Ad-Aware and Spybot not so reliable after all

[Agozer]

That's interesting, but it doesn't say what he infected the computers with.  If he tested with a bunch of obscure crap that no one with a brain actually gets, then his numbers don't really apply to practical real life situations.

Are you referring to those people who use some other browser than IE as "ones with brains"?

 

Well, that's one thing, but more specifically those who don't click on every email attachment, or open every.exe that a porn or warez site pops up on their browser, etc. I suppose I should have specified "real life situations for most of us."

Ah, much better. I'm just glad that my mom isn't that interested in computers, although I always keep watch while she does something on this machine.

 

*Most* of my friends are educated enough not to click on those popups and scripts and whatnot.

Edited January 31, 2005 by Agozer

[Gryph]

I haven't seen a pop up I haven't allowed in months. The only spyware I ever get is the same harmless crap.

[Superman]

I have installed that microsoft anti spyware as well as ad-aware and spybot. I only get harmless tracking cookies now.

[Sturmvogel]

That's interesting, but it doesn't say what he infected the computers with.  If he tested with a bunch of obscure crap that no one with a brain actually gets, then his numbers don't really apply to practical real life situations.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you referring to those people who use some other browser than IE as "ones with brains"?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well, that's one thing, but more specifically those who don't click on every email attachment, or open every.exe that a porn or warez site pops up on their browser, etc. I suppose I should have specified "real life situations for most of us."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, much better. I'm just glad that my mom isn't that interested in computers, although I always keep watch while she does something on this machine.

 

*Most* of my friends are educated enough not to click on those popups and scripts and whatnot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Wait a minute....if you don't click on them, how would you close them??

[Agozer]

That's interesting, but it doesn't say what he infected the computers with.  If he tested with a bunch of obscure crap that no one with a brain actually gets, then his numbers don't really apply to practical real life situations.

Are you referring to those people who use some other browser than IE as "ones with brains"?

 

Well, that's one thing, but more specifically those who don't click on every email attachment, or open every.exe that a porn or warez site pops up on their browser, etc. I suppose I should have specified "real life situations for most of us."

Ah, much better. I'm just glad that my mom isn't that interested in computers, although I always keep watch while she does something on this machine.

 

*Most* of my friends are educated enough not to click on those popups and scripts and whatnot.

 

Wait a minute....if you don't click on them, how would you close them??

What the witty reply. Ok, you win.

[NeoMaster]

I use Mozilla, AdAware, that firewall/spyware prevention thing that comes with XP, Norton's VirusScan/Firewall and I still don't feel safe...and what it's really becoming a pain when browsing certain legit sites and file sharing.

[Daeval]

*Most* of my friends are educated enough not to click on those popups and scripts and whatnot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Wait a minute....if you don't click on them, how would you close them??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You use firefox, so they don't open in the first place.

[NeoMaster]

*Most* of my friends are educated enough not to click on those popups and scripts and whatnot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Wait a minute....if you don't click on them, how would you close them??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You use firefox, so they don't open in the first place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know most of you think FireFox is the best thing against that kind of stuff but I'm a little iffy about the program. I use it and all and it's great, but just last week I did a full virus scan of my pc and I found a AdWare file that has potential danger within the FireFox folder...any idea what that is?

[Gryph]

No browser is 100% safe. Firefox is just relatively a lot more secure then IE.

[Daeval]

I know most of you think FireFox is the best thing against that kind of stuff but I'm a little iffy about the program. I use it and all and it's great, but just last week I did a full virus scan of my pc and I found a AdWare file that has potential danger within the FireFox folder...any idea what that is?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No idea what that anonymous thing is. What was it called by your scanner program?

 

And no browser, Firefox included, will stop EVERYTHING. That said, Firefox is a lot better than the popular alternative.

 

If the internet is a water-balloon fight, mal/spy/adware are the water balloons, and Internet Explorer is a trashcan lid, then Firefox is the great wall of China. Sure, someone with a strong enough arm might get something over it, but I know which one I'd rather be behind.

[Sturmvogel]

*Most* of my friends are educated enough not to click on those popups and scripts and whatnot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Wait a minute....if you don't click on them, how would you close them??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You use firefox, so they don't open in the first place.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

First thing I did when i got my laptop a few weeks ago was install Firefox, and haven't seen a pop up yet. But if a pop up does appear, you'd have to click on it to at least close it. Just hope that doesn't infect the comp.