Stupid Goddamn Spyware. - Page 2

Forever Zero · 10-08-2004, 04:35 PM

Basically, I had a huge spyware problem. Three step solution that worked for me to get rid of ALL Spyware, and not have it return.

1. Install Mozilla Firefox. It ROXORZ UR BOXORZ.
2. Install Spybot: Search and Destroy. It gets tons of nasty spyware in a short amount of time.
3. Install the latest free version of Ad-Aware. I found that setting this to the most through search pattern possible will even turn up garbage even Spybot misses.

After doing all these things, I haven't had a spyware problem since.

My Lead Airbag · 10-08-2004, 06:36 PM

Is Spybot:Search and Destroy free? I'm moslty using Mcafee and the spyware is ramming me in the ass.

KefkaTaran · 10-08-2004, 08:24 PM

My Lead Airbag: Yes.

I also highly suggest TuneUp Utilities 2004, which is not free but is absolutely AMAZING for making your system run better. I honestly cannot emphasize how awesome this program has made my computer run in the past. FIVE STARS!

(And you can get it for free if you really want. Ahem.)

Zweihander · 10-08-2004, 08:27 PM

McAffee doesn't protect Vs spyware, just virii. And yes, everything FZ mentioned is free. Especially Firefox, since its open source.

The only time you should use IE is for Windows Updates and for serious online things (banking, work, college's web portal, etc) that don't work in Firefox. Because someone is teaching people that adapting to IE "standards" is a good thing. And it isn't.

LordZoma · 10-09-2004, 01:57 AM

Run hijack this, save the complete log, and post it on this site so I can take a look at it. Also, download the program "Bazooka scanner" and let me know which files it finds.

BitVyper · 10-09-2004, 04:59 PM

Bazooka is awesome, even though it won't actually delete anything for you. I had a shitload of problems a few months back, and NOTHING could get rid of them. The main thing was an ad for an auto-dialer. Bazooka finally helped me hunt down every last registry key and eliminate it with extreme predjudice. Ad-Aware has since released an update that covered the same spyware.

I started using AVG and an online scanner for virus scans when one of my friends pointed them out to me. AVG runs slower, but it seems to pick up a lot of crap that Norton just sort of glosses over.

Edit: With Spybot's protection turned on, I just get the occasional tracking cookie these days. It seems that since I defeated the great lord nvidia, my spyware adventures may have come to an end.

Shiny Bunny Captain Socha · 10-10-2004, 11:46 PM

Yeah I find Ad-aware and Spybot to be the best combination. Add to that Firefox or Mozilla (or basically any browser that isn't IE). One more thing tho. Switch your browser but there will be times you need to use IE, because some douchebags out there have sites that only work with IE. The main trick is to disable Activex. Activex is the real enemy here. However some malware can mess with the Actievex settings. So don't think it's a 100% foolproof way to use IE. But with all the steps I mentioned as well as killing Activex, I've had virtually no spyware for several months now. Which makes me happy. Very happy.

Edit: I forgot. There is a feature in Spybot called "Immunize". It helps a lot also. It has a list of "bad products" that it can block from downloading. Many types of spyware download from visiting sites. (porn being an excellent example). This is where Activex comes into play, it allows the programs to enter your puter. So a combo of nixing Activex and "immunizing" helps immensely.

10-11-2004, 01:03 AM

Actually, I have the same exact problem as krylo.

And I have been using FF for quite some time. Plus I run AA and Spybot daily.

But I still get IE popups, for reasons I can't quite understand.

Lycanthrope · 10-11-2004, 01:36 AM

I do say that spyware may well be the purest manifestation of evil on the internet. The people who send these things are not designing these programs for optimum advertisement so much as to be the most annoying and agrovating they can possibly be, to be unerraticateable, and to ruin computers. The kicker that makes this far worse than any virus or hacker: They get payed, fricken PAYED to do this. This comes dirrectly from satan. Dirrectly.

10-08-2004, 04:35 PM	#11
Forever Zero Saint of Stats Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 5,646	Basically, I had a huge spyware problem. Three step solution that worked for me to get rid of ALL Spyware, and not have it return. 1. Install Mozilla Firefox. It ROXORZ UR BOXORZ. 2. Install Spybot: Search and Destroy. It gets tons of nasty spyware in a short amount of time. 3. Install the latest free version of Ad-Aware. I found that setting this to the most through search pattern possible will even turn up garbage even Spybot misses. After doing all these things, I haven't had a spyware problem since. __________________ "For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he pass'd; And the eyes of the sleepers wax'd deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!" - The Destruction of Sennacherib

10-08-2004, 06:36 PM	#12
My Lead Airbag Magikoopa Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,632	Is Spybot:Search and Destroy free? I'm moslty using Mcafee and the spyware is ramming me in the ass. __________________ Former Forum Names: BMHadoken, BiteTheWaxTadPole...krylo made me do it, really. RP Fight Lord RP Story Sage Retired.

10-08-2004, 08:24 PM	#13
KefkaTaran Magikoopa Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,545	My Lead Airbag: Yes. I also highly suggest TuneUp Utilities 2004, which is not free but is absolutely AMAZING for making your system run better. I honestly cannot emphasize how awesome this program has made my computer run in the past. FIVE STARS! (And you can get it for free if you really want. Ahem.) __________________ So break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

10-08-2004, 08:27 PM	#14
Zweihander You are not reading this. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ::1 Posts: 1,443	McAffee doesn't protect Vs spyware, just virii. And yes, everything FZ mentioned is free. Especially Firefox, since its open source. The only time you should use IE is for Windows Updates and for serious online things (banking, work, college's web portal, etc) that don't work in Firefox. Because someone is teaching people that adapting to IE "standards" is a good thing. And it isn't. __________________ How to make sure your subtitles take advantage of newfangled things like anti-aliasing.

10-09-2004, 04:59 PM	#16
BitVyper History's Strongest Dilettante Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arcadia Posts: 6,662	Bazooka is awesome, even though it won't actually delete anything for you. I had a shitload of problems a few months back, and NOTHING could get rid of them. The main thing was an ad for an auto-dialer. Bazooka finally helped me hunt down every last registry key and eliminate it with extreme predjudice. Ad-Aware has since released an update that covered the same spyware. I started using AVG and an online scanner for virus scans when one of my friends pointed them out to me. AVG runs slower, but it seems to pick up a lot of crap that Norton just sort of glosses over. Edit: With Spybot's protection turned on, I just get the occasional tracking cookie these days. It seems that since I defeated the great lord nvidia, my spyware adventures may have come to an end. __________________ "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea is asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace; we've got work to do!" Awesome art be here. Last edited by BitVyper; 10-09-2004 at 05:03 PM.

10-09-2004, 01:57 AM	#15
LordZoma Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 157	Run hijack this, save the complete log, and post it on this site so I can take a look at it. Also, download the program "Bazooka scanner" and let me know which files it finds.

10-11-2004, 01:03 AM	#18
In Hindsight Guest Posts: n/a	Actually, I have the same exact problem as krylo. And I have been using FF for quite some time. Plus I run AA and Spybot daily. But I still get IE popups, for reasons I can't quite understand.

10-11-2004, 01:36 AM	#19
Lycanthrope Deus Lupus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Angels Posts: 2,925	I do say that spyware may well be the purest manifestation of evil on the internet. The people who send these things are not designing these programs for optimum advertisement so much as to be the most annoying and agrovating they can possibly be, to be unerraticateable, and to ruin computers. The kicker that makes this far worse than any virus or hacker: They get payed, fricken PAYED to do this. This comes dirrectly from satan. Dirrectly. __________________ "With these seven easy steps, you, too, can be the authoritarian despot of your own principality. Machiavelli, your road to happiness" "I shoot Flying Monkies!" "Christmas had it coming its what it gets for taking over thanksgiving and threatening halloween with its weapons of mass consumerism" "Death to All Fanatics!" Official RP Action God Lycanthropic Poem "FOR YOU THE CAKE IS OVER. YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF CAKE." -Death Krylo and BMG are apparently my bitches.