Christ, I can't believe how infected my computer was...

**Magic Man** · August 9th, 2005, 02:49 AM

I can't believe with the amount of protection we have installed on my home LAN the amount of spyware and shit I had on my computer.

I had my cred details stolen recently and I decided to upgrade to a better virus/trojan checker and I was expecting to turn up very few things, but shit, this program called Ewido picked up a TON of stuff. Even files I scanned with my previous virus checker were coming up positive.

E-warefare is upon us, and the future is pretty fucking scary.

Use this program to check your system, takes a long time, but turns up almost any nasties, so i purchased the software. Also doesnt hog mem which is great, since my previous anti virus was a pain in the ass to run while I was working on large mem intentive projects.

www.ewido.com - test it out for 14 days free, I ended up getting it.

**magicgoo** · August 9th, 2005, 03:05 AM

Have you ever tried Ad Aware ? It works pretty well.

**Magic Man** · August 9th, 2005, 03:07 AM

Yeah, ewido is a lot more comprehensive and extremely robust.

**magicgoo** · August 9th, 2005, 03:08 AM

Well, I do like robust...

**Blue** · August 9th, 2005, 07:56 AM

If I have a virus on my computer.. I was dumb enough to not only install it manually, but confirm installation a few times by typing in my system password...I use a mac however, so its a different ballgame. On my PC however, just visiting a website has risks. I hate finding crap hiding in my registry and the like. I was amazed how fast i could get this stuff (being a native mac user, i had no idea). I have yet to get a virus on my mac, and after reformatting 4 times on my PC...i feel for yuh man. It's such a nightmare. Even when you think you have things under control...you typically don't.

**God-Of-Zilla** · August 9th, 2005, 08:21 AM

The best way is to run as many ad-aware removals as possible. I run xoftspy, ad-aware and noadware. Gonna try this Ewido too, thanks for the link.

I am starting to lean more and more towards Linux, Windows Vista already has problems and unique malware targeted towards Windows Vista.

Matthew

**goldenavatar** · August 9th, 2005, 08:46 AM

Right now, I use Avast! Antivirus, Microsoft Anti Spyware, and IE6 exclusively on a Celeron 1.1ghz pc. As I'm very familiar and happy with them, I use the exact same software protection on my laptop with the same level of aggression. I'm not a techie and I'm not even going to speculate on that end as far as the effectiveness of my choice of protection. I've also never had half of the computer problems alot of my friends have had, with the reformatting, and HD crashes, or things of the like, so I think I've been fairly lucky. As for pop ups, or the newer pop under, when they show up on my screen while I'm at any site, I immediately add the source of the offending pop up/pop under to my restricted sites list so that even if it does pop up again, my browser will at least not load it's content.

**jfwalls** · August 9th, 2005, 08:59 AM

Macs are nice because you don't have as many virus and spyware problems, but if their popularity continues to increase they will have the same problems as PC. Windows has so many problems because it's on almost every damn computer in the world.

**NoSeRider** · August 9th, 2005, 11:28 AM

http://www.winpatrol.com/
http://soho.sygate.com/free/default.php
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1

Those are all on my computer, and I believe I've defeated the bad people.

**Advocate of Fate** · August 9th, 2005, 01:12 PM

I dont use any of that anti-virus rubbish. I used to use adaware from time to time, thats good for cleaning up bad registries and such. I never get trojans, trackers, bad cookies, viruses, and the likes. My mom used to get swarms of viruses on her computer, so i cleaned it all up and switched her over to Firefox. Lo and behold, no viruses. I blame internet explorer for 95% of all infections, that program is pure rubbish. Frankly ,i dont think all of these defense programs do much at all, other than yell at you every time you're trying to do something. My advice: just dont be an idiot. Learn up on how to protect yourself without relying on a host of programs that'll do fuckall.

/rant

**darth massacre** · August 9th, 2005, 02:02 PM

Here's how it goes.

Gator makes spyware/internet popup ads and so on popular.
Gator gets too many hits from the legal sector for misleading users
Gator changes name to Claria to "upgrade its image"
Microsoft buys Claria.
Microsoft stops bootlegged versions of XP from downloading security updates for free.

We're all gonna die.

**MarkHarchar** · August 9th, 2005, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Advocate of Fate

I dont use any of that anti-virus rubbish. I used to use adaware from time to time, thats good for cleaning up bad registries and such. I never get trojans, trackers, bad cookies, viruses, and the likes. My mom used to get swarms of viruses on her computer, so i cleaned it all up and switched her over to Firefox. Lo and behold, no viruses. I blame internet explorer for 95% of all infections, that program is pure rubbish. Frankly ,i dont think all of these defense programs do much at all, other than yell at you every time you're trying to do something. My advice: just dont be an idiot. Learn up on how to protect yourself without relying on a host of programs that'll do fuckall.

/rant

At my job, I am in charge of keep a few thousand PCs free from virus and malware infections and if you don't think you need protection, you are insane. Luckily, most ISPs have some sort of build in firewalls and protection to stop this shit. Even if you aren't using IE, there are holes in the OS, especially Windows. Here is what works for me. I have DSL with a firewall build into the DSL router. I have XP SP2 Firewall enabled with pop-up blocker. I have all the MS critical updates installing as often as they put them out and I have Symantec AV version 10 with anti-spyware. If I get hit, there is never an effect because it is handled before it breaks stuff. Surfing porn will kill you though, so I suggest limiting that if you don't want your PC f*&ked up.

**Blue** · August 9th, 2005, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by jfwalls

Macs are nice because you don't have as many virus and spyware problems, but if their popularity continues to increase they will have the same problems as PC. Windows has so many problems because it's on almost every damn computer in the world.

Yea, thats the big appeal for me. With mac switching to intel chip sets, more people will use it so more problems will arrise...guess i should enjoy the freedom while it lasts?