Ad-aware SE professional vs AVG Anti-Spyware

[jadinolf]

I am just passing this information along for your consumption.

I have run a scan using AVG Anti-Spyware and it found two tracking cookies. I did not delete the tracking cookies and then ran a scan with Ad-Aware Pro and it found nothing.

Interesting when you compare a program which costs considerable bucks and one which is free.

 

[John]

FWIW both of those apps have mediocre detection rates at best. Ad-aware SE pro has the same detection rate as the free version. Simply because AVG (Ewido) detects a couple of cookies doesn't make it any better or worse. Maybe you can load virusburst, winantivirus, or another malicious app with a vundo variant on your pc and report back with the results.

 

[gsellis]

The false positives on cookies in Ad-Ware used to be mind boogling. Defender is better, if just for the fact it ignores cookies. Lordy, I hated explaining to the friends and family tech support network about what all of it was.

I think Kasparsky does adware well (I don't use it - just parroting.) SAV 10 CE does a fair job.

 

[ForumMaster]

i believe spyware doctor has one of the best spyware removal and detection rates. Kaspersky i imagine is up there to. i use ZAISS. never had a single attack.

 

[jadinolf]

Good posts.

I chose Adaware SE Pro because it claims to block tracking cookies.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: John
FWIW both of those apps have mediocre detection rates at best. Ad-aware SE pro has the same detection rate as the free version. Simply because AVG (Ewido) detects a couple of cookies doesn't make it any better or worse. Maybe you can load virusburst, winantivirus, or another malicious app with a vundo variant on your pc and report back with the results.

I got my introduction to Virusburst (thank you porn sites) a couple of days ago. Had to download some specialty program to get rid of it. Can't remember it off the top of my head.

 

[Firsttime]

Originally posted by: CPA
I got my introduction to Virusburst (thank you porn sites) a couple of days ago. Had to download some specialty program to get rid of it. Can't remember it off the top of my head.

Me and virusburst met the other day too. Thanks to torrents. I just gave up and reformated, which was kinda overdue anyway.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Firsttime

Originally posted by: CPA
I got my introduction to Virusburst (thank you porn sites) a couple of days ago. Had to download some specialty program to get rid of it. Can't remember it off the top of my head.

Me and virusburst met the other day too. Thanks to torrents. I just gave up and reformated, which was kinda overdue anyway.

SmitFraudFix was what I used. So far no problems.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Firsttime

Originally posted by: CPA
I got my introduction to Virusburst (thank you porn sites) a couple of days ago. Had to download some specialty program to get rid of it. Can't remember it off the top of my head.

Me and virusburst met the other day too. Thanks to torrents. I just gave up and reformated, which was kinda overdue anyway.

SmitFraudFix was what I used. So far no problems.

Interesting.

http://www.filepedia.com/desktop_software/desktop_security/smitfraudfix.cfm

 

[John]

SmitFraudFix official homepage

I also have a kit that I put together with multiple tools. The pack contains noahdfear's smitrem, S!Ri's smitfraudfix, combofix, vundofix and a few others. Get it here

 

[meatfestival]

Ad-Aware is utterly useless these days. The ones you need are SpyBot, Spy Sweeper and Spyware Doctor (always picks up the most stuff).

 

[KoolDrew]

Who cares which one detects more tracking cookies?

 

[John]

Here is a

 

[flexy]

spysweeper !

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: John
Here is a

Why, thank you!

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: jadinolf
I am just passing this information along for your consumption.

I have run a scan using AVG Anti-Spyware and it found two tracking cookies. I did not delete the tracking cookies and then ran a scan with Ad-Aware Pro and it found nothing.

Interesting when you compare a program which costs considerable bucks and one which is free.

AVG finds much much much more than Ad-Aware does. I was fixing up a computer a couple weeks ago, which was just loaded with spyware, malware, trojans, the whole nine yards. The machine took a nose dive when he tried to install IE7. After a cleanup with ad-aware, hijackthis, avg free anti-virus, recovery console, and lastly a windows repair install, I talked him into purchasing avg's new anti-malware software (I like it because it's just an extra $5 to avg pro), that scan detected 20 or so more legitimate bad files.

This person was originally against buying an anti-virus program, because he had just spent money on a bogus copy of WinAntiVirus 2006...

 

[Thetech]

Ok let me try to throw a wrench in, which Free... anti-spyware program performs the best.

 

[mechBgon]

If tracking cookies bother you (or the people who come to you alarmed about them), then for Internet Explorer you can do this:


1) go to Control Panel > Internet Options, and go to the Privacy tab

2) slide the slider to Medium-High (if it's not visible, click Default and then slide it to Medium-High)

3) Now click the Advanced button, check the Override box, and block all third-partay cookies point-blank

4) ??

5) Profit!


After doing that, and nuking existing cookies, there should be few or none coming up in future Ad-Aware scans or etc. I haven't noticed any detrimental side effects to this.

FireFox used to have a similar capability but they seem to have taken it out in version 2.x, but you can use SpywareBlaster to block many tracking cookies in FireFox/Mozilla if you like.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Thetech
Ok let me try to throw a wrench in, which Free... anti-spyware program performs the best.

Limited user accounts. Seldom used, but available since the days of WindowsNT. Unless the person has such a lack of common sense that they elevate to Admin level (assuming you allow them that option) AND then deliberately run stuff that they shouldn't, they're pretty much invincible against spyware/adware/Trojans. If anyone knows of uber-virulent sites or malware that can break out of the cage of a Limited account in any fashion, PM me with the info.

Fully enabling DEP is recommended if your CPU supports hardware DEP (requires WinXP SP2 for this option to show up).

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Thetech
Ok let me try to throw a wrench in, which Free... anti-spyware program performs the best.

There's no doubt that Mech's reply lists some quality prevention methods, but to provide an answer to your question it would be the free version of Spyware Doctor 3.2 (slightly dated but uses same definition database as the lastest version). You can find a link to it in my sig.

However please keep in mind that no anti-spyware app is 100%, and in most cases you need to run a combination of tools to remove rogue apps.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: Thetech
Ok let me try to throw a wrench in, which Free... anti-spyware program performs the best.

There's no doubt that Mech's reply lists some quality prevention methods, but to provide an answer to your question it would be the free version of Spyware Doctor 3.2 (slightly dated but uses same definition database as the lastest version). You can find a link to it in my sig.

However please keep in mind that no anti-spyware app is 100%, and in most cases you need to run a combination of tools to remove rogue apps.

That is quite true, I'm more of a "nuke it from high orbit (reformat) and then prevent it in the future" mentality :evil:

I have a Windows2000 installation inside a Virtual PC session that I play around with, infecting it and then seeing who detects what. It's certainly true not to rely on a single proggie for removal. If my little sister ever does a repeat performance of "the last time" then I'll be heading right for John's removal guide, and putting those resources on my thumb drive before going over there. "Last time" involved about 7 hours of slugging it out with stuff like Aurora :Q

 

[John]

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.



My #8 rogueremoval kit should remove the nastiest of the nastiest!

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: John
I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.



My #8 rogueremoval kit should remove the nastiest of the nastiest!

Does it have the Gromozon removal dealiebobs in it? Gromozon sounds like a new level of evilness.

• PDF on Gromozon, for those interested
• Symantec Gromozon remover, aka Trojan.LinkOptomizer
• Prevx Gromozon remover
• If you use the above tools, it may be helpful/necessary to rename their executable file first, since Gromozon reportedly has an anti-Gromozon-remover feature that watches for them.

For readers' benefit and search-engine bots that may land you here: If the F-Secure BlackLight rootkit detector won't run properly, that is a possible symptom of a Gromozon infestation. Because Gromozon uses advanced techniques to hide, including using rootkits, creating its own Administrator-level user account on your PC, using Encrypting File System to hide its files, putting its files in NTFS streams and whatnot, don't assume that a clean virus/spyware scan necessarily means you're not infected.

One more example of why not to use an Admin account when you don't have to, and/or play with fire...

 

[Jeff7]

Firefox + the CookieCuller extension = no cookie problems
I set it to protect the cookies I want to keep, and then have it delete all unprotected cookies every time Firefox loads. So while it doesn't block cookies, it at least only allows them to remain for one session.

 

[Thetech]

Thank you, mechBgon. Thank you John.


P.S I was checking out the SATA guide for newbies on your website and the part with the typical newbies LOL! Definitely a handy guide it also kept my attention.
(I'm not a newbie I just figured I could learn something new)