Spyware Removal Tools Comparison in Software http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r13182291 en Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:14:13 EDT Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:14:13 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13216114 Sid : I just downloaded the trial of spyware doctor myself. Even though I have only been using it for a few minutes now. I like the interface and it has picked up some things my spysweeper and Aluria has not. Some, I dont actually consider spyware but others are. Nice.
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WinXP,PC-Cillin IS, SpySweeper,Opera,Neo Pro. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13216114 Wed, 20 Apr 2005 10:11:44 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13215496 richardfrey11001 : You were right. The "Trial Version" I got from download.com was a fully working version that updated to the current version.
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Luck Has Nothing To Do With It!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13215496 Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:19:43 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13215326 Rob A : Get it from download.com and it will let you remove the spyware.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13215326 Wed, 20 Apr 2005 07:30:50 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13213813 richardfrey11001 : »www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/
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Luck Has Nothing To Do With It!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13213813 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 23:27:16 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13212856 Rob A : Yes. And updated the software. Where did you download it?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13212856 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 21:48:19 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13212217 richardfrey11001 : So, can you delete the spyware??
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Luck Has Nothing To Do With It!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13212217 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 20:33:25 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13212181 RangerTX7 : MS AntiSpyware has been mentioned a number of times here. I have an issue with it that I can't get past.

As Giant AntiSpyware, this was a promising program that did a good job. In comes MS, and now, as MS AntiSpyware, support for any OS older than Win2K and any alternative browser was summarily dropped. There is no rationale for this move (other than market share) since the product is fully capable of supporting older OSes and other browsers.

It's as if MS has said "Here, use this AntiSpyware; we'll give it to you for free. But you can use it only on the software we want you to have." So, IMHO, the primary reason for its existence is to boost OS upgrades and use of IE, with security considerations coming in second. Not everyone will agree with my feelings, of course, but as I initially stated, I just can't get past this...and for this reason, MS AntiSpyware will never be installed on any of my machines.
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Those days in Rampart, LAPD, filled me with wonder, horror, and glee. Lemme clue you in, judgments are the sin, you should see what I've seen, been where I've been.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13212181 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 20:27:56 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13211574 Rob A : I didn't buy my copy either. I got it off of download.com 3 months ago, I think when it first came out.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13211574 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 19:08:55 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13211484 richardfrey11001 : .
What do you mean by Trial? I've had mine for 3 months and kept it up to date for like 3 months.
I didn't buy my copy. After seeing your post, I downloaded the evaluation version (deletion of the spyware is crippled in this version..you have to buy it before it will delete the spyware) and did my test.
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Luck Has Nothing To Do With It!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13211484 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 18:57:47 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13211223 Rob A :
said by richardfrey11001 See Profile:

SPYWARE DOCTOR IS A FRAUD. The trial version is adding none existent spyware.
I ran the live update for Spyware Doctor and then did another scan. It no longer turned out the tracking cookies and advertising..just the 9 lines of Xupiter entries.
What do you mean by Trial? I've had mine for 3 months and kept it up to date for like 3 months.
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Verizon DSL + Opera Web Browser= The Ultimate Internet Experience! »verizon.net »opera.com]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13211223 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 18:27:32 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13210840 richardfrey11001 : Yup thats right. Spyware Doctor found many more infections than the other 2. So those of you that think just having Spybot and Ad-aware gives you a safe system, I would think again"

wooootttt???
In my case, Spyware Doctor found zero more infections than Spybot S&D and Microsoft Antispyware and gave a false positive on a legitimate program.
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Luck Has Nothing To Do With It!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13210840 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 17:48:11 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13210732 illJazz : I swear by MS' AntiSpyware Beta. I installed it on two of my sort of computer-illiterate friends computers and it's awesome for noobs. Runs residentially in the background, acts preventively and has schedules for automatic scans. One of them probably still doesn't know how to use it because he not only is computer-illiterate, which of course is perfectly fine, and which a lot of people are, but he completely and utterly refuses to learn anything about the ways computers function/operate. Can't be helped.. the other one likes it a lot.

It's an awesome tool. I don't see a reason why I would install more than 2 antispyware apps on any system. I have none at all installed on mine. I use Opera and am virtually immune from all things spyware/adware for two reasons: I know where I browse and I'm familiar with the dangers that I come across... and two: I use Opera, which makes staying safe a whole lot easier.

