eburger68
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-28
1 edit | Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
Hi All:
We've been seeing more and more users being suckered by anti-spyware apps that can only be characterized as dubious or questionable. What's truly sad about these questionable anti-spyware apps is that they're for-pay ($$) apps, when effective, trustworthy, well-regarded anti-spyware apps with good track records are available for free. Two good free spyware scanners are:
Ad-aware
»www.lavasoft.de/
SpyBot Search & Destroy
»spybot.safer-networking.de/
Also recommended are these two excellent (and free) spyware prevention utilities from JavaCool:
SpywareBlaster
»www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareGuard
»www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareguard.html
There are, of course, several other commendable anti-spyware apps out there, several of them for-pay. See this page for links to other useful anti-spyware utilities:
»www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/soft6.htm
Beware, though, of the many new "free" spyware detection utilities that have emerged out of the woodwork over the past year. Many of them are released by fly-by-night companies with no track record in the anti-spyware scene. A few are even released by known spyware pushers.
These companies appear to have entered the anti-spyware market only because they sensed an easy way to make quick money off people by exploiting their ignorance and fear. These companies' apps are often shoddy utilities thrown together for them by contracted "rent-a-coders" and then rushed out onto the web. A number of them are even known to use code and databases ripped off from SpyBot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. And a good number of them also try to exploit the reputations of Ad-aware and SpyBot Search & Destroy by trading on their good names (esp. the term "spybot") and using look-alike GUIs. All these tactics are simply designed to create confusion amongst unwitting internet users and get them to pay for inferior spyware protection.
While these newer apps initially appear to be "free," they ultimately turn out to be for-pay ($$). What often happens is that they'll scan your system for free, claim to detect "spyware" of some sort, and then demand payment and registration in order to clean that "spyware" (which may or may not actually be there) off your system. Indeed, many of these dubious apps and web sites practice the "hard sell," using scare tactics to badger folks into coughing up money for programs of questionable usefulness. Even if you do pay for the "full" version, the spyware detection will likely be weak and slipshod, leaving you exposed to the real threats may very well exist on your system.
So how to distinguish legitimate anti-spyware utilities from dubious and questionable ones?
These dubious free spyware scanners are heavily advertised in Google's "sponsored links" for search terms such as "spyware":
»www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=U···e+Search
Indeed, a Google search on the term "spyware" is very revealing: you'll notice that all of the top non-paid/non-sponsored search results (in other words, results popular with users themselves) are for free spyware applications and information sites with good track records, including:
Lavasoft/Ad-aware
»www.lavasoftusa.com/
GRC - OptOut
»www.grc.com/optout.htm
SpywareInfo
»www.spywareinfo.com/
SpyBot Search & Destroy
»security.kolla.de/
CounterExploitation (Cexx.org)
»www.cexx.org/adware.htm
SpywareBlaster
»www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SimplyTheBest - Spyware
»simplythebest.net/info/spyware.html
SpywareGuide
»www.spywareguide.com/
By contrast, all of the "sponsored links" (in other words, results paid for by advertisers) are for programs that I can characterize only as dubious or questionable. Unfortunately, more and more users are being fooled by these dubious utilities.
If you encounter an anti-spyware program that you've never heard of before and you're wondering about its effectiveness, by all means start a thread here at DSLR/BBR and ask. There are plenty of folks here who would be happy to help.
Best,
Eric L. Howes |
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Rfsjr2
Shop on Top
Premium
join:2001-08-11
Ferndale, WA
clubs:
|  Of all the anti-spyware apps available, I'd have to say SpywareBlaster is an absolute, must-have utility. It almost, but not quite, makes Ad-aware and SpyBot S&D moot. I run all three programs, and it's a very good combination for me. Nice thread. 
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*Frank* Earthlink SRS G4R 970_.42. W2K Pro SP4. DAK421_P11. Wired LAN, 2 clients. |
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damnyank
join:2004-01-08
Petal, MS | reply to eburger68
eburger68 - excellent post - I run all four (AdAware/Spybot/SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard)of the ones you mentioned and I do recommend them to everyone - especially for the price!!;) |
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richtig
Music Is Emotion
Premium
join:2003-02-19
Australia
clubs:
| reply to eburger68
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ug
I have to say that after some doubts on Webroot Spy Sweeper
they seem to be keeping up with the action. They have detected some "nasties" that neither AdAware nor Spybot found.
It costs money, of course  , but may add another defense to your arsenal.
