IT Guys: What are the worst programs an employee can DL onto your computer system?

[Amplifier]

What are the worst pieces of spyware you've seen downloaded on a computer?

Personally I hate it when they DL 3rd party toolbars that create popups.

What's the worst program you've encountered?

 

[Czar]

bonzai buddy!

 

[mechBgon]

Cutting to the chase here: make them Restricted Users (aka Limited on a stand-alone WinXP rig), if at all possible.

 

[PawNtheSandman]

CS Search was a pain as well as XSearch.

X Search was horrible. It would be found and removed but there was a script file in the Sys32 folder that would recreate it with a new name every time. So I finally had to find the file, delete it and delete the script file, then edit the registry to remove every trace of it.

 

[Firus]

Webshots on an old PIII 550 and then they would wonder why their system is so bogged down. that was a few years ago, but man, I hated that. It was good when they finally cracked down and stopped letting users install crap like that.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Cutting to the chase here: make them Restricted Users (aka Limited on a stand-alone WinXP rig), if at all possible.

I was just going to say: they can't.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Cutting to the chase here: make them Restricted Users (aka Limited on a stand-alone WinXP rig), if at all possible.

I keep pushing for all of us to go with a centralized server farm solution and Citrix (or citrix alternative) terminals - at that point I could probably even make them Guests...

 

[Joemonkey]

wintools always pisses me off

 

[SagaLore]

A few years ago I had a problem with someone encouraging others to install iMesh. It was a nightmare cleaning up. Then after that we had a problem with Hotbar, but people were installing it on accident when opening internal emails from others that had it.

 

[Genx87]

There are so many that I cant keep track.

Any of those bars that end up in IE. They typically bring with them a vast array of mal\spyware.

The worst I ever saw in the office was one of our execs who had nearly 26000 items listed from adaware. The machine barely started as it would instantly turn into an ad execs wet dream.

Had about 37 process's running on it. It was a good time lol

 

[Drakkon]

yahoo messenger...it installs so much crap that it should be considered spyware...

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Had about 37 process's running on it. It was a good time lol

Is that bad?

I boot my PC and have about 35 processes running. They're all the BS crap that the IT department here has us running. about half a dozen are various AV processes, a bunch of netware and other assorted networking BS processes that I don't really need running, all kinds of junk.

Right now I just have notes and FF open and have 38 processes... and no, I don't have spyware processes on that list.

My least favorits is the AV program that steals focus every 30 minutes or so. I'll be typing, then I go WTFBBQ? Characters are not appearing on the screen... That should NEVER happen, total BS.

 

[jasonc42]

AOL. Hands down. Our policy was that when we got a machine in for refresh, if there was AOL installed on it, we immediately re-imaged the machine. No saving of data, no restoring printers or other devices, just back to standard company load, and sent back to them.

 

[rbV5]

IE is like a magnet that says "deposit spyware please"

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: rbV5
IE is like a magnet that says "deposit spyware please"

indeed, i removed all shortcuts to it from the work pc and told the boss and secretary to get over it because i was tired of fixing every other week

did the same to my parents, and told them if they use ie or outlook i wont be fixing their problems again. too much trouble for a browser that blows anyway

 

[spherrod]

most of our users are locked down and unable to install things themselves

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: spherrod
most of our users are locked down and unable to install things themselves

Aha, someone (else) who actually solves the problem instead of trying to hide it under a bandage

I :heart: my RU accounts

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: spherrod
most of our users are locked down and unable to install things themselves

Aha, someone (else) who actually solves the problem instead of trying to hide it under a bandage

I :heart: my RU accounts

It's scary how many companies don't even use this simple security measure.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: spherrod
most of our users are locked down and unable to install things themselves

Aha, someone (else) who actually solves the problem instead of trying to hide it under a bandage

I :heart: my RU accounts

It's scary how many companies don't even use this simple security measure.

Being a learn-as-I-go guy, I'll confess that I was not always among the Enlightened

 

[KLin]

look2me sucks big donkey dong.

 

[Bulldog13]

I CAN T WAIT TO START MY NEW TECH SUPPORT JOB IN A FEW WEEKS !!!

 

[statik213]

Originally posted by: jasonc42
AOL. Hands down. Our policy was that when we got a machine in for refresh, if there was AOL installed on it, we immediately re-imaged the machine. No saving of data, no restoring printers or other devices, just back to standard company load, and sent back to them.

Yep AOL was the biggest b!tch to clean when I worked for PC maint. at the campus.

 

[BFG10K]

Cutting to the chase here: make them Restricted Users (aka Limited on a stand-alone WinXP rig), if at all possible.

Most definitely.