My 0.2..
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IMHO. As always ;)
»www.abisource.com/ - Free, open-source Text Editor. Great alternative to MS Word :)
Check out Trillian! The greatest Instant Messenger on the planet: »gotrillian.com/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13210732 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 17:38:59 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13210654 turino : "Spyware Doctor- 52 infections found
Tracking Cookie
Troj/Delf-IT
TV Media Display
ClearSearch
AproposMedia
BullsEye.Exact Advertising
DelfinProject
Altnet Software
180search Assistant
Transponder.Twain-tech

Yup thats right. Spyware Doctor found many more infections than the other 2. So those of you that think just having Spybot and Ad-aware gives you a safe system, I would think again"

wooootttt???]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13210654 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 17:31:18 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13207956 richardfrey11001 : I just did a comparison between Spybot S&D, Microsoft Antispyware and Spyware Doctor. I had to down load the Doctor as I only use Spybot and Microsoft.
The first 2 showed no spyware, but Spyware Doctor showed 9 lines of spyware and some tracking cookies....

Tracking Cookie(s) richard frey@abcnews.go[1].txt Medium
Advertising richard frey@com[2].txt Low
Advertising richard frey@cgi-bin[1].txt Low
Tracking Cookie(s) richard frey@indextools[1].txt Medium
Tracking Cookie(s) richard frey@go[1].txt Medium
Tracking Cookie(s) richard frey@rsi.abcnews.go[1].txt Medium

Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1 Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\MsnPUpld.dll Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\MSNPupld.inf Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\PURen-us.dll Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\spweng.dll Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\SpyWareKillerBKGD.jpg Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\swksig.dat Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\WebAAS.dll Elevated
Xupiter C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\CONFLICT.1\WebAAS.inf Elevated

Now I have to say that something is might fishy here. When you go to the site about "XUPITER" it tells you how to remove it. It tells you to use Spybot S&D or do it manually.
When I search for the registry entries for Xupiter---there are none. When I open a command prompt and enter the code to release the dll's--It can't find any.

SPYWARE DOCTOR IS A FRAUD. The trial version is adding none existent spyware.
I ran the live update for Spyware Doctor and then did another scan. It no longer turned out the tracking cookies and advertising..just the 9 lines of Xupiter entries.

I think that something is mighty fishy!

Edit to add additional info: I have determined that the "spyware" it has discovered is in reality a program from Zone Alarm called the "Anonymizer Anti-Spyware Scanner" The properties button has a download link from ZoneLabs..»download.zonelabs.com/bin/promot···bAAS.cab
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Luck Has Nothing To Do With It!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13207956 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 12:27:39 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13207214 2kmaro : If you look at the tests that eburger68 See Profile has run, you'll find that there is no 'cheap' solution, and definitely no one-stop-solution to the problem of spyware. I run a whole slew of anti-spyware programs when checking a system out for problems:

Spybot Search & Destroy
Spyware Doctor
Spy Sweeper
BOClean
Spyware Blaster
Giant Anti-Spyware (predecessor to Microsoft's tool)
AdAware
CWShredder
and more

You'll notice a lot of those are not free. I've found that each one finds things the others don't (so much for a one-stop-shopping solution). I figure that at best after all is said and done I maybe get 98-99% of whatever is on a machine off of it. I can only hope the remaining 1-2% is pretty harmless.

My approach is to use the programs that offer "inoculation" and "immunization" features first and deal with what they find and immunize/inoculate the system against going back to any malevolent sites. Then I continue running through the rest of the toolbox. Finally I set up a system with one or two anti-spyware tools and walk away. Which ones I set up depend on whether or not the machine's owner wants a free solution or if they're willing to pay for one.

Typically they want a free solution and I usually leave Spyware Guard and the Microsoft Anti-Spyware tool on the machines. Those two seem to play well with one another. I also ask the owner to consider donating to the Spyware Guard site.

As for the Microsoft tool - I think it's probably a strong one. I have high hopes for it. I own a copy of the original Giant Anti-Spyware program which Microsoft bought and turned into their own. Giant was one of the best, so MS got off the ground with a strong product. I'm hoping that MS will keep the resources available that are needed to keep such a product updated. The effort has to be similar to the effort needed to keep a quality anti-virus database up to date. I'm also hoping that MS is large enough to keep from being intimidated by spyware distributors into pulling detection out of the program at any time.