--
Software is getting harder! |
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La Luna
Surviving Ashraful
Premium
join:2001-07-12
Warwick, NY
clubs:
 ·Optimum Online
 ·Vonage
| reply to eburger68
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
Absolutely the best four! Happy to say I use (and recommend) all of them, and they have kept me safe from nasties. Each one is worth its weight in gold. 
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SB2K »www.sarah-brightman.com |
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StraitShoot
Who Loves Ya Baby? - Theo Kojak
Premium
join:2003-02-08
Clinton, MA | reply to richtig
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ug
I agree.. I stopped using evrything else and am using Spysweeper... It's great..
--
I'm Mad With Power! |
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Sparrow
Crystal Sky
Premium
join:2002-12-03
Sachakhand
| reply to eburger68
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
August 26, 2003 | 
August 31, 2003 |
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gracie
Geek Goddess
Premium
join:2003-07-15
confusion
| reply to damnyank
said by damnyank  :
I run all four (AdAware/Spybot/SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard)
good heavens. are they all so limited that one needs more than two? i definitely am a belt and suspenders kinda gal, but to me, that means running an AV, an AT or two (one background like BOC, one on-demand, like TDS) and an antispyware app.
so again, are they so poorly updated that you actually find something with the third to run that you didn't find with the first two?
--
graciella! "not tonight dear, I have DSL."
Creating SuperSites Worldwide |
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damnyank
join:2004-01-08
Petal, MS
| said by gracie :
said by damnyank :
I run all four (AdAware/Spybot/SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard)
good heavens. are they all so limited that one needs more than two? i definitely am a belt and suspenders kinda gal, but to me, that means running an AV, an AT or two (one background like BOC, one on-demand, like TDS) and an antispyware app.
so again, are they so poorly updated that you actually find something with the third to run that you didn't find with the first two?
In an effort to explain my using 4 apps:
First off - I'm sure you are aware that there have been instances (and I have seen it on my own system) where AdAware will "miss" something that SpyBot picks up - or vice-a-versa. So that's why I run both and it is recommended to run both on the most of the forums I frequent.
Second - SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed.
Third - SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
SpywareGuard now also features Download Protection and Browser Hijacking Protection! I especially like the Browser Hijacking Protection - you get a warning whenever an attempted homepage hijack occurs and you have the ability to stop it from being hijacked.
I find three of these be to updated on a fairly regular basis. SpywareGuard hasn't been updated since Nov - I have no idea why.
Now I thought the point (and I may have missed it) of this thread was "free" anti-spyware apps. As a stand alone home computer owner I can not see myself paying $40 for BOC and $40 for TDS! I am currently wondering more and more why I renewed my subscription to NAV 2003 in December. (AVG is looking awfully tempting - especially with the "free" pricetag) So okay I have to have 4 programs on my system - I haven't looked in to it and have no desire to - but I can not help but wonder about footprints and cpu useage of these four versus BOC & TDS combined.
Thank you for letting me give you my 2 cents worth!:D |
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StraitShoot
Who Loves Ya Baby? - Theo Kojak
Premium
join:2003-02-08
Clinton, MA | reply to eburger68
Your title doesn't say "Free"...
Besides, Spysweeper does basically ALL the job of the 3 programs rolled into one program, and it does a VERY Good job at that...
--
I'm Mad With Power! |
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nineinchnerd
join:2001-12-31
Rochester, MI
| reply to eburger68
»xs.tech.nu/
PeerGuardian also blocks out ad/spyware from reaching your computer and a whole lot more.
I occasionally run Spybot afterwards and it doesn't find much except for my Excite.com "tracking" cookies (its my homepage). PeerGuardian is doing it's job. |
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CajunTek
Insane Cajun
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-08
Arlington, TX | reply to eburger68
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ug
I see listings of the good.. for the education of those who know no better how about some of the "Bad and the Ugly".. Just to keep folks from getting caught up in the mess not to start a flame war... |
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damox
Premium
join:2002-01-07
Olympia, WA
·Comcast Formerly ..
| reply to eburger68
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
Great info Eric, thanks. I use Spybot - Search & Destroy. It seems to have improved significantly since I first started using it. They do ask for a donation if users find the product useful in order to keep the project going, though it isn't mandatory. I have been so pleased with Spybot, and the great job it has done that I was happy to oblige.
I have not tried these other products mentioned except Adaware, but it seems that some of you swear by them, so I plan to give those a try at work. I would say that I am spending an increasing amount of time working on computers that have been hi-jacked by malicious ad/spy software. This really only has become a significant problem over the past 6 months or so. One of the things I have been lobbying my boss about is including some type of protection against browser hi-jacking in particular, and adware/spyware/pop-ups in our basic load. |
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muf
Captain of the axe
Premium
join:2003-01-04
uk
1 edit | reply to eburger68
Excellent post Eric. I myself have campaigned the Spy Sweeper cause here(some may have noticed ). I am always on the lookout for spyware applications that improve on the current one's i use. I found one the other day that i have never heard of before. Looking at the product on their website it sounds impressive and seems to be very configurable. I was wondering if you have ever encountered this one, or anyone else here for that matter. Details:
»www.trackzapper.com/
Scroll down the page and it's the one called 'TZ Spyware-Adware Remover'.
I found this one on www.download.com but i wanted to find out first if anyone knows it/used it before downloading and giving it a try.
muf |
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gracie
Geek Goddess
Premium
join:2003-07-15
confusion
| reply to damnyank
said by damnyank :
In an effort to explain my using 4 apps:
thanx for the explanation! i'm planning on testing out spybot against my current adaware and choosing one .
as for boc and tds, they are anti-trojans. they are not spyware apps per se and i don't use them as such; i wasn't suggesting either as a substitute for adaware/spybot, etc. but i certainly wouldn't consider myself well-protected running only a spyware app and not an AT or very robust AV.
--
graciella! "not tonight dear, I have DSL."
Creating SuperSites Worldwide |
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damnyank
join:2004-01-08
Petal, MS
| said by gracie :
thanx for the explanation! i'm planning on testing out spybot against my current adaware and choosing one .
as for boc and tds, they are anti-trojans. they are not spyware apps per se and i don't use them as such; i wasn't suggesting either as a substitute for adaware/spybot, etc. but i certainly wouldn't consider myself well-protected running only a spyware app and not an AT or very robust AV.
As I said before - sometimes Spybot will catch one and AdAware will miss it or vice-a-versa - I would encourage anyone interested to run both!
Also thanks - I see I lack some knowledge and need to educate myself some more - in the anti-trojan field - any suggested reading/info would be appreciated!;) |
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Riddles
join:2002-05-22
Eastchester, NY
| reply to eburger68
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ug
May i suggest a link to download.com with the term spyware in the search...
kinda like this
»download.com.com/sort/3120-2001-···&ca=2001
hopefully it retains the sort which is done by the number of downloads...
as you can see ad-aware has 27 million and spybot has 10 million downloads...
the people have spoken...
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gracie
Geek Goddess
Premium
join:2003-07-15
confusion
| said by Riddles :
as you can see ad-aware has 27 million and spybot has 10 million downloads...
the people have spoken...
heck, just 'cause something's popular, don't make it SAFE or SMART---just look how popular AOL is . (sorry, couldn't resist).
just because the people have spoken, doesn't mean they're making sense... although in this case, ad-aware is a great product (i use it, so i must think so), but that doesn't make spybot inferior at all, and many savvy users prefer it. i suspect if you only wanted to run one, and have sensible surfing habits, you'd do fine with either.
--
graciella! "not tonight dear, I have DSL."
Creating SuperSites Worldwide |
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robtoo
R.J.T.
Premium
join:2003-10-13
United Kingd
| reply to Riddles
said by Riddles :
as you can see ad-aware has 27 million and spybot has 10 million downloads...
The gap narrows a lot if you remember that ad-aware has been out much longer, and so sort by "downloads last week" instead. (Narrows the gap, but doesn't close it -- 550k & 335k) |
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Doctor Four
My other vehicle is a TARDIS
Premium
join:2000-09-05
Dallas, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
2 edits | reply to eburger68
Re: Anti-Spyware Apps: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
It seems that a poster to the newsgroup alt.privacy.spyware
has run afoul of one of these questionable anti-spyware apps.
They installed something called Spykiller, which allegedly
detected a keylogger when both Ad Aware and Spybot
said their system was clean. It popped up a message
saying it wanted 39.93 to be able to remove the "spyware"
it had found, and even started a 10 minute countdown timer,
after which it tried to get the user to buy it again,
this time at 29.95. It describes to a tee the new kind of
questionable spyware removal utilities that seem to be
popping up like weeds lately.
--
"Kayura or Badamon, whichever you are, you should know that I will never give up this battle. By the will of the Ancient, I shall succeed!" - Shuten (Anubis) from the Ronin Warriors. |
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