Spyware removal programs

[rocky]

So I use windows defender, adaware and spybot with windows defender being the most recent add in. Yes I have norton too.

I downloaded spyware doctor a few weeks ago and was surprised that even after running adaware and spybot and being pronounced clean that it found 118 hits. Rather than cough up the cash it wanted I opted to delete the program. In deleting the program I think it cleaned up the files it found as some memory resources were returned to me.

Did the same thing with spyware detector and that found 311......

So folks, this has me thinking that perhaps the combination I've got isn't good enough.

What are people out there running to remove this nasty stuff?

[ThePilotster]

I understand the pain! Thats the main reason I switched! Sooooo tired of the constant battles. I went with Mac OS X... I do not run Any anti virus nor spyware...no need to Try it sometime, not only spyware/virus free...it's fun to run, and runs windows a tad better!

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by rocky
So I use windows defender, adaware and spybot with windows defender being the most recent add in. Yes I have norton too.

I downloaded spyware doctor a few weeks ago and was surprised that even after running adaware and spybot and being pronounced clean that it found 118 hits. Rather than cough up the cash it wanted I opted to delete the program. In deleting the program I think it cleaned up the files it found as some memory resources were returned to me.

Did the same thing with spyware detector and that found 311......

So folks, this has me thinking that perhaps the combination I've got isn't good enough.

What are people out there running to remove this nasty stuff?

I think some of these program like to report lots of "hits' to make these use seem more important.
Such as reporting each file and registry entry as a separate hit, and reporting normal files as potential problems.

[tim.s]

Originally posted by N_Jay
I think some of these program like to report lots of "hits' to make these use seem more important.
Such as reporting each file and registry entry as a separate hit, and reporting normal files as potential problems.

I agree. They often report cookies at "hits" too.

[krygny]

Originally posted by rocky
...
So folks, this has me thinking that perhaps the combination I've got isn't good enough.

What are people out there running to remove this nasty stuff?

Some good poop here (just for starters):
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/seclean

and here:
http://www.grc.com/default.htm

Once you get into researching Windows security, you'll be amazed at what you didn't know. I used to wonder how non-geeks ever managed to keep their computers running properly. The answer is, they don't. Almost everyone has crapware running:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070125-8707.html

I can't believe people still run Norton AV. Doesn't anyone care about the performance of their computer?

[jay]

Originally posted by krygny

Some good poop here (just for starters):
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/seclean

and here:
http://www.grc.com/default.htm

Once you get into researching Windows security, you'll be amazed at what you didn't know. I used to wonder how non-geeks ever managed to keep their computers running properly. The answer is, they don't. Almost everyone has crapware running:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070125-8707.html

I can't believe people still run Norton AV. Doesn't anyone care about the performance of their computer?

I know how a semi-geek like me keeps my computer running properly - I switched back 5 years ago to Apple. But I do have one application that runs only on XP, so I have a cheap Compaq laptop for it. Whenever I use the application, I spend 15-20 minutes using that app, and the next hour managing updates, etc.

[Sportymonk]

Ditto here. Like The Pilotster and Jay, I got tired of the crap. hardware problems with Dell and Software failures with Windows Me (the worst of the bunch admittedly)

My wife insisted on staying with Windows and got a Dell laptop when I got my Apple Powerbook. Sep 03. Since then I have not had a problem. Use an old Windows desktop for the rare software requiring Windows. (School grading system) On the other hand, I still spend hours working on hers, reinstalling, etc. At a function of her fellow Duke PhD students, it turned out the great majority ran Apple except one who couldn't switch in the middle of writing a book and my wife who is in the middle of writing her dissertation. She was so mad last week that she swears she may just go ahead and change, she is fed up with Norton, Adawaare, Spybot, etc.

Some say that Apple doesn't draw attacks since it is such a small portion of the computer world. True to a point but US Business week had an article pointing out that while Windows attacks can be written in Visual Basic (IIRC) Apple is built on a Unix platform which is much more difficult to attack. Not impossible but much more difficult.

Add to that in Apple, to install anything, you must enter your password while even the new Vista requires validation but does NOT require the password.

I would seriously recommend an Apple Mac but a word of caution. IF you run Windows, you open the Windows part up to all the Windows problems. A Windows virus will not affect the Apple part unless the virus calls for erasure of the entire hard drive, then you will be up a creek!

Two ways to run Windows - (1) With Boot Camp which means you have to choose which OS you want to use when you boot up or (2) Use Parallels which allows the use of both OSs at the same time and interchange of date from an Apple program to a Windows program while running both. But then again, I can run Windows under Virtual PC but don't. Why should I? No need to!

Originally posted by ThePilotster
I understand the pain! Thats the main reason I switched! Sooooo tired of the constant battles. I went with Mac OS X... I do not run Any anti virus nor spyware...no need to Try it sometime, not only spyware/virus free...it's fun to run, and runs windows a tad better!

[iglesias]

Originally posted by Sportymonk

Apple is built on a Unix platform which is much more difficult to attack. Not impossible but much more difficult.

There have been plenty of attack vectors against Unix systems that required little more than some of the Windows attacks (a few packets and the system is yours). Granted, there are many more Windows exploits than there are for Unix, but I would not call it more difficult to compromise a Unix system.

You might want to take a look at the "Month of Apple Bugs" web site http://projects.info-pull.com/moab/ . Most, if not all, of those bugs are unfixed at this time.