Quoting:
I use Norton Anti-Virus. ;D


Howard
End Quote

Howard,

Norton does not necessarily keep "spyware" off of your machine.   :-/  Spyware is different than a virus.  Typically spyware gets installed when you click one of those "terms and conditions" check boxes when downloading software like "Weatherbug" or that %$#@$#@-ing "Gator Wallet" utility.  >:(

My brother uses Norton and his system had a buttload of spyware on it.  Until I exorcised the machine with Ad-Aware.  ;D

Quoting:


Howard,

Norton does not necessarily keep "spyware" off of your machine.   :-/  Spyware is different than a virus.  Typically spyware gets installed when you click one of those "terms and conditions" check boxes when downloading software like "Weatherbug" or that %$#@$#@-ing "Gator Wallet" utility.  >:(

My brother uses Norton and his system had a buttload of spyware on it.  Until I exorcised the machine with Ad-Aware.  ;D
End Quote

thats true.  I always run an antivirus program weekly, but up until about 2 months ago never ran Ad-Aware.  And when I did, there were over 85 spyware files on my system that had been there for months.



And yes, Gator programs are the worst. >:(

Quoting:
Mr80's.....

What is your opinion of Norton Firewall?
End Quote

I think it is one of the best firewalls out there myself.

While it may not be as tight as others out there, it is MUCH easier to use.  Because it is fairly intelligent, it will not pop up for every little thing that occurs.  It will know tha tyou are doing a Windows Update, and just tell you and let it through.

THis is a far cry from others like Black Ice, which pop up so often for every little thing, you do not know if something is dangerous or not.  The problem there is that people just turn it off or enable everything, which does no good at all.

Quoting:
I hate popups.That's why I installed Google Toolbar.


Howard
End Quote

Say Howard or Mr80s ....

When you install the Google Toolbar, does it install spyware of its own?  ??? :P :-/

Quoting:
Say Howard or Mr80s ....

When you install the Google Toolbar, does it install spyware of its own?  ??? :P :-/
End Quote

Yes, it does.  :)  That is why I always remove it from a customer's system.

Here is a good rule of thumb I use...  if they do not charge for something, they have to make money for it somehow.  Things like SHockwave and Real Audio make money by sellfig tools to website authors.  Companies like Gator or HotBar make it by selling your information to others.

Google toolbar installs a "browser hijacker" in your system, which forces serches to go through Google.  That is how they make the money for it's use.

Quoting:


Yes, it does.  :)  That is why I always remove it from a customer's system.

Here is a good rule of thumb I use...  if they do not charge for something, they have to make money for it somehow.  Things like SHockwave and Real Audio make money by sellfig tools to website authors.  Companies like Gator or HotBar make it by selling your information to others.

Google toolbar installs a "browser hijacker" in your system, which forces serches to go through Google.  That is how they make the money for it's use.
End Quote

...As I thought.

Howard, better check your machine for spyware!

Quoting:



...As I thought.

Howard, better check your machine for spyware!
End Quote

I have to consult my Father.This is not "really" my computer.I just use it almost every day for my usual stuff like messageboards,music and mail. So,You would say this is "my computer".


Howard

Quoting:
Boy,you're making it out like no one should download anything or have anything installed anymore. What's the point of having a computer if you're just keep it blank? You're scaring me. ;D


Howard
End Quote

No need to be scared.  Just be wary and practice "safe computing" and you will be OK.  ;D :D

Quoting:
Well,You finally convinced me.I got Ad-Aware and I couldn't believe how much crap there was.GATOR was actually the culprit. :o >:( I checked the other night.So,How many times should I do a scan for stuff? ;D

Howard
End Quote

Gator is evil.  They are associated with sooooo many things.

Not only should you run it, I would say, at least once a week, but more imoprtant, be sure to frequently check for updates on your Ad-Aware, otherwise it will just keep checking for old outdated spyware, and not the new stuff.

Quoting:
Well,You finally convinced me.I got Ad-Aware and I couldn't believe how much crap there was.GATOR was actually the culprit. :o >:( I checked the other night.So,How many times should I do a scan for stuff? ;D

Howard
End Quote

Howard,

When I ran Ad-Aware on my brother's computer, I had to run Ad-Aware 2 or 3 times to get it completely off.  >:(

You might want to run another pass of Ad-Aware just to make sure the Gator has lost its bite!

Quoting:
What is this 'SpyWare' you speak of? (I'm a UNIX guy) ;-)
End Quote

Spyware is the generic term given to either militious or snooping software installed on your system either by programs you install, or through internet cookies.

They are normally used to either send pop-up advertising.  But some do more then that, from stealing your e-mail address (and the address of people you send e-mail to), to seeing where you go on the net for advertising purposes, to even useing your computer to send out spam and pop-ups to other people (stealing your processor time and internet bandwith in the process).

They can be almost as damaging as a virus, but antivirus software does not detect it because it does not self-propogate.

I am not sure how they affect a unix system.  But because they work off cookies, I imagine they can "infect" those systems as well.

Quoting:
So,that means GATORis actually spying on my computer and popping up with all these crazy info ads occassionally?

So,should I actually get rid of the program GATOR cause I don't even use it anymore and it's just sitting there in "MY PROGRAMS"folder.Will that get rid of it alltogether? ??? >:(



Howard
End Quote

Howard,

Run Ad-Aware again and see if it discovers any more Gator dung on your machine.  I had to run it 2-3 times before it wiped all the crap out.

Then... after that... if you fund any Gator files still on your 'puter then erase them by hand.

Gator is aptly named because it bites down hard and is hard to get rid of.

Quoting:
I gave it another run and found:

H-KEY

COMET CURSOR

Will getting rid Of the Gator Folder solve anything???



Howard
End Quote

Wipe out ANY of the Gator stuff that is left.  Better safe than sorry.

That Comet Cursor app sux too.  It was another spyware parasite on my brother's 'puter.

Never heard of the H-key.

Quoting:
Can I ask for some help please !

I downloaded AdAware based on what I had been reading in this thread.

Once it has done its scan - it asks me to select its finds and then proceed to what I assume is deleting them from my system.

My question is - how do I guess what to select - I do I assume its found all bad stuff and so select it all and delete it all ?

thanks in advance
End Quote

well, I'm not an expert but I can try to help.



Basically, 99% of the things Ad-aware finds are generally in your "temporary internet files" or "cookies".  And if you're like me, I clean those out every few days anyway just to clear up the cluter they cause.

I have been using Ad-aware for quite a while, and I always delete everything it finds, and nothing negaive has ever came from that.  

Besides, if you are using a program that requires there be spyware on your system (ie Gator  >:() to continue operating, its not really worth using at all.

Quoting:
I finally got rid of the GATOR but what is CometCursor?  ???
End Quote

Comet Cursor is just a program you may have got bundled with something else you may have downloaded.  All it is is a lame little program that allows you to change your mouse pointer to these "cutesy" little things like a Mickey Mouse face or stuff like that.

Its junk, and its Spyware.  Delete it.

Quoting:


Comet Cursor is just a program you may have got bundled with something else you may have downloaded.  All it is is a lame little program that allows you to change your mouse pointer to these "cutesy" little things like a Mickey Mouse face or stuff like that.

Its junk, and its Spyware.  Delete it.
End Quote

That's what I do. ;D


Howard

Quoting:
So I have no idea if this has happened because of adaware - or if its coincidence that it happened the same day !
End Quote

I've never seen AdAware remove non-spyware material, so it maybe something else.  WinXP does some pretty strange things.  For instance, I have a b!tch of a time trying to delete video files off my computer as it says its being used by some other service, which I know its not.  I end up using EastTec Eraser to snuff out the offending program as it overrides any Windows lockouts that try to impede it's tasks.

Quite possibly those games were part of a bundle of programs that contained spyware.  I've installed a Tetris (and misc other games) game pack that came on a CD-ROM in a computer magazine last year, and it was riddled with spyware.  So it's hard to say.

Another program I suggest is XPAntispy.  It's a pretty good tweaking tool that shuts down most of XP's privacy (lack of) issues.

Quoting:
Like all my various solitaire games that came with XP have disappeared and I cant find them hiding anywhere.

So I have no idea if this has happened because of adaware - or if its coincidence that it happened the same day !

Oh dear !!
End Quote

that is strange.

I've ran it on several computers with all different operating systems and versions of Windows and nothing like that has ever happened...so far.

Its possible one of the spyware Adaware found had associated itself with your games in XP for some reason possibly to provide updates or something like that.  Its possible.

Quoting:OFF TOPIC:  Does anyone know how to get my clock to synch up with the system clock?  My clock on my toolbar has mysteriously started losing time in the past few weeks.  Everytime I go into the system menu, it resynchs and is right for a few hours.  I called Dell and they said I had to reinstall everything, which I don't want to do.  Any help would be appreciated. :)  BTW, I am running Windows Me.
End Quote

I have that problem too.

If I let it go without updating the correct time for a month or so it can be as much as nearly 45 minutes slow.

I know there are some "shareware" programs out there that will synch up your clock.  But, like any "free" internet program, there will be spyware.  And it will set your Adaware in a feeding frenzy. :)