Kaspersky, long a big name in anti-virus tools, has now released a suite of tools that includes anti-virus, firewall and anti-spam packages. I'm using it on one machine and it looks very good. Cox HSI has begun making a similar suite made by Authentium available to their customers using Windows and it looks pretty good also at this point.

Rob A See Profile, you might also want to look at Spy Sweeper from Webroot. There is a fully functional trial package available. I found it to be darned good also. I'll probably buy a copy of it very soon myself.
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then think again!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13207214 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 10:56:57 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13205111 TilhasBB : Rob A> I am curiouse how microsoft antispyware would show.
can you try?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13205111 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 00:33:52 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13185151 Rob A : Yes I have been reading the front page news. Newer spyware is always coming, thats why you must keep your software up-to-date.
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Verizon DSL + Opera Web Browser= The Ultimate Internet Experience! »verizon.net »opera.com]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13185151 Sat, 16 Apr 2005 11:06:12 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13185118 Rxdoxx : Interesting test and results.

BTW- have you been keeping up on the front page news articles here? Shows a very disturbing trend.
»COAST Collapses
»More Adware Industry Threats
»Tracking Spyware Trickery
»180 Solutions Speaks
»Direct Revenue Class Action
And these are just very recent ones.
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A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13185118 Sat, 16 Apr 2005 11:00:46 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182497 fegul : I saw that PCworld issue, since I subscribe to it, but I use Antispy (which I like) as my primary defense, not to mention using an alternate browser, and running CCleaner, and other utilities to remove gunk.
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|Networking Help|My Blog|]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182497 Fri, 15 Apr 2005 23:07:29 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182494 Rob A : Exactly why I have these 3 installed and why I run scans with each regularly. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182494 Fri, 15 Apr 2005 23:06:21 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182477 jabarnut : I think most here will agree that several applications are needed to be covered adequately.

There have actually been quite a few threads about this.
And an interesting article from the April issue of PC World where they did a little testing of their own.
(This was also posted several times, so you may have already read it).

My new favorite is Microsoft Antispyware. (And also one of theirs, but wasn't included in the chart at the time of testing).

»www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/···2,00.asp

(Chart) Well, one of them.

"Looks like a Winner" ;)
quote:
(In reference to MS Antispyware)
"It was able to detect 91 percent of the adware/spyware in our test suite, including 96 percent of processes running in memory, 67 percent of home- or search-page modifications, 100 percent of BHOs and toolbars, 95 percent of Registry additions, and 100 percent of other items such as menus and buttons added to programs".


[Edit]: I should mention there are (obviously), many other apps not reviewed in the article, but if you haven't read it, it's a worthwhile read IMO.
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182477 Fri, 15 Apr 2005 23:04:24 EDT Re: Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182460 drake : Using various anti-spyware applications have proved to be useful on systems these days. Each vendor isn't "perfect" with spotting out the system malware, etc. - but having multiple applications work on your system are much better than just using one.

Also, consider the fact that a specific application can point out [example:] 42 harmless processes/folders/files, then, run another application, and it may find maybe one or two harmful processes. Now, then, you can make a final judgement call to run multiple scans from different vendor products. The quantity doesn't always stand out.
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from a broken hill]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182460 Fri, 15 Apr 2005 23:01:43 EDT Spyware Removal Tools Comparison http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182291 Rob A : I was bored so I decided to compare the 3 spyware removal programs on my pc. Spybot, Spyware Doctor, and Ad-aware. I was shocked at the results. I ran a complete full scan with each program, without cleaning after each scan so each one was scanning the same infected files. Each program is completely updated and free. Heres the results.

Spybot- 2 infections found
Adtomi

Ad-aware- 4 infections found
Adtomi
Flashtrack

Spyware Doctor- 52 infections found
Tracking Cookie
Troj/Delf-IT
TV Media Display
ClearSearch
AproposMedia
BullsEye.Exact Advertising
DelfinProject
Altnet Software
180search Assistant
Transponder.Twain-tech

Yup thats right. Spyware Doctor found many more infections than the other 2. So those of you that think just having Spybot and Ad-aware gives you a safe system, I would think again.

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Verizon DSL + Opera Web Browser= The Ultimate Internet Experience! »verizon.net »opera.com]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13182291 Fri, 15 Apr 2005 22:40:06 EDT