Spyware removal!

[Lionel]

Hi All,

Having spent several hours of the weekend ridding my wife's computer of the "Antivirus XP 2008" virus, I am wondering about the use of anti-spyware programs.

My wife uses C-A Antivirus (Vet antivirus), and C-A aso offer an anti-spyware program, which, in the trial version, reports a considerable amount of spyware still present! I am wondering if any of you have had experience with the fully registered version, which should actually remove the affected files.

The problem is that Windows Defender reports no problems, and I am unsure whether this is a correct evaluation. Is Windows Defender any use?

There are quite a few anti-spyware programs which give wildly exaggerated scans. Who do you believe?! Is the C-A antispyware one of these?

Any info would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Lionel

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I'm not big on defender--

CA gets bundled with lots of new PC's and tells you all sorts of stuff,, trying to "worry" you into paying money,,

before paying anything--
download and run all the usual suspects,,

for choice, go to
majorgeeks.com
and look on the right hand side and see what the rest of the world is using,,
there are no certainties in any of this,,

its a bit like tyre pressures and oil,,, ;)

let us know how you get on,,

[clean32]

superantispyware, its free
advanced windows care is also free


YOU HAVE A VIROUS, pop up windows, are the virouse them selfs ( close to )

superantispyware, is bloody good at the moment

just google them

[d@rk51d3]

Webroot Spysweeper is a fantastic bit of software and although you need to pay for it, I thoroughly recommend it. The only reason I've stopped using it, is because it clashes with my Zonealarm firewall, which now coincidentally, has Kaspersky antivirus and anti spyware built in. ;)

[abaddonxi]

I've been using PrevX csi

Prevx CSI Download (http://info.prevx.com/downloadcsi.asp)

Free, small, fast, not too irritating.

I think the free version tells you what the problem is and you have to sort it.

I like it better than Adaware and Spybot now.

Oh, and when I say small and fast, I run it on a P3 laptop, 256mb ram and XP.

Cheers
Simon

[Bigmark]

Hi i am new here and dont want to sound like a windows basher, however after 6 years of Windows (the last year being the worst)---I had enough.

I wasn't just a beginner user either, i do video editing and write scripts etc etc but i just got sick of crashes and virus's-- they almost sent me insane.

So as my first computer was an Apple (the first desktop pc on the market) I thought it was time to try again. So i purchased an Imac 20" 2.4ghz and i never looked back and converted just about everyone in my family.

its a bit of a learning curve but a beautiful interface and the best part is it just works, al the time. No bugs,viruses,pop-ups,spam,trojans crashes etc etc.

Now just to let you know that the only reason i didn't want to change over earlier was the lack of software, but there is a matching software for 99% of all windows software except they run better, the only thing that you may miss is the amount of games available but that is changing day by day, also there is Microsoft office for mac and if you really miss it you can run windows on a mac.

Finally the Imac has built in everything--camera,mic,computer,screen,wireless, bluetooth and much more, all in one single machine no bigger than a screen and only one lead to plug in-----the power lead . I am not trying to convert anyone but you are missing out on a pain free life of computing, i am now on my 23 month with my imac and the only problem i had was my 2 year old son turned it off.

P.S. lots of built in free software and cool features t hat make it using the computer fun.

[abaddonxi]

Ah, it just works:D.

Converting from PC to Mac - How Tos - Laptops - Digital Life - smh.com.au (http://www.smh.com.au/news/how-tos/converting-from-pc-to-mac/2008/07/19/1216163201504.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1)


Switching from a PC to a Mac ought to be easier, as a disillusioned Dan Kaufman discovers.

My hands are trembling, I've developed a nervous twitch above my left eye and I'm blaming it all on my iMac. Perhaps I should explain.

For the past 15 years I've been a PC user and for the past 15 years Mac users have treated me with contempt.
As someone who has tested and installed hundreds of computers across both platforms, I realise Macs have advantages: they are brilliantly designed, have innovative features and, at least for now, are still more secure than PCs.

So why, as one Mac user asked with a level of disgust normally reserved for perverts, have I refused to convert until now? Well, quite frankly, because I didn't want to spend the extra money and I'm a slob who feels daunted by buying anything stylish.

Yet, when my five-year-old computer finally threatened to call it quits, the time had come for this PC nerd to make the switch.
Rest after the link.

Of course Final Draft has always been a mac thing.;)

Cheers
Simon

[HangOver]

Windows defender is, well, rubbish.

Never pay for anti-virus or anti-spyware software there is lots of free software out there which is as good as the stuff you pay $$ for.

If you ever get a message something like "you have a virus, pay $20 to upgrade and remove it" just ignore it there are trying to rob you !

[HangOver]

ok here goes, again ...............
Windows v Mac

First off, a computer is a computer is a computer, PC, MAC?, whatever. Nearly all PC's/Apples use intel or amd chips same ram, same hardrives, same vdu, blah blah blah

What you are really deciding on is the operating system be it MS, Apple, (not MAC!) linux or what ever.

When we talk about security I assume we are talking about securing newtwork/file access. If you want security go for Linux, steep learning curve but hightly configurable. Runs easily on low spec hardarwe.

If you want compatability with almost every software title and hardware manufacturer go with Window's. If you need a lot of graphics grunt go with windows.

If you want an overpriced box that looks really nice and out of the box has about as much file security as leaving your front door open buy an Apple.
If anyone tells you Apples don't get virus's they are misinformed.

It doesnt really matter what you tell Windows, Linux, Apple fans they will say their computer, (not the OS ! ) is best but really it's what suits your needs best in a price range suitable to you.

[incisor]

ok here goes, again ...............
Windows v Mac

First off, a computer is a computer is a computer, PC, MAC?, whatever. Nearly all PC's/Apples use intel or amd chips same ram, same hardrives, same vdu, blah blah blah

What you are really deciding on is the operating system be it MS, Apple, (not MAC!) linux or what ever.

When we talk about security I assume we are talking about securing newtwork/file access. If you want security go for Linux, steep learning curve but hightly configurable. Runs easily on low spec hardarwe.

If you want compatability with almost every software title and hardware manufacturer go with Window's. If you need a lot of graphics grunt go with windows.

If you want an overpriced box that looks really nice and out of the box has about as much file security as leaving your front door open buy an Apple.
If anyone tells you Apples don't get virus's they are misinformed.

It doesnt really matter what you tell Windows, Linux, Apple fans they will say their computer, (not the OS ! ) is best but really it's what suits your needs best in a price range suitable to you.

what complete and utter drivel...

love to know what "FACTS" you base that on... feel free to name one virus for mac that actually does something other than say "hello" and a proof of concept executeable that cant be transmitted across userland..

i make a living in both fields, mac and windows and if i had to live off mac virus infections, software and driver incompatibilities or user enquiries about how to do basic tasks then i would have starved to death years ago..

virii are an irrelevance on anything unix based be it mac bsd linux or *nix clones because they actually have something approaching secure user space.. thats not to say it wont happen in the future but up to now it hasnt happened

any system can be compromised with enough effort, its just that it is effortless in windows... a bit harder in linux, and even harder in bsd and that includes mac. trojans are the way to get from unix userland to priviledged access but that takes a bit of doing

mac are dearer, thats about the only thing you said above that has any basis in fact. but you get a lot more bundled in the deal for the money...

there, you got the bite you were looking for...;)

[p38arover]

Webroot Spysweeper is a fantastic bit of software and although you need to pay for it, I thoroughly recommend it.

I've just downloaded a free version of SpySweeper after seeing a link on the Overlander forum.

[d@rk51d3]

I've just downloaded a free version of SpySweeper after seeing a link on the Overlander forum.


I went through all the freebies that I could find on the net, about 2 years ago when my system got infected. I was using AVG and CA software at the time.

Webroot Spysweeper was the only one I found that did the job properly, and went out and paid for a subscription right away. Never had a problem since.


In my humble opinion CA is crap, Yet the local store insists on pushing it.

[HangOver]

what complete and utter drivel...
Not drivel, just that you have based your reply on your experiences and I on mine. We both work in IT but that doesn’t mean we need to share the same point of view or opinion.


feel free to name one virus for mac
Dukakis, Nvir, (or is it nVIR ?) Peace, leap-something or other?, W97M.Thus, Aids, mdbf , Mev#, hpat, drew macmag, scores, init29, Anti, Aladin, clap, Code1, Code252, Code9811, 32767, ( I got a bit bored typing here but there’s others).
I am also lead to believe that Apple are susceptible to several macro viruses and apparently there have been a spate of Apple trojans floating about too.
Norton, (wash my mouth out) Sophos and I think trend, (don’t quote me on trend though) have retail anti-virus packages for Apple.
No smoke without fire.


a bit harder in linux, and even harder in bsd and that includes mac
Apple hacked, less than 30mins
Quote ‘Gaining root access to a Mac is "easy pickings," according to an individual who won an OS X hacking challenge last month by gaining root control of a machine using an unpublished security vulnerability.”


any system can be compromised with enough effort, its just that it is effortless in windows
XP, W2003 et al are all rated *EAL4+ and Apple only rated 3.
*Joint US gov. security rating system developed with NSA. I think the NSA will know more about security then either you or I.


there, you got the bite you were looking for...
I really wasn’t trying to bait or antagonize anyone. I just feel that anyone who believes they are safe, secure and virus free just because they use xyz OS are misinformed, should refrain from spouting urban myths and need to look out for their own protection. IT & comms are ever changing and those that bury their heads in the sand will end up getting get their @$$ bit.