Spybot

[confusedtekguy]

This is a question to spybot users. Every time I run spybot on my system, it finds some spam hidden deep in my registry. I'm curious, is there any free software I can use that permanently blocks these advertising sites? Advertising.com, doubleclick, gator, and Hitbox are the most common addwares found.

 

[vop]

I use a shareware program known as SpyBlocker. It blocks access to many known bad scumware link perveyors by redirecting up to 30K links to 127.0.0.1 (loopback)- you never actually get to go to those sites unless you go out of your way to override the default blocking behaviour for such sites.

My only testament to the effectiveness of this tool is that I really got a greatly reduced incidence of spyware appearing in Spybot and most often none at all. It appears to be a very effective preventative tool. Prevent it and you won't have much need to detect it after the fact. Spybot, for me, becomes an audit and effective assessment tool for other procedures in place.

 

[tazuk]

You can also try SpywareBlaster (freeware) as another preventative tool. I've been using it for about 6 months and now install it as standard when rebuilding friends' / family members' machines. It's low impact as it doesn't need to be run constantly, only when updating definitions and installing / configuring protection levels. Updated definition files are available for download on almost a weekly basis. I started using it following other Spybot user recommendations.
Since using it I've noticed a reduced number of problems detected in my Spybot scans.

HTH

 

[carrr]

Have you set up SpyBot's built-in Immunize function?

 

[greyted]

confusedtekguy,
tazuk and carrr have given you very good advice.

You can download SpwareBlaster here:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Have a look here at IE-SPYADS:

http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm#IESPYAD

The following link may be of interest to some, mentions all of the above.

http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=38;t=3051

Ted

"The difference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: If Gladstone fell into the Thames, it would be a misfortune. But if someone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity."
Benjamin Disraeli.

 

[vop]

Another simple protective procedure is to block 3rd party cookies (many of which are advertisement or invasive based) from within Internet Explorer:

Tools>Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced>Override Automatic Cookie Handling>third-party cookies (Block)

 

[braddds]

In combination to a good firewall and antivirus, I run adaware, spybot, spywareblaster, ie-spyad and startup monitor.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

http://www.safer-networking.org/

http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

These, provide me with a sense of security and ensure any machine I work on has the same protection. I also follow much of the advise provided in the link:

http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard....

above. You can go even further depending on your level of comfort.


Cheers

My knowledge maybe limited...usually just enough to get me into trouble. Who knows, it may help...even if it's misguided!

 

[confusedtekguy]

Thanks a lot for the info guys, been using spywareblaster for a week now and spybot is coming up with 0 found addware programs.

 

[LRI41]

I would second:

carrr (TechnicalUser) Nov 20, 2003
Have you set up SpyBot's built-in Immunize function?

tazuk (Programmer) Nov 20, 2003
You can also try SpywareBlaster (freeware) as another preventative tool.


greyted (TechnicalUser) Nov 20, 2003
confusedtekguy,
tazuk and carrr have given you very good advice.

You can download SpwareBlaster here:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html