here's an invaluabvle free app that kills spyware:
http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html
Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove a multitude of adware files and modules from your computer. Spybot also can clean program and Web-usage tracks from your system, which is especially useful if you share your computer with other users. Modules chosen for removal can be sent directly to the included file shredder, ensuring complete elimination from your system. For advanced users, it allows you to fix registry inconsistencies related to adware and to malicious program installations. The handy online-update feature ensures that Spybot always has the most current and complete listings of adware, dialers, and other uninvited system residents.

Version 1.3 adds enhanced immunization features, an improved interface, and integration of BrowserManager for spyware detection, plus the new Hosts File feature and bug fixes.

more on fightin' spyware adware, and other web parasites...
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/

Smut I use Ad- Aware 6.0 you got any idea if yours is better, mine was a free download that's why i use it.Thanks if you know.

I use them both. Ad-aware and Spybot.

Ad-aware finds stuff most of the time, but Spybot has found nothing in the last year. AA is a good thing to use at least weekly to clean the general day to day spyware from your puter.

Maybe the newer version of Spybot is better, but I just assumed they stopped updating it. There are never any available detection updates.

Thanks Toelicker, so you think if I have AA there is really no need for the other?

Well, as far as the free ones go, that would be my advice.

I haven't tried any of the ones that cost money, either a one time charge or periodic fee.

I'm going to try this apparent new version of Spybot just to see if the have updated it.

I would recommend running Spybot at least once, as it does initially clean some things up that AA sometimes doesn't get. But it is simply a one time deal, at least in my experience.

For example, it closes a security loophole in Windows Media Player. This was, however, a couple of years ago. The vulnerability may not still be there anyway, so it may be moot.

I guess the point of all this rambling is that you should probably try Spybot, but it doesn't do anything for me.

AA, on the other hand, is an outstanding free spyware eliminator.

Thanks again Toelicker, I had been wondering if AA was decent or not, i'll give spy a try as well.

I like spybot better, but it couldn't hurt to use both...

yeah, there is version 1.3 now. It seems to catch shit when I use it but your ad-aware might take of everything before spybot can, who knows? report back on your findings...

Bueno.


Okay, I just downloaded the new SpyBot. It is alot faster and sleeker than the previous version.

It found five spyware components, so it seems to be working well now.

I would continue to use both, however, because I ran Ad-aware right after I ran Spybot, and AA found three additional things that Spybot missed.

Thanks SmutMutant!

Toe, where are you picking up all this spyware or is it just picking up your cookies? I guess what I'm asking is what it is that these programs discovered on the computer, because whenever I run mine all I get are a few low priority low danger cookies.

Well, this and ADT are the only two sites I really go to, except fot Yahoo.

I'm not picking up a great deal of spyware, other than cookies.

I have my browser set to prompt me whenever a site tries to put a cookie on my puter. If I always accept, such as with this site, then there is an option to not ask again for that site. Same goes for declining. Some ad tracking software(cookies) are designed to enter your computer under the radar, spyware.

Yes, it finds ad tracking cookies. That is what spyware is. I only get about 3-5 per week, but I promise you have them too.

Web sites load spyware onto your computer all the time, especially if you don't have a firewall.

Let me ask you this. Do you get the AA detection updates frequently? They update them often, 1-2 times per week. do you have the latest version of AA?

Also, Spybot, as I said earlier, does some initial immunizations and things to add security to your system. Stuff that doesn't necessarily have much to do with finding spyware, just closing holes that it may pass through.

Thanks again Toelicker.

Toelicker, try Mozilla some time. I use it exclusively. Much better at cookies and popups. Using IE is just like asking for it. Mozilla has other cool features too.

I do use Mozilla(Firefox). I agree, good suggestion!

Thanks.

Thanks guys I just installed both Spybot and Mozilla and both seem really cool so far.