All about Spyware...

[Lazy Dog]

I will try and gather all the info and apps I know about spyware and adware. Everyone is invited to add any info they know...

First of all from what I know so far all good antivirus applications can block spyware. Some of them are:

1. AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php)(free),

2. Norton (http://www.symantec.com/downloads/),

3. McFee (http://us.mcafee.com/default.asp)

4. Panda Antivirus (http://www.pandasoftware.com/)

5. PC-Cillin (http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/desktop/overview.htm)

For more info and other antivirus applications you can visit PcTechTalk here (http://www.pctechtalk.com/view.php?id=226)

Apart from the above, the applications that you must have to be protected from spyware are:

1. Spybot- Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/) (free)

2. Ad-aware(free adition) (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/#free)

3. Peer Guardian(free) (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tim.leonard1/methlabs.htm)

There are many other good apps out there such as Spyware bluster (http://www.wilderssecurity.net/mrublaster.html), SpySweeper (http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php), Spychecker (http://www.spychecker.com/), PestPatrol (http://www.pestpatrol.com/) that will help you defend your PC from spyware.

From what I know and have seen so far, you should always have peer-guardian run on your system and do a complete scan with spybot and/or ad-aware or any other app you know at least once a week.

General info about spyware you can find here (http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/spyware/) and here (http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm). Also I found a spyware list here (http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php)

A good firewall is always needed ;)

1. Sygate Firewall (free) (http://download.com.com/3000-2092-10049526.html?part=82835%20&subj=dlpage&tag=button)

2. Zonealarm(free) (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/application?namespace=zls_catalog&origin=global.jsp&event=link.catalogHome&&zl_catalog_view_id=201&lid=nav_ho)

For more info about firewalls visit PcTechTalk (http://www.pctechtalk.com/view.php?id=235)

I know that there are many other applications free-or not that will make the job done. Here I post the ones I know. Again, everyone is invited to add their opinions and other programms they might know

[Roadblock]

Nice job LD! This is a great start to educatng all cows about the nasties that lie in wait for us on the net. :thumbsup:

[g-smooth2k]

Thnx Good write up Lazy Dog

;) :thumbsup:

[gbread49]

Outstanding job Lazy Dog.... :)

Its a real pain to have to install additional programs just to protect your 'puter, but they will be an absolute necessity until such time as action is taken to puts the jerks out of action that write and distribute the spyware crap.

Another good and useful app is "HijackThis". It helps to locate and identify files and Registry entries strictly associated with browser hyjackers.

[Bubber]

Hi all!! I'm new here and thought that i would like to add the following to the discussion:

Anytime you are going to download an application off the web, ask yourself "How is this site making money?"

If it's not immediately obvious then you should be suspicious.

And always enter the name of an app at

http://www.spychecker.com

Spychecker is not perfect, but it is fairly exhaustive.

Love your forumn guys!

[gbread49]

Hi Bubber.....welcome to UTC.... :)

BTW...not to disagree with you, but......... you are now a member of the herd, so it is YOUR forum too.

Again welcome..... :)

[Nick Madcat]

You cant have a scanner for spyware only. I use spybot for the active scans while SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com) passively blocks em. U need preventative measure too ya know. :squint: