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 Spyware
& Adware - How to remove this junk
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originally posted: 06/04/03
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I have been very busy with other stuff. But the whole "spyware"
and "adware" - I call it TROJANWARE or VIRUSWARE - situation
has gotten out-of-hand. I simply have to write a little article and post
a dozen-or-so links to help people get started.
For those of you who don't know what spyware is:
Spyware (from SearchCIO.com):
In general, spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information
about a person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet,
spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather
information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested
parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result
of installing a new program. Data collecting programs that are installed
with the user's knowledge are not, properly speaking, spyware, if the
user fully understands what data is being collected and with whom it is
being shared.
It boils down to this: There are people at companies that think it's ok
to install software to run on your computer. They do so without your knowledge
or consent. These people go one step further and intentionally make it
difficult for you to detect and remove this software. Personally, I don't
go for this.
I've personally seen a certain web-site install software simply by visiting
its site, which, installed automacially. The software then prevented the
user from accessing spyware removal web sites. That's how insidious some
of these people are. As a computer user, you should know what's out there.
Personally, I could care less about the "data collecting," aspect.
What bothers me, is when I'm searching for something, to have a web site
recommend completely useless and unrelated information because someone
is paying them money (That's also why I don't use MSN or Yahoo searches).
I also don't like the idea of other software potentially making my computer
crash or lock-up. Running a Windows machine is like building a house-of-cards
on the back of a truck moving down the highway at 70 miles an hour, I
don't need Gator-crapware making things worse.
At any rate, to start, download Spybot Search & Destroy and see what
it finds.
I also found a utility to patch the BHO (Browser Helper Object) hole,
and I have it listed below...
I will write an article giving some info and advice, but for the time
being, I would recommend using:
Spybot Search
and Destroy by PepiMK Software (http://security.kolla.de/)
by the way.
Not to say, "I told you so"
but disabling ActiveX and Active scripting can prevent the majority of
unwanted spyware or adware from installing itself on your computer.
I've been saying disable those things for years, but no-one listens to
me.
 Related
links:
CEXX.org
(http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm)
PC Fear Factor
(http://www.alanluber.com/pcfearfactor/index.htm)
Spyware info
(http://www.spywareinfo.com)
Spyware removal software:
Spybot Search and Destroy
by PepiMK (http://security.kolla.de/)
*note: certain spyware will prevent you from accessing this site and getting
downloading the softare
Hijack This
by Tom Coyote (http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/)
BHO (Browser "Helper" Objects):
ZiffDavis (ZDNet) article on BHO risks: (http://security.ziffdavis.com/article2/0,3973,979346,00.asp)
BHODemon
by Definitive Software (http://www.definitivesolutions.com/downloads.htm)
Article by Spyware info (http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/bhod/)
Other related links:
...coming soon...
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