Anti-virus/Spyward

[Mrs Owt]

Please be patient! I am awful with computers. I know I have a spyware problem and probably virus's as well. I searched and Adam's anti-virus thread came up. Now I am wondering if those anti-virus thingys also work against spyware (is spyware a virus?). I tried downloading Spybot but it just keeps telling me I have umpteen number of things spotted and to "please immunize". When I hit the immunize button - nothing happens.

Suggestions?

[Sever]

I'm not a big fan of Spybot, actually (though I dare say someone infinitely more qualified than me will come along and point out that I'm wrong). I prefer Ad Aware (http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button) which is free and works well for me.
You'll need a separate anti virus program too, if you haven't got one, there were lots of good recommendations in the anti-virus thread you mentioned. Hope this was of help

[KickChick]

Definitely choose Ad-Aware.

My business and at home.... I've tried them all --Spysweeper, SpyBlaster, Spybot, ~~~

Perhaps what happened is that you didn't go down the list and check each box to "immunize". Unfortunately they make you do that so as you don't 'delete' anything that you might want to keep.
Fortunately (for Ad-Aware) at least.. all those "checked" items are 'quarantined' and if you do happen to delete something you need, you can get it back. But most of those "buggers" aren't needed.
You'll see what I mean by "buggers" ... Ad-aware has a mean little red bug that denotes 'critical objects' that have been living in your computer :woo:

http://download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button

[rigsville]

I use both Ad-Aware SE and Spybot on my systems.

Ad-Aware is quick and easy to use and remove any malware type applications but I find that Spybot, although takes longer to scan often finds items that Ad-Aware didn't, plus it has a built in `Immunise' to prevent you getting infected in the first place.

Both items are free and useful to have.

Then again I use Opera and when I have to Firefox as my Internet Browsers and don't really have any of these problems.

On a side note I did wonder when the Anti-Virus companies would start adding ad/mal-ware scanning to their products, it looks as if McAfee VirusScan 8 now does this.

[hongkongfuey]

McAfee AV enterprise 7.1 scans for some malware/adware/joke programs already, although not as well as the likes of Spybot

[Mrs Owt]

Definitely choose Ad-Aware.

My business and at home.... I've tried them all --Spysweeper, SpyBlaster, Spybot, ~~~

Perhaps what happened is that you didn't go down the list and check each box to "immunize". Unfortunately they make you do that so as you don't 'delete' anything that you might want to keep.
Fortunately (for Ad-Aware) at least.. all those "checked" items are 'quarantined' and if you do happen to delete something you need, you can get it back. But most of those "buggers" aren't needed.
You'll see what I mean by "buggers" ... Ad-aware has a mean little red bug that denotes 'critical objects' that have been living in your computer :woo:

http://download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=buttonI have taken yours and Sever's advice and downloaded the Ad aware. Was wonderfully easy to install (remember I am a computer idiot) and seems to have cleaned things up nicely. My computer hasn't been this fast in months!:D

I think I still have issues such as firewalls and all that stuff, but my nephew gets home from working away soon and I will put it in his capable hands.

Thank you all for your great advice again. I really think I would just have to hide in my closet if it weren't for MAP'ers saving my skin over and over again!

[EarthElement]

So how do you get rid of spyware? The damn thing ruined my other computer. I got pop-ups like you wouldn't believe. :eek:

[hongkongfuey]

download one (or several) of the packages mentioned above and run it!

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

[Speed]

I am first to admit I am to paranoid. I have 4 diff antivirus scanners (norton, avg, mcafee, uh.. forgot the 4th its freeware though) installed w/ 3 diff anti-spyware/adware software (spybot s&d, adaware, spyblaster) installed. And I check updates for all of them as soon as I log online. 8)

[hongkongfuey]

I have 4 diff antivirus scanners (norton, avg, mcafee, uh.. forgot the 4th its freeware though) installed w/ 3 diff anti-spyware/adware software (spybot s&d, adaware, spyblaster) installed. And I check updates for all of them as soon as I log online. 8)

I just don't download from unknown sources, or open e-mail attachments I am not expecting - works for me!

Having a decent firewall is more important in my opinion- this stops worms or trojans being able to infect your PC without your knowledge. (I've got a USR hardware firewall and ZoneAlarm at home - will also probably add an Nforce motherboard firewall to the mix at some point soon!)

[Sever]

So how do you get rid of spyware? The damn thing ruined my other computer. I got pop-ups like you wouldn't believe. :eek:
As well as using the aforementioned programs, try getting a pop-up stopper program, or switch your browser - Mozilla Firefox has a built in pop-up blocker and it just so happens to be the best browser around. All MA's may be equal, but all browsers are not :cool:

[hongkongfuey]

The new version of IE6 in Windows SP2 also has a pop up blocker. (Although I currently prefer Firefox as well.)

[Speed]

I just don't download from unknown sources, or open e-mail attachments I am not expecting - works for me!

Having a decent firewall is more important in my opinion- this stops worms or trojans being able to infect your PC without your knowledge. (I've got a USR hardware firewall and ZoneAlarm at home - will also probably add an Nforce motherboard firewall to the mix at some point soon!)

I forgot to mention... I have 4 software firewalls installed! LOL.. norton, mcafee, zonealarm and kerio. Am I paranoid enough for you? I need to look into getting a hardware firewall though.

I'm the same w/ email and d/ling from unknown sites. Actually I delete all email with attachments and I only except and send text email, no html which could have javascript/etc code hidden in it.

[morphus]

Don't talk to me about computer virus's or spyware - i've had them all. In fact someone helped me out today :cool: ;) . Took an hour & a half to take me & my son through it online. Got there in the end (touch wood). :( I am now ready to have that persons baby's :eek:
I now have a healthy PC :) but for how long that's what i'm worried about????? :(

[hongkongfuey]

there are some schools of thought that say having more than one firewall can cause issues and can actually be less secure in some cases (if any of the 4 firewalls is compromised then you could have an issue). Make sure you know the issues if you are running more than 1.

If you are running less than 1 firewall then disconnect your computer from the Internet at once - the average time to get infected is now 17 minutes! http://isc.sans.org/survivalhistory.php

[hongkongfuey]

I am now ready to have that persons baby's

eek - glad it wasn't me then! ;)

[Speed]

there are some schools of thought that say having more than one firewall can cause issues and can actually be less secure in some cases (if any of the 4 firewalls is compromised then you could have an issue). Make sure you know the issues if you are running more than 1.

If you are running less than 1 firewall then disconnect your computer from the Internet at once - the average time to get infected is now 17 minutes! http://isc.sans.org/survivalhistory.php

I don't run them all at the same time, my pc woud die (I don't have alot of RAM). Same with the antivirus scanners. I just have all of them installed. I run one at a time. Some have features that others don't so sometimes I'll use one, other times I'll use the other plus that keeps ppl from knowing which firewall I run. If they knew for sure I always run one certain firewall then it'll be easier for them to focus on getting through that one. But I mix things up.

[YODA]

I don't run them all at the same time, my pc woud die (I don't have alot of RAM). Same with the antivirus scanners. I just have all of them installed. I run one at a time. Some have features that others don't so sometimes I'll use one, other times I'll use the other plus that keeps ppl from knowing which firewall I run. If they knew for sure I always run one certain firewall then it'll be easier for them to focus on getting through that one. But I mix things up.
Sorry dude that just makes no sense whatsoever.

[Speed]

Sorry dude that just makes no sense whatsoever.

Should I break it down for you?

1. I have more than one piece of anti-virus sof****e installed. None running as a service, I run them manually when I want to scan a file(s), etc.

2. I have more than one piece of anti-spyware software installed. None running as a service, I run them manually.

3. I have more than one piece of firewall software installed. None running as a service, I pick one and run it manually when I log online.

Sometimes I use say, Kerio, other times I might feel like just running ZoneAlarm. A hacker would be left guessing how to hack me since they would not know which firewal I am running for sure. If they knew I always used say, Norton Firewall, then they could just focus on exploiting that certain firewall.

That is what I mean by 'mixing' things up with the firewalls.

How hard was that to understand? You're actually confusing me.

[YODA]

How hard was that to understand? You're actually confusing me.
I understood pefectly what you meant.

What I meant was that running a firewall and anti-virus software just when you think you need it - makes no sense. Running multiple firewalls on a whim to somehow confuse hackers - makes no sense.

But hey - what do I know? I only work in this field :rolleyes:

[Saz]

Sometimes I use say, Kerio, other times I might feel like just running ZoneAlarm. A hacker would be left guessing how to hack me since they would not know which firewal I am running for sure. If they knew I always used say, Norton Firewall, then they could just focus on exploiting that certain firewall.


This is the online equivalent of changing your house locks everyday to confuse burglers. Securing a Windows PC properly is difficult, and getting past a firewall can be done, especially if the person knows what they are doing.

Besides, if you use Windows, you've pretty much had it anyway! Its very insecure. Half the time you only know about holes in it when half the net goes down because of it.

[com160]

I understood pefectly what you meant.

What I meant was that running a firewall and anti-virus software just when you think you need it - makes no sense. Running multiple firewalls on a whim to somehow confuse hackers - makes no sense.

But hey - what do I know? I only work in this field :rolleyes:
exactly what i thought!

[Speed]

I understood pefectly what you meant.

What I meant was that running a firewall and anti-virus software just when you think you need it - makes no sense. Running multiple firewalls on a whim to somehow confuse hackers - makes no sense.

But hey - what do I know? I only work in this field :rolleyes:

When I think I need it? Hmm. I can't keep repeating myself.

I run a firewall when I am online, why use it when I am offline (I am on dialup)? I run one antivirus guard in the background always. But when I d/l a file from the net or throw a disc in my cdrom then I check it with all my scanners. And I think swtiching up firewalls is a decent idea.

Why doesn't that make sense? Explain in detail why what I am doing that is making me more open to attacks?

Oh and I'm not running more than ONE firewall at ONCE. Sometimes I use one, other times I log on I use another. I don't run two at the same time.

[Speed]

This is the online equivalent of changing your house locks everyday to confuse burglers.

I have two deadbolts on each of my doors. If they have a key to one they don't to the other, or if they pick the deadbolt which can be done it is still difficult for most to pick TWO deadbolts with success. Then you could just try brute force and kick the door in which behind that door is more security, a couple pitbull terriers and my guns. 8)

Layers of security is what I am talking about.



Securing a Windows PC properly is difficult, and getting past a firewall can be done, especially if the person knows what they are doing.

Besides, if you use Windows, you've pretty much had it anyway! Its very insecure. Half the time you only know about holes in it when half the net goes down because of it.

So like my house doors, I use layers of security on my pc. Whats wrong with that?

Unix/BSD would be the same way if it was used as much as Windows, no O/S is 100% secure. Even OpenBSD isn't, its close but no winner and it has less features to make it more secure.

[hongkongfuey]

I'm afraid it's not the same as having layers of security. If you use one firewall today, then a different one tomorrow then you have two chances of a vunerablity in your setup being exposed. Say one of the four firewalls develops an exploit - the next time you are online with that firewall you could easily be compromised.

Layers of security are where you have a border router doing simple port blocking, followed by a firewall layer which does some form of packet inspection filtering. You then have scanners internal to the network checking for suspicious activity (from inside and out). On the PC's you then have a firewall application which controls which programs can access the net etc.

I'd say stick to one software firewall, and make sure your setup is really tight.

[Speed]

I'm afraid it's not the same as having layers of security. If you use one firewall today, then a different one tomorrow then you have two chances of a vunerablity in your setup being exposed. Say one of the four firewalls develops an exploit - the next time you are online with that firewall you could easily be compromised.

Layers of security are where you have a border router doing simple port blocking, followed by a firewall layer which does some form of packet inspection filtering. You then have scanners internal to the network checking for suspicious activity (from inside and out). On the PC's you then have a firewall application which controls which programs can access the net etc.

I'd say stick to one software firewall, and make sure your setup is really tight.

That is all I needed, someone to break it down a little more instead of saying 'it makes no sense.' and leaving it at that.

I understand what you're saying. So I'll try sticking with one software firewall.

I plan on getting a hardware firewall but I don't know much about them currently. What should I look for? I'm on dialup right now but I'll be getting DSL within the next month so I need to get one soon.

My anti-virus usage isn't wrong though cause I know for sure its good to have more than one installed. One time I had a virus that Norton and Mcafee with up-to-date definitions totally overlooked but AVG caught it! Same with the anti-spyware, Spybot has found software that Adware overlooked.

[Saz]

I have two deadbolts on each of my doors. If they have a key to one they don't to the other, or if they pick the deadbolt which can be done it is still difficult for most to pick TWO deadbolts with success. Then you could just try brute force and kick the door in which behind that door is more security, a couple pitbull terriers and my guns. 8)

Or I could just go in through the back door, as any good hacker would. Unlike your house, a couple of "pitbulls" beind the firewall will do no good once and attacker is inside. A firewall is rendered useless anyway if your system either has

a) A backdoor, that being a trojan or a flaw in the fundemental makeup of the system (of which windows has loads, Universial Plug and Play being enabled by default on Port 5000 for example)

B) has already been compromised by a trojan horse, virus, or just good old social engineering


So like my house doors, I use layers of security on my pc. Whats wrong with that?


Whats wrong with that is IT security doesn't work like that. Especially with firewalls, as they tend to get quite stroppy if you install more than one. There's also issues with using various types of firewall with certain brands of Anti virus software.

[hongkongfuey]

I plan on getting a hardware firewall but I don't know much about them currently. What should I look for? I'm on dialup right now but I'll be getting DSL within the next month so I need to get one soon.


I run a USR sureconnect adsl router / 4 port switch / firewall / Wireless Access Point which I recon is pretty good (as well as cheap!) Make sure you install the latest firmware on it if you get one. Also if you get something with a Wireless gateway, either switch it off until you need it or make sure it is really locked down. Otherwise you will have a very secure door, but no walls!

http://www.dabs.com/uk/Search2/Product+Details.htm?quicklinx=322X&searchphrase=sureconnect


My anti-virus usage isn't wrong though cause I know for sure its good to have more than one installed. One time I had a virus that Norton and Mcafee with up-to-date definitions totally overlooked but AVG caught it! Same with the anti-spyware, Spybot has found software that Adware overlooked.

I'd agree with this personally.

[Speed]

Setting back and waiting for my DSL kit to arrive. Placed the order today. 8)

Checking out that link to that hardware firewall right now.