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This makes sense. Spyware attacking antivirus and antispam programs.
I used Spybot long ago but don't remember the reason for stopping using it. ahh maybe evaluation period was just over.

Thank you Lady Rain. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

1. Actually at workyou need to protect yourself against unauthorized access to your machine. See ifyour boss will allow you to password protect it. Simple to do with XP. With earlier editions of Windows you will need to enter the BIOS during the boot process, possibly by pressing delete. Here is a quote from Softstack on how to do it.

"By setting a boot password, you can make your computer prompt for the password every time it is restarted.
You can set the boot password in the BIOS when your computer is starting up. Usually the computer tells you when you can enter the BIOS (press Del to enter setup). The BIOS is different for different computers. If you check the documentation for your computer, it should tell you how to set a password. Or, if you feel comfortable exploring your BIOS, simply enter setup and look for a security or boot option.
Note: Be careful when searching! Changes made to the BIOS can affect your entire computer. If you make a change that you are unsure of, choose the Exit without saving changes option. This will undo any changes that you have made to the BIOS in a single session.
After you have set the boot password, choose the option to save changes and exit. This will restart your computer and ask you for a password every time you boot your computer and every time you re-enter the BIOS.
Be sure to remember this password. If you forget your password, it is extremely difficult to reset.
Since the new boot password gives no protection once the computer is turned on and the password has been entered, anyone can access your computer after it boots, unless you use a screen saver password in addition to a boot password."

I also like to put up a "phony desktop" to defeat the casual passerby in case my machine is turned on and the screensaver isn't running. Click printscreen to take a pic of your dektop with no apps running. Go to Paint and paste then Save the pic. Then set it as your wallpaper and set your desktop to hide all icons. Open adesktop toolbar so you can still access them, then hide it. To be really mean, I mean thorough, change your arrow cursor to the hourglass as well. A sophisticated user will figure out what you have done, but it will take him a couple of minutes--enough time to hit him in the back of his head.

I have read a couple of articles in the recent past which assessed and compared antispyware progs. Both found Adaware to be the best, and stated that to be really efficient run more than one. I would like to read the source for Spybot being the best.

Spybot S&D
hmm and when you run it get spyblaster excellent combination <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xmassmiley.gif" alt="" />

If you are going to use IE then you must have sp 2 and windows up to date. Better to use firefox, monitor cookies and disable the ability to download software, reenabling it only when needed.

If the K-sky AV software became such a problem then it is either a bad program or was sabotaged. Use the Trend Micro or AntiVir instead. And do not assume your system is now ok. Scan it thoroughlyand go through it manually. Back up all important files. You might need a reinstall at some point.

Lady_Rain, very well remembered, Trend Micro Antivirus, the most used by big companies.

And also most recommended by companies that specialise in on-site support...

There is a reason.... Trend's policy about viruses differ somewhat....

Where other companies, believe that only if it passes the defenition of a virus can they include it in their removal guides....

Trend says.... if it climbs onto your computer by an unauthorised means, and it is potentially harmful or irritating, it is a virus and will be removed.

In trend's latest products, they even include basic anti-spyware.

Do they include Diallers ?

not sure if trend micro does... spybot has always gotten to them first... and spybot removes everything that has an irregular heartbeat..

Take care what you say ! If I were a person with health problems - I mean with my heart - then I couldn't use Spybot at all ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Well then i am in grave danger.... cause i have been getting palpitations the whole bleming day <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" /> its a good thing i dont live in my computer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

I run Spybot and Adaware, and neither one picks up everything.

is prolly because adaware cleans the dummy stuff that spybot places in your reg <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/XmasEek.gif" alt="" />
So if you use Both, then use adaware first and then Immunize with Spybot <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xmassmiley.gif" alt="" />

No, it is because there is no single spyware program that catches everything. For instance, on 2 computers I recently cleaned up neither program (Yes both had the latest updates) detected everything and I had to manually remove numerous pieces of Malware from System 32 files and the registry.
But don't just take my word on it. Here is a link to a long and detailed comparison of various Spyware Packages.

http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-guide.htm

Here is a quote:

"# Spyware and adware can prove quite difficult to remove, even for dedicated anti-spyware scanners.

In the second and third group of tests, for example, one of the installed programs prevented the anti-spyware scanners from running on reboot, a common method used by anti-spyware scanners to remove stubborn spyware and adware that is currently in memory on a PC. As a result, some spyware and adware was not removed by the anti-spyware scanners during reboot that otherwise might have.

# No single anti-spyware scanner removes everything. (1) Even the best-performing anti-spyware scanner in these tests missed fully one quarter of the "critical" files and Registry entries.

# It is better to use two or more anti-spyware scanners in combination, as one will often detect and remove things that others do not."

Slashdot statedin their blurb on the article:
"Freeware star Spybot Search & Destroy came in a distant 7th with an average of only .376. The top three? Giant Anti-Spyware, Spy Sweeper, and Ad-Aware."

And in this article: http://www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article/0,aid,118362,00.asp
Spybot was the only freeware in the product comparison and was the best of the lot; however, it did not remove everything. If all you use is Spybot, you will not be able to keep your PC spyware free.

I can understand how giant and spysweeper make top places.... but unfortunately i have never had good results with ad-aware.... computers that have endless hassles with spyware-related slugishness, errors etc, i have never had ad-aware solve the problem.... and initially i did believe in it.... 90% of the time, spybot will find the culprit, and remove it. Computer runs fine again afterwards.

And to bypass the spyware that wont allow a spyware cleaner to run on startup... easy... run enitall, kill it and run the spyware cleaner...

What i also like about spybot, that i havnt found in others yet, is it fixes your "DSO exploits" (aka Active X vulnerabilities that allows code to be executed on your computer without you needing to give permission - it changes it, so that a message appear saying "You have to click yes to download / execute" yet the site never asked you anything. and aborts the execution.... this is how most spyware still climbs onto your system.... so if you install spybot, (or since they tell you where to find the problems and how to fix it, you can afterwards do it manually without spybot installed) before you start hopping around on the internet (after a fresh installation of windows), i have found that your chances of not getting spyware improves DRAMATICALLY.

I think your top performing spyware cleaners, not only focuses on the more noticable (in the computer performance and harmful side effects area) spyware / malware, but also focuses on general activeX code....

E.g Giant notoriously finds desdemona's BD page and blocks it as harmfull... i looked at the code on her page, and as far as i can see, there is no harmful code anywhere... but her menu's are activeX-driven....

So if i look at the level of userfriendlyness, compared to the prevention of harmful effects to your computer.... (never mind teh freeware stuff - but thats a HUGE added bonus), i still like spybot....

ANd in the last 2 months, spybot has increased its malware list from 13000 items, to over 22 000.... whereas i havnt noticed such a big increase in any of the other's lists. (Maybe spybot is trying to catch up)

Also on the first site you mentioned.... they recommend spybot alongside with the top ones (and they only recomment 5) also their recommendation of the 2 to use together for best results (for non-professionals in the field)is spybot and adaware personal edition.

A Quote from your second page

Cleglaw yeah, I have a password in bios, so it initializes on sys boot, and I have one on windows startup. The problem is everyone already knows them. Maybe now it is good time to change them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Lady Rain.
Okies, installed spybot at work. I haven't run adaware and cleansweep for a day or so. Now spybot found five sets of tracking cookies and DSO Exploit (data source object exploit) - that's a nasty peace of [nocando] imo.

I think the best thing is to have them all <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/XmasEek.gif" alt="" />
I have now google toolbar, cleansweeper, spybot, antivirus, Adaware guarding my system <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/stupid.gif" alt="" />

Btw, have you heard, they say ad-aware's ad-watch has serious vulnerability, so it is recommended not to use it until developers release a proper fix.

Thanks Lady Rain for your additional clarificatio

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xmassmiley.gif" alt="" />

I jsut noticed something.... 4 posts till fullmoon...

Lets see who can figure that one out <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />

Ok, too late... Fullmoon <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />