my personal machines. The biggest things are:
1) DON'T USE INTERNET EXPLORER. (I use FireFox (http://www.mozilla.org/), but pretty much anything but IE is a good idea)
2) Install anti-virus on your computer if you don't already have it. (I recommend Anti-Vir (http://www.freeav.com))
3) Install a firewall on your machine is you don't already have one. (I recommend ZoneAlarm (http://www.ZoneAlarm.com))
4) Don't download random files. (Unless you have a very good reason, never download or execute anything)

All opinions expressed above are mine personally and are not the official opinions or recommendations of NationStates

I had to reformat my computer a little while ago because of too much ad/spyware. Then, I made a personal vow never to get another piece of ad/spyware ever again. And I've kept that up.

- I've never had a popup (Thank's to AdSubtract and NetBlockade)

- Never had any adware (Thanks to Spybot and Ad-Aware)

- Never had any spyware ( Thanks to SpySubtract and Spybot)

- Never had any of my homepages turn to one of those spam/search things (Thanks to all the programs)

- Never got a virus

Yay!

I had to reformat my computer a little while ago because of too much ad/spyware. Then, I made a personal vow never to get another piece of ad/spyware ever again. And I've kept that up.

- I've never had a popup (Thank's to AdSubtract and NetBlockade)

- Never had any adware (Thanks to Spybot and Ad-Aware)

- Never had any spyware ( Thanks to SpySubtract and Spybot)

- Never had any of my homepages turn to one of those spam/search things (Thanks to all the programs)

- Never got a virus

Yay!
That's awesome. You should start a support group.


"Uh, hi...my name is The Social Outcast...and I'm a victim of mal-ware..."
"That's okay, Social Outcast; we're all victims of mal-ware..."
"But since I started step 3, I haven't had any trojans for two weeks!!"
[cheers and applause]

Roffle Cakes!!!

I use the Spybot/Ad-Aware combo, but I only have the free version of Ad-Aware. I'm too damn poor to buy stuff.

Anyway, the one thing I love about Spybot is since version 1.3, it includes the SD Resident, which pops up every time something tries to make a registry change or anything like that, and asks you if you want to allow or deny it. Definately a big help. Also, I use Firefox, and the only reason I still keep IE on my computer is because Windows Update needs it (or if it doesn't actually need it, it's really a pain to get it to work without it).