Posted: 10/25/2005 2:18:01 AM EDT
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Over the weekend, I ended up wiping WinXP off my system, and reformatting and reinstalling it. Solved the BOSD issues I had earlier. As such, I had a chance to test several varieties of antispy software on unpatched versions of IE. First: using IE (no other choice) to hit Windows Update exposed my system to about 14 items of spyware. Before visiting Windows Update, I had the following installed: Avast! Anti-Virus (Free Edition) Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus (Free Edition) ewido Security Suite (Trial Full Version (free)) LavaSoft Ad-Aware (free) Zone Alarm 6.0.667.000 (free) By the time I was done, I already had some spyware installed. These were well known items from CoolWebSearch (3) and other miscellaneous entries, 14 total. It turned into an impromptu test when AOL Anti-Spyware found 2 items lurking. I ran ewido and Lavasoft Ad-Aware (full system scans). The stats: AOL Anti-Spyware: 2 items (CoolWebSearch and Searchit browser search hijacker) ewido Security Suite: 9 items (CoolWebSearch (3), and Searchit (3), and other items related to a browser search hijacker) Ad-Aware: 14 items (CoolWebSearch (3), Searchit (4), and remaining miscellaneous items -- registry key entries, NOT just cookies!) My unofficial opinion is Ad-Aware is still the best for your dollar. If I reinstall XP again this weekend, I'll keep better track of the scan reports for a better report. Thinking about this now, if (when!) I do this test of the security software, this will be the methodology: 1. Full System Scan with all software 2. Software with the lowest detection number will be used to 'clean' detected items. Eliminated from the 'race'. 3. Full System Scan with the remaining software. 4. Software with the lowest detection number will be used to 'clean' detected items. Eliminated from the 'race'. Rinse and repeat. This should prevent bogus numbers--maybe the 2 detected by AOL Anti-Spyware were comprehensive and cleaning with that software would have removed all 9 items that ewido and 14 items that Ad-Aware detected. Too bad I didn't think of it earlier! |
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Get Microsoft Anti spyware. Its free. It has a memory resident blocker that I use along with Ad-aware. And remember. Just becuause something says "Windows update" does not mean its really coming from microsoft. Go directly to there site to get updates. www.microsoft.com |
WRONG More often each cause problems in operation of the other letting things through. Installing 2 anti-virus programs is counterproductive and a recipe for trouble. Running multiple anti-spyware programs is OK… Running multiple anti-virus programs is asking for disaster. Do not do it. |
You didn't go to Windows Update and get spyware.. you had to of typed something wrong and were led to a fake site. ALWAYS use the link in IE to go to the site. You must have a lot of memory on that system.. you have 2 AV programs running and you run AOL... so that tells me either you have a lot of memory or your resources are down to nothing when you start your pc. The only two things that I have running are AVG 7.0 Pro Antivirus, and Ad-Watch with the pop-up blocker turned off. I NEVER get spyware on my pc, unless I visit some site that I shouldn't. I don't understand how my clients can obtain so much spyware on their PC's inbetween calls. It truely amazes me. -d |