Freakin' Spyware!!

[AllyCat]

I ran Spybot, then came to DU only, and ran Spybot again. Results?

advertising.com, DoubleClick, and Fastclick AGAIN!! And I'm working with a Firefox browser.

Anyone else having this problem? How do we fix it?

[vpigrad]

1. You fix it by not rewarding Microsoft!

I just read one study that estimated that over 80% of the people that ran Microsoft products were infected with spyware, but people still keep giving them money? Why?

The solution is simple. Stop using Microsoft products. They've just put too many backdoors in their products to ever trust them again.

[AllyCat]

2. Yeah, but I'm not using an MS browser, mailbox,

or anything else on line. I use a FireFox browser and the accompanying Thunderbird mailbox filter. Just don't get it...

Running AdAware S/E too.

[tekriter]

10. I think what vpigrad means is that you are running Windows...

instead of a secure operating system.

[AllyCat]

11. Rats!

Cannot comprehend Linux to save my life. Will have to find another workaround on this one.

Thanks for the clarification.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

20. Run Spyware Blaster

It does a nice job of immunizing. Might help.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

3. Try AdAware...............................

Its free. I run BOTH AdAware and Spybot.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Also check your registry and "add/remove programs" and see if the the offending wares are listed there.

[AllyCat]

7. Which part of the registry?

Those files are huge and I'm not a geek (READ: afraid to go deleting stuff).

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Do you fileshare/download music (Kazaa/Morpheus etc.)?

[AllyCat]

5. No

But I do download Quicktime videos occasionally (like things people post here). Would that do it?

I even have the Spybot S/D 1.3tx patch to fix that DSO Exploit.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. I dunno, but I do know the various filesharing programs are one of the

biggest sources of spyware overall if not the biggest.

[mcscajun]

8. When you were done running Spybot...did you Immunize?

Also, besides Spybot and Ad-Aware, SpywareBlaster is a good tool to have.

If you have the cash, PestPatrol is another worthwhile weapon for the arsenal.

[AllyCat]

12. Did the immunize thing, but to no avail

I might look for the SpywareBlaster thing.

[mcscajun]

14. Start at www.download.com

It's where most of this kind of stuff can be found. Part of the C|Net site.

[ashmanonar]

9. get a mac

i never, EVER have spyware problems, or viruses...

:hippie:
yeayeayea, mac hippie, i know...:D

[AllyCat]

13. Next system, I'm there. I've had it with this crap

and I haven't even had a major virus (I don't think) yet.

[Todd B]

15. Are they actually spyware or just cookies?

When you run Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc are these actual files coming up or just cookies?

It's possible that you are just getting cookies of these websites from banners on regular web sites that you visit (in which care they'd be harmless).

Nevertheless, have you tried going into Firefox->Tools->Options->Privacy ? There are a bunch of options for cookie handling there; you can click on the button labeled "Exceptions" and enter the following to block:

*.advertising.com
*.fastclick.com
*.doubleclick.com

If they aren't cookies, then I'd take the suggestion of some of the other posters here and try Ad-Aware, it's a pretty useful tool.

[AllyCat]

16. Actually, they are all tracking cookies

But this is the first time Spybot has "found" them in a long time. AdAware is coming up with nothing at all.

I'll try checking the Tools menu of FF. I think there is a new version of that too...maybe I'll head over to their board to see how things are working for everyone.

Thanks!

[Todd B]

17. It really all depends

It really all depends on what the program defines as spyware. Tracking cookies can just be as simple as the date you viewed the ad/visited the site so they can tailor content more accurately for you.

Doubleclick is a pretty reputable company so it shouldn't be a problem to allow them, but the directions I gave should take care of them if you don't want them. You can also set FF to prompt you for an action whenever any site tries to set a cookie.

[welshTerrier2]

18. get SpywareBlaster ... it has special Firefox protection ...

there's an option in spywareBlaster specifically designed to block spyware from accessing your computer through Firefox ...

you can download a free copy at this site:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

after you install it, make sure you go through all the menu options and activate every possible protection including the special Firefox section ... also, maybe once a month, run the update to make sure you have the latest protections ... and then make sure you enable the new ones if there are any ...

you probably won't need to run spybot anymore if you get this ... spybot never finds anything now that i installed spywareBlaster ...

[lenidog]

19. Get Spyware Blaster and for additional protection and removal

get Lavasofts Adware. Both are free (donations are appreciated) and both are updated at least once every two weeks sometimes even more.

[MissBrooks]

21. Try a new one...

called Cookiewall

It blocks everything. I have zero spyware and zero adware ever since I installed the Cookiewall.