Three Cheers for Microsoft's AntiSpyware Beta

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wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
I was searching online for some information, and came across a web page that automatically installed a bunch of junk on my computer. I have adaware and Spybot installed, so I updated them and scanned. Thinking I was ok, I opened up IE and it took forever to load anything. So I came across AntiSpyware beta, and it basically removed 3 'trojans' that Adaware, Spybot, and McAfee didn't find. Also switching to firefox now because of all the crappy holes in IE, I had the latest patches from windows update too :(
 
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LuDaCriS66

Platinum Member
Nov 21, 2001
2,057
0
0
Its kinda funny almost no one knew about the software when it was called Giant Antiyspyware
 
ultimatebob

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
Yeah, I made the mistake of accidently opening IE instead of Firefox yesterday and searching for some game cheat codes. All it took was ONE site, and my system got nailed with 350 pieces of spyware! Amazing... This evil app even went as far as bundling it's own pop-up and spyware blocker, just to keep another spyware company from uninstalling their software :)

Fortunately, I noticed the little system tray icon that it installed before I rebooted, and was able to remