I recently re-installed my OS - fdisk, blah blah blah and I just installed spyware http://www.webattack.com/download/dladaware.shtml and ran the thing. I was shocked to see how much "junk" was on my computer. Something to think about.
Spyware
- Thread starter hamermill
- Start date
Hey but isn't "Spyware" the junk that screws your computer in the first place? I think you meant to say you got "Ad-Aware".
I would also recommend "pop-up stopper". It stops all unwanted annoying pop-ups when you visit websites and bans them for life from ever popping up-- but you can "allow" them back if you remove them from the unwanted list.
I would also recommend "pop-up stopper". It stops all unwanted annoying pop-ups when you visit websites and bans them for life from ever popping up-- but you can "allow" them back if you remove them from the unwanted list.
I use Zone Alarm which you can download for free at http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm/znalm_details.jsp?lid=nav_za
DON: Be careful with tight, secure firewalls, there are some that won't allow incoming messages on MSN or ICQ and sometimes it won't allow you to perform PC phone or video chat, it prevents anything from the outside world from coming in.
Hey !!! www.pcworld.com also has a large selection of free downloads for all types of shit that can be useful ... have a look ... 
Avoiding spyware & pop-ups
Stop using Internet Explorer browser. Switch to either the Opera or Mozilla browsers. IE attracks cookies and temporary internet files like a magnet. This is where the spyware in introduced to your PC, running in the backgroud, using up PC resources and generally slowing down your PC. Both browsers are free.
Opera is my first choice browser for the last year. It is faster than IE, and like the Mozilla browser can be set to stop all pop-ups. You don`t have to get a pop-up stopper with it.
Everytime after using IE, I would run Ad aware and find spyware placed on my PC. Running Ad aware after using either the Opera or Mozilla browser finds NO spyware placed on my PC.
At times I do use IE and have to turn on my pop-up stopper, and make sure to run Ad aware when done to clean out the junk IE picked up.
Stop using Internet Explorer browser. Switch to either the Opera or Mozilla browsers. IE attracks cookies and temporary internet files like a magnet. This is where the spyware in introduced to your PC, running in the backgroud, using up PC resources and generally slowing down your PC. Both browsers are free.
Opera is my first choice browser for the last year. It is faster than IE, and like the Mozilla browser can be set to stop all pop-ups. You don`t have to get a pop-up stopper with it.
Everytime after using IE, I would run Ad aware and find spyware placed on my PC. Running Ad aware after using either the Opera or Mozilla browser finds NO spyware placed on my PC.
At times I do use IE and have to turn on my pop-up stopper, and make sure to run Ad aware when done to clean out the junk IE picked up.
But do Mozilla and Opera have the same features as IE? Like the "favorite folders"? How many excellent features found in IE will I have to sacrifice to avoid spyware and pop-ups?
I tried a half-dozen spyware eradicators and found three worthy of further consideration: Ad-aware from Lavasoft; Spybot Search and Destroy from PepiMK Software; and Spyware Eliminator from Aluria Software. My top choice is Spybot because it's fast and it's free. Donations are accepted but, unlike shareware, not required after a free trial period. A German programmer and two friends keep it going with the help of "spyware" submissions from volunteers around the world. A scan typically takes less than 10 minutes, compared with an hour or more for the others. When I used Spybot to get rid of all this bullshit Spyware it found 162 suspect programs, data files, folders and registry items -- compared with 166 by Ad-aware and 147 by Spyware Eliminator.
Spybot does have a few faults, including its removal of items even after I clicked "no" when prompted. But overall, I found Spybot a useful product that is fast enough to run often. Spybot automatically removed most of the items it found and checks again after your computer reboots to kill any leftover items.
I tried a half-dozen spyware eradicators and found three worthy of further consideration: Ad-aware from Lavasoft; Spybot Search and Destroy from PepiMK Software; and Spyware Eliminator from Aluria Software. My top choice is Spybot because it's fast and it's free. Donations are accepted but, unlike shareware, not required after a free trial period. A German programmer and two friends keep it going with the help of "spyware" submissions from volunteers around the world. A scan typically takes less than 10 minutes, compared with an hour or more for the others. When I used Spybot to get rid of all this bullshit Spyware it found 162 suspect programs, data files, folders and registry items -- compared with 166 by Ad-aware and 147 by Spyware Eliminator.
Spybot does have a few faults, including its removal of items even after I clicked "no" when prompted. But overall, I found Spybot a useful product that is fast enough to run often. Spybot automatically removed most of the items it found and checks again after your computer reboots to kill any leftover items.
Alien
Opera has the same features as IE, PLUS some extra neat ones not found in IE. I mainly like it for its speed, it is fast.
I have 4 browsers presently on my PC, IE, Netscape, Opera and Mozilla. Did that to compare them against one another. Found each one has its pros and cons and quirks. IE generally will open everything but it also loads the most junk on your PC. The other 3 work well but each, at times can have conflicts on the web. When this happens I just switch to another browser, no big problem.
Opera is my fav, and worth checking out. Plus it`s free.
Opera has the same features as IE, PLUS some extra neat ones not found in IE. I mainly like it for its speed, it is fast.
I have 4 browsers presently on my PC, IE, Netscape, Opera and Mozilla. Did that to compare them against one another. Found each one has its pros and cons and quirks. IE generally will open everything but it also loads the most junk on your PC. The other 3 work well but each, at times can have conflicts on the web. When this happens I just switch to another browser, no big problem.
Opera is my fav, and worth checking out. Plus it`s free.
Mozzilla ie etc all now meet the w3c standards as a result they really do all the of things pretty much the same..... I like mozilla because of the tabs....
ie for the compatability...
although I think Zone alarm is the better software firewall ...
Norton's version is a little easier to set up.... to protect personal data...
ie for the compatability...
although I think Zone alarm is the better software firewall ...
Norton's version is a little easier to set up.... to protect personal data...
