General Chat

Having had problems with spyware and malicious code (leading to total pc crash and rebuild) I have recently downloaded MSN pop up blocker and spybot spyware blocker/remover from the net - both free programmes easily findable through search engines. Pop up blocker works away in the background quite happily. But tonight is the first time I have activated the option on spybot to warn me when spyware attempts to download while I am viewing websites. I have been online for 7 and a half minutes so far - viewing only Genesconnected pages. In that time I have been alerted by spybot to 12 separate attempts to download spyware to my pc. Just thought others should be aware. I knew spyware was a problem, but had not know just how much of a problem it is - and how much downloads when viewing genesconnected pages. Angela

Update - now up to 33 illicit attempts to download spyware while viewing Genesconnected pages. And its only around 5 minutes since my first posting I think. Angela

Yes, I used to use adaware but it did not protect my pc well enough. The people who repaired it recommended spybot which seems to be very thorough. Up to 47 attempts to download spyware whilst on genesconnected this evening picked up by spybot and still counting. Angela

One of the worst people for spyware is mr bill gates aka msn,,when i downloaded spybot it took the programme 10 minutes to clean the system out ,but it,s one hell of a load faster now, the computer that is ,not ggrrrrrrr.Fred.

Spyware is a program downloaded without you knowledge which reports back to an external party what you are using the computer for.

Yes, I think we could all do with installing spyware, so please do let us have the website address. I also agree that Bill Gates has a lot to answer for, with the constant interruptions by MSN checker progs, I sometimes think we're intended to serve the computer industry, rather than the other way round! Grrrr...! Philip

Or even spybot! lol! Sorree.... Philip

Just giving this a jog (sorry, nudge). Does anyone have the spybot web address? Philip

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

I got it from here, http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download and it found 93 different spy thingies when I ran it!! Tammie

Many thanks! Philip

I too am getting adware warnings from SpyBot when I access genesconnected. I think they come from the top bar banner advertisers. Orange tries to download "Mediaplex" while MSN tries "Avenue Inc". Other such as Sky don't *appear* to. I really resent subscribing to a service and them not blocking this kind of crap. I don't mind the advertising , but adware is plain criminal

Sorry, I haven't been online since yesterday so didn't spot the request for a URL for spybot - glad someone else has picked it up, though I think there are several sources. I found it just by doing a search on spybot in google. Can get adaware in the same way. Some people use both together I believe. I totally agree that GC (I refuse to say G*) does not block spyware from the site. It's bad enough when it comes down through free to access sites though at least understandable to a degree. But we pay to use this site and should be able to use it without unwelcome interference/invasion of our privacy. Angela

Do I need spybot even if I've got Norton. I'm getting paranoid 'cause It just cost me £ 40 to get my P C sorted because of viruses, spyware, adware etc.

Just downloaded Spy blot had a sarning that I hadn

Just down loaded spybot and during doing this had a flash to say I hadn`t permission or some such thing. Well I ignored this and downloaded any way. I hope this is alright. Mary

Although SPYBOT does remove spyware, it also ADDs it's own brank of spyware....As I work on PC's, I find that ADAWARE is a better program, which is also free. In addition to a spyware remover, you might also want to add a program like SPYWAREBLASTER, (also a free program) which prevents programs from downloading themselves without your knowledge. SPYWAREBLASTER works in real time to prevent program downloads where ADAWARE removes spyware already on your PC. Site addresses and step by step directions for both programs can be found on the TIPS board on the thread, "1 STOP ROUTINE PC MAINTANANCE." ADAWARE and SPYWAREBLASTER works on ridding/preventing spyware from your PC - NOT viruses.....so be sure you are also running an anti-virus program on your PC as well. Judy :)

Judy Thanks for the extra information. I was told it is okay to download as many programmes as you want and use them together - they will then cross check each other and recognise each other's spyware! Seems sensible to me unless you can think of any conflicts we should be aware of. Angela :)

Follow Judy's advice and don't get too paranoid about this stuff. Many sites you go to will send you a "cookie" which can record your activity while you are there. 99.9% of them are harmless. I go all over the place on the web and have the safety settings set at low, yet when I run Ad-aware there are only a few harmless "data miners". Ad-aware et al will recognise these as spyware and delete them. Personally I would find that a programme which kept popping up and asking me stuff would be irritating. I don't get pop-ups because I switched off the programme that alllows them to work (new copies of XP have it off by default) go to: http://www.microsoft.*com/windows/ie/using/howto/privacy/restrictedsites/stoppopups.mspx to disable active scripting. NB... This info is genuine Microsoft and can be trusted. Bob

Angela....I have in the past run both SPYBOT and ADAWARE along side of each other. Both programs picked up the same spyware except ADAWARE picked up 9 additional pieces of spyware that SPYBOT did not. Looking at the ADAWARE log I found the 9 additional pieces were all SPYBOT related. Something to keep in mind, when downloading anything off the internet that appears to be "free," there's always some type of catch.....usually it's some type of spyware being added to your PC without your knowledge.....tracking and gathering information is how many of these sites make their money. Judy :)