I want to find one of them there spyware makers....

[PhillyKev 0]

And nail him to the wall by his balls!!!

Just spent 4 hours cleaning off my machine, which is behind a firewall, with ICF running, with spybot teatimer running, with Ad-Watch running, with McAfee running, with Zonealarm running, with IE security settings set to high.

Did a freakin search for XBOX looking for a cheap one (since mine broke after 4 months), clicked on a link and whammo. Fucking spyware all over the place, pop ups, toolbars, the whole works.

This shit is getting ridiculous.

And don't give me crap about Mozilla. I downloaded the Mozilla FTP tool once, and guess what...it was full of spyware. And the browser doesn't work on half the sites I need to go to.

[chaoskitty 0]

I feel your pain... I was making travel plans yesterday and now I'm in pop-up hell. Emailed my IT dept (since its a company notebook) and they told me to bring it in next time I'm in the office and they'll fix it up. Well thats nice but i wont be back in the office for a month.
Let me know if you find something good. I tried to install adaware but it kept redirecting me to "adware" which is spyware itself...

[davedlg 0]

I'm with you...between family, friends, and work, I spend hours every week cleaning computers. It's gotten so bad on some systems that it is just easier to reformat and start over.

How come viruswriters get caught and go to jail, but spyware writers make millions??

[tigra 0]

Spyware sucks! Seems like I have to clean my computer almost every time I boot up these days!

And Norton is really pissing me off because they find the stuff, identify it as a "threat", but won't remove it! So then its another 45 minutes or more running spysweeper! (Which actually seems to do a really good job, but the crap keeps finding a way in anyway!)

[Shotgun 1]

Here is some info on one of them. I found the name of the company in one of the log files of all the crap they installed on my machine and then got the remaining info from the whois at Internic...

180 Solutions, Inc.
5110 Carillon Point
Kirkland, WA 98033

425-522-1200

neteng@180solutions.com

another address:

3600 136th Place SE
Bellevue, WA 98006

425-279-1200

or

1-866-222-9909


I don't know if this is who got you, but they seem to be one of the big offenders...

I have saved all the files that were installed on my machine (either renamed them or quarantined them in Spysweeper) and will probably file a complaint with the FTC (and whoever else) when I find the time.

[narcimund 0]

Gee. My Macintoshes have never been affected. Nor has my FreeBSD box. Nor any of the other Macs or Linux or FreeBSD machines in the office.

Whenever I'm at a friend's house or office they beg me to clean up their windows boxes because I own a high tech company. It's like asking your friend the Mercedes mechanic to spend his free time keeping your decrepit Yugo running.

You poor people. I really feel for you.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[chaoskitty 0]

Heres another:
John Gotts
orders@adwarefilter.com
NetSecuritySoft LLC

Got the info off of paypal after I was stupid and paid for something I thought was anti-spyware.. turned out to be more spyware. Paypal stopped the transaction and I got my money back.
Ya I know I'm dumb.

[ad151 0]

don't hate the spyware companies, its a very lucrative business. hate the government for not making it illegal.

[CrazyIvan 0]

These "Spyware...please help" threads will never end unless like I mentioned before many times the user educates him/her self.

Having a firewall and popup blocker and an "alternative" browser is not the solution, YOU MUST be careful with what you download or accept on your computer and what you grant access to.

I have clients who sometimes call me "enfuriated" because they purchased ZoneAlarm and a Router and still are getting popups and spyware, and of course on my last visit the machine was CLEAN, and after a 30 second browsing on the machine content you see all this "free stuff" and when they see a warning about some ActiveX they just click YES because the machine tells them or they see a nice bunny or shit like that, so, what I do, EDUCATE the user, after that, no more calls (it's kinda bad because I do that for a living), but then again BE CAREFUL, and if you ARE NOT SURE WHAT'S THAT ABOUT...DENY ACCESS...PERIOD.

I'm a geek, and do a lot of browsing and download stuff, BUT, I keep an eye open to all the "other" stuff that might come along, my setup is simple, I use..yes yes you IE haters, I use IE, ZoneAlarm Pro and a Linksys router, but I have all the patches that Microsoft published and SP2 and all that jive, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A POPUP IN OVER A YEAR!!!, spyware?....what's that? viruses? what's that?

People!!!, don't blame the spyware-writer or virus-writer or hacker or your machine or the Internet or IE or this or that, BLAME YOURSELF for not being careful or not asking someone with more knowledge, and keep the solutions simple.

End of rant.

Have a nice day.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[leroydb 0]

applause!!!

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[IanHarrop 42]

Quote

These "Spyware...please help" threads will never end unless like I mentioned before many times the user educates him/her self.

Having a firewall and popup blocker and an "alternative" browser is not the solution, YOU MUST be careful with what you download or accept on your computer and what you grant access.

I have clients who sometimes call me "enfuriated" because they purchased ZoneAlarm and a Router and still are getting popups and spyware, and of course on my last visit the machine was CLEAN, and after a 30 second browsing on the machine you see all this "free stuff" and when they see a warning about some ActiveX they just click YES because the machine tells them or they see a nice bunny or shit like that, so, what I do, EDUCATE the user, after that, no more calls (it's kinda bad because I do that for a living), but then again BE CAREFUL, and if you ARE NOT SURE WHAT'S THAT ABOUT...DENY ACCESS...PERIOD.

I'm a geek, and do a lot of browsing and download stuff, BUT, I keep an eye open to all the "other" stuff that might come along, my setup is simple, I use..yes yes you IE haters, I use IE, ZoneAlarm Pro and a Linksys router, but I have all the patches that Microsoft published and SP2 and all that jive, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A POPUP IN OVER A YEAR!!!, spyware?....what's that? viruses? what's that?

People!!!, don't blame the spyware-writer or virus-writer or hacker or your machine or the Internet or IE or this or that, BLAME YOURSELF for not being careful or not asking someone with more knowledge, and keep the solutions simple.

End of rant.

Have a nice day.

I have to agree with you. I spend a lot of time helping others with problems but none of the 3 machines in my house have issues.

Being careful is the primary way to stay safe.

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[ad151 0]

excellent post!

[davedlg 0]

Quote

what I do, EDUCATE the user, after that, no more calls (it's kinda bad because I do that for a living), but then again BE CAREFUL, and if you ARE NOT SURE WHAT'S THAT ABOUT...DENY ACCESS...PERIOD.

I couldn't agree more. I seem to have a difficult time explinaing to people that "free" programs are not nessecarially so...

[tigra 0]

OK, I'll admit that I'm far from being the most computer literate person in the world, but I am trying very hard to educate myself and do what I can to protect my computer. I don't generally click on links or accept "free downloads" BUT I find I get crap just by using the Yahoo search function or even visiting some sites without clicking on any links.

This spyware crap is pervasive and its just getting worse, IMO.

If you're only contribution to this thread is to remind the rest of us how IGNORANT and stupid we are and how superior you are, maybe you should just stay out of it!

BTW- your attitude is exactly what is wrong with about 90% of the IT people I've worked with over the past 15 years or so.

[davedlg 0]

How to Avoid Spyware (PC Magazine Article):

1. Make sure to run an antispyware application. Perform on-demand scans regularly to root out spyware that slips through the cracks. Reboot after removal and rescan to make sure no ticklers, which are designed to reinstall spyware, have resurrected any deleted apps. Additionally, even though we are not overly impressed with any app's real-time blocking abilities, activate whatever your app of choice offers; it's nearly always better than nothing.

2. Give your antispyware some backup. In addition to an antispyware app, make sure to run both software and hardware firewalls and antivirus applications to protect yourself against Trojan horses (and viruses, naturally).

3. Beware of peer-to-peer file-sharing services. Many of the most popular applications include spyware in their installation procedures (see the sidebar "Spyware-Free P2P—for Free"). Also, never download any executables via P2P, because you can't be absolutely certain what they are. Actually, it's a good idea to avoid downloading executables from anywhere but vendors or major, well-checked sites.

4. Watch out for cookies. While they may not be the worst form of spyware, information gathered via cookies can sometimes be matched with information gathered elsewhere (via Web bugs, for example) to provide surprisingly detailed profiles of you and your browsing habits. PC Magazine's own Cookie Cop 2 (www.pcmag.com/utilities) can help you take control of cookies.

5. Squash bugs. Web bugs are spies that are activated when you open contaminated HTML e-mail. Get rid of unsolicited e-mail without reading it when you can; turn off the preview pane to delete messages without opening them. In Outlook 2003, Tools | Options, click on the Security tab and select Change Automatic Download Settings. Make sure Don't download pictures or other content automatically in HTML e-mail is checked.

6. Don't install anything without knowing exactly what it is. This means reading the end-user license agreement (EULA) carefully, as some EULAs will actually tell you that if you install the app in question, you've also decided to install some spyware with the software. Check independent sources as well, as some EULAs won't tell you about spyware.

7. Protect yourself against drive-by downloads. Make sure your browser settings are stringent enough to protect you. In IE, this means your security settings for the Internet Zone should be at least medium. Deny the browser permission to install any ActiveX control you haven't requested.

8. Keep up to date on the ever-changing world of spyware. Knowing the threat will help you defeat it. There are several great sites you can visit to keep abreast of this issue. PestPatrol's Research Center (www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo) has one of the most comprehensive lists of spyware and related threats we've seen. SpywareInfo is another good online source of information.

[sunshine 2]

Quote

If you're only contribution to this thread is to remind the rest of us how IGNORANT and stupid we are and how superior you are, maybe you should just stay out of it!

BTW- your attitude is exactly what is wrong with about 90% of the IT people I've worked with over the past 15 years or so.

Yup yup. Gee, thats no different than saying it's ridiculous for me to have a mechanic fix my car. If i would just educate myself better, i wouldn't need help....

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[CrazyIvan 0]

Quote

If you're only contribution to this thread is to remind the rest of us how IGNORANT and stupid we are and how superior you are, maybe you should just stay out of it!

Ok, you are assuming that and YOU are saying that not me. I HAVE NEVER SAID IT OR WILL SAY THAT.

Please forgive the following rant, but that's a typical reaction from people, I deal with that everyday, and us geeks have to endure it with a smile on our faces, when the ONLY THING we want is to LET YOU KNOW what's right and what's wrong.

If you re-read my posting you will find solutions there, like, getting all the patches, keeping an eye open to "weird" activities coming from the net. If you are still having trouble, then ASK, perhaps you are using the wrong tools or the wrong settings, I'm not a genius or "superior", just someone who wants to help, that's all.

I agree with you that there are some "IT guys" with attitude, you'll find that kind of people on EVERY PART OF THE WORLD and not only on IT, I know how frustrating is to deal with something you have little knowledge about it.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[davedlg 0]

Quote

Yup yup. Gee, thats no different than saying it's ridiculous for me to have a mechanic fix my car. If i would just educate myself better, i wouldn't need help....

You have a basic level of ecucation about how to maintain your car...you put gas in it, get oil changes, etc. If you didn't, well, it wouldn't work and your mechanic would definatly chastize you for it.

I think that people need to exercise a minimal level of caution with their computers, there are some fairly basic things you can do to avoid spyware. You dont have to be an IT professional to do these things, and it's going to make you (and your computer)much happier

[ad151 0]

Quote

Quote

If you're only contribution to this thread is to remind the rest of us how IGNORANT and stupid we are and how superior you are, maybe you should just stay out of it!

BTW- your attitude is exactly what is wrong with about 90% of the IT people I've worked with over the past 15 years or so.

Yup yup. Gee, thats no different than saying it's ridiculous for me to have a mechanic fix my car. If i would just educate myself better, i wouldn't need help....

Actually, you both are wrong. No IT person is going to watch over you while you surf the internet. Therefore, the only person who can help you is you. There will never be a program that will keep you safe from spyware; its a very lucrative business and will be a battle between the developers trying to keep it off your computer and those trying to get it on your computer from now until the end of time. The only thing you can do is educate yourself or deal with it. Even when/if spyware becomes illegal, those who are not already offshore companies will just move offshore to avoid the law and you will still have the same problem. I'm not insulting you; just giving it to you straight.

[wmw999 2,583]

In his post, he was also trying to educate people.

I think the real deal is that the stuff that comes into your computer is like the guy who comes to your door and says he's doing a research project and needs to see your breasts. He really just wants to see your breasts.

Well, the crap that comes into your computer really just wants you to click on it. Doesn't matter if it's a website, or a "check for spyware" button, or a "question from Ebay" or anything else like that. If you don't expect it and know the source, don't click on anything but the X in the upper right hand corner.

Don't even click on a button in the popup that says "Close." It might not, or it might write something before closing.

If you want to look at a referred-to website, then type it into your address bar yourself. There's nothing preventing a programmer from spoofing -- I can do it here, too:

www.snopes.com.

And those guys are a whole lot sneakier than I am.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[davedlg 0]

Quote

don't click on anything but the X in the upper right hand corner.

And you even have to be careful with that...some popups will even have a "fake" X that opens up a whole can of worms.

[PhillyKev 0]

Whoopee...free BSD and Macs....blah blah blah.

Ok, you go ahead and convert all the multi-million dollar software that we use to run on them, and I'll switch our desktops. Until then, that answer is a cop out.

Oh yeah, and once you do do that, and they actually penetrate the market place, guess who the virus and spyware writers will target.

[PhillyKev 0]

No offense Ivan, but you're wrong.

[gjhdiver 0]

Quote

And nail him to the wall by his balls!!!



Did a freakin search for XBOX looking for a cheap one (since mine broke after 4 months), clicked on a link and whammo. Fucking spyware all over the place, pop ups, toolbars, the whole works.

This shit is getting ridiculous.

And don't give me crap about Mozilla. I downloaded the Mozilla FTP tool once, and guess what...it was full of spyware. And the browser doesn't work on half the sites I need to go to.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Use Opera as a browser http://www.opera.com

You can disable all but requested pop ups and set it to clean every single cookie it has taken in on exit.

I haven't had a single peice of spyware arrive since I switched. The other day I had to use IE for for a job and bam, 10 data miners right there that AdAware caught.

[CrazyIvan 0]

Quote

No offense Ivan, but you're wrong.

Hey...it's just my opinion, and that's your opinion.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.