Spyware, viruses, & security : Is this bad?

When in doubt

I google these. I also look at Task manager and see what processes are running. With all the spyware/AV/Spam software running, it's hard to remember all the .exe and such. Google will tell what is good and bad. hitbox and doubleclick are OK to get rid of even though they may come back. How much of this Suite do you employ?

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=1313&start=0


FWIW, this is what I have installed:

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=120823&messageID=1370253

Re: is this bad.

by Kees Bakker  - 8/19/05 3:04 PM

Julea,

If you've got XP (and your profile says so) you can set it to automatically fetch the critical Windows updates each month, so there's no need to keep track of it yourself. You can also set AVG to automatic update.

I don't see any objection to using a hosts file if you are sure that you don't want these sites to be called by the pages you visit. Generally they aren't necessary for the correct functioning of the sites you visit. The 'only' maintenance is adding new addresses if you object to them. And - of course - nobody can decide for you that you don't like ad.doubleclick.net. It's not considered harmful.

Cookies also generally aren't that dangerous. They allow a site to recognize you. It 'helps' them to count 'unique visitors' and relate information they have about you (like your surfing habits) across sessions without you having to logon. Cleaning up won't harm, generally (although I deleted one last week that contained a password I'd forgotten and nowhere else at hand), but there's no need to be paranoic about it.

I should update the spyware tools (Adaware, Spybot and Spyware blaster) about once a month. Set a fixed date (always the first or always 20) and don't think too much about it if you've got no problems.

Kees

Kees

julea go here

type in the IP numbers and see who the domain host is.

these are harmless tracking cookies that can be eliminiated EVERY NIGHT as the last thhing you do before you power off.

Just run Ad-Aware and Spybot and it will cleanse you.

of course you could start putting this into a Hosts file but that is tanatamount to shooting a rabbit with an Uzi machine gun. your call.

here is the link that you should book mark and use it to look at the IP addresses.

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jhtml

be sure to post back if a 'database' is not found, because that could spell problems.

the rest are very common place and for the record they were on your old Win 98 PC as well.

diff is, you did not have Sygate.

after a while they may even stop.

please remember that no matter what site you go to, they will lay down a 'tracking cookie'.

your question should be 'how often do I want, or need to delete these' and if solicited 'will i buy these products, if offered?'

if your response is as i believe it may very well be, bordering on the negative, please ignore and scan before you power off, or like a lot of us, do it every 2-3 days.

having a new PC and O/S does not automatically, or should not be, a never ending headache.

in fact it should be enjoyable with a whole new way of discovering the things you hold near to you.

and if that results in a few cookies being laid on your PC, well Ad-Aware and/ or Spybot should take care of them.

so sit down, make some of your favourite beverage, and enjoy.

david

You Can try this as Well,

Athough using AdAware and Spybot- Search and Destroy to scan and remove parasites, now days, in my opinion, these are not enougn, try Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) and/or ewido security suite Trial ( free as well as the plus-version of the ewido security suite. After the installation, a free 14-day test version containing all the extensions of the plus-version will be activated. At the end of the test phase, the extensions of the plus version are deactivated and the freeware version can be used unlimited times. The purchased license code of the plus version can be entered at any time.) Also, make sure that you are using SpywareBlaster correctly, here is a quick tutorial entitled Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers, and Malware to make sure after each update you are pressing ''Enable All Protection'' to make sure you are protected. Checking for updates at least twice a week (monday and friday) is a must. It being just the 19th day of August, 2005, Spybot and Adaware have had updates several times this month (spybot this morning) so more then once a month is needed. also proforming this

clear out your temp files and ActiveX Controls. Go into Internet Options -
General tab. Delete temporary internet files, and choose to delete all Offline content.
In Settings, set the size of your TIF folder between 5 - 10 MB. Also, under General
tab - choose Setting - View Objects. In the window that opens, choose View Details
on the toolbar. If any of those ActiveX Controls are marked ''unknown'' or ''damaged'',
remove them. Remove any that you don't recognize. Any and all ActiveX Controls, can
be safely removed. They'll be downloaded again as needed. To uninstall, right click
and Remove. You may want to keep those by MS, Macromedia or Apple.

Also, go to Start - Find - Files or folders - in the named box, type: *.tmp and choose
Edit - select all - File - delete. Empty the contents of the C:\Windows\temp folder
and C:\temp folder,or with XP, C:\Documents and Settings\userneme\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
if you have one. Empty Recycle bin. clear these out regularly.
Clcik start - all programs - accessories - system tools - disk cleanup allow it to ''profile'' the system, once the disk cleanup box shows, click more options tab and clean up system restore. click yes when prompted to. This cleans all previous restore points but the current. click ok on the bottom of disk cleanup box and click yes when prompted to.

Another key is a cleaner browser, although IE is the choice for the best way to ''view'' the web, it is ''swiss cheese'' by way of exploits and hijackers that parasitic code writers use to make your web experience troublesome. So Firefox and or Opera which are two browser that do not use ActiveX control, the sole exploit used by hijackers such as CWS About:Blank, Aurora/Nail.exe, and CoolWebSearch. Firefox and Opera or any other non-IE based browser are immune to these nasty types of browser hijackers, and other malware, adware, virus off your system. Now, keep in mind that with them, you are not 100% protected, as you are not with any browser, but are somewhat more protected. With Internet Explorer, using a cookie management software such as AnalogX CookieWall may come in handy, and proforming an online scan such as Housecall , Panda ActiveScan and/or Computer Associates ''Scan for Viruses'' at least once a month or as needed to find anything lurking on your system that is masking itself from your current software will help. Lastly, CCleaner to clear Temporary files, URL history, cookies, Autocomplete form history, index.dat. in Internet Explorer, and Temporary files, URL history, cookies, download history. in Firefox, amoung a ton more features will help your system stay clean and clear, also speed it up. Do not use the ''Issues'' feature with this as it may cause some serious system damaged if not used correctly.

(NT) You Are Very Welcome. Good Luck :)