Spyware:
How to safe-guard my system from spyware!
Spyware is the fastest growing threat on the Internet. Certain
variety of spyware is becoming as dangerous as viruses and trojans,
while some don't cause any major harm to the system - but still
report your internet surfing habits to a remote webmaster. That's
not all, but they affect the system performance as well.
Here are the spyware removal and protection tools which you
must have, at the very least.
Before proceeding to Spyware removal, I would advise you create
a System Restore point in XP (in case), considering the fact
that 'sometimes' spyware removal affects the normal operation
of Windows.
. . . Below you'll find Spyware Prevention and Removal Tools/methods
Spyware Prevention and Removal Tools/methods
Spyware
Blaster -
Prevents spyware from being installed, by blocking a huge list
of known spyware controls. Weekly updates available via it's
Auto-Update feature. Most effective method I have ever seen.
Uses the technique named Kill-Bit using which bad controls are
blocked. Note that if your system is already infected with spyware,
this software does not help much. This software is purely a shield.
Highly recommended product!
Ad-Aware
SE -
Award-winning spyware remover, also a freeware. Updated frequently
as and once new spyware variants are discovered. and web-update
feature available.
SpyBot
Search & Destroy -
This software is equally good as Ad-Aware, in addition contains
Immunize feature where-in you can block a list of known ActiveX
controls (using the same Kill-Bit technique as SpywareBlaster
uses). Also provides a SBHelper Browser Helper Object to plug-in
to Internet Explorer. The BHO is very useful to block unwanted
ActiveX controls and Cookies while surfing. Automatic Update
feature available. Restricted Zones list also available
CWShredder -
The only effective utility which can remove all (or most) variants
of the fearsome CoolWebSearch variants of spyware. CoolWebSearch
variants are extremely annoying as each variant uses a different
method to plug into the system. CWShredder is the tool to remove
those variants.
HijackThis -
Very popular diagnostic utility, which displays almost EVERY
browser add-ons installed and generates a report for troubleshooting
unknown problems (if the above tools fail to solve the problem).
A technician, by looking at the HijackThis log can pin-point
where the hijacker resides and can eliminate them easily. THIS
TOOL lists all SPYWARE BROWSER EXTENSIONS and also the LEGIT
ones. You require a greater skill level to diagnose this log.
So, don't fix the entries yourself if you don't know what you're
doing with HijackThis.
Download anti-spyware reference files locally and apply to
other computers
Plus, there are other methods and tools to block unwanted sites
(using Hosts file, and using Restricted Zone in Internet Explorer)
You need a combination of all of the above removal tools (in
most cases), I repeat "ALL". And, updating the definitions
is equally important. Without the updated definitions, running
a spyware cleaner is almost useless.
*Note that anti-virus software can't remove
spyware, they can only deal with viruses and trojans
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