IE 5.5 Drive-by downloads

[jones172]

From Tom:

I just got hit by a drive-by download. The code was that awful Xupiter parasite. Question: Can I set my IE 5.5 security settings to prevent further malware delivered this way, and if so, how? (I already have a firewall and antivirus.)

TIA,

Tom

 

[carrr]

You need to download SpyBot and use it at regular intervals (

http://spybot.safer-networking.de/).

There's a reason software such as this (and Lavasoft's AdAware -- which is also great, but I've become biased towards SpyBot) is out there...other methods just aren't that effective. Post back if this doesn't solve your problems (though it will).

 

[jones172]

From Tom:

Yes, I do have Ad-Aware and ran it, seemingly successfully. However, I read somewhere that, according to some security experts, with proper security precautions, invasions by Xupiter and the like can be blocked. If so, PROBABLY these security precautions involve browser [security] settings. Hence my question as to what the best/proper brower [security] settings are. My IE 5.5 talks about something called a "security level," and mine is set to "medium."

Tom

 

[InnoTech]

the precuations that i think you're speaking of are very cumbersome and they really change the way you surf the net. "change this setting, download this patch, watch for this, watch for that" there will always be ad-ware out there and more a more by the day. myself, I just make sure i have adaware UPDATED (thanks to you guys!) when i boot up, a updated AV and hope for the best. to me there is no sense in watching EVERYTHING you do online. it takes the fun out of it, just worrying all the time. once i do get a virus/adware i just do a couple searches and the remedy is there! thanks to this site, the searching is over. "Jack of all trades. Master of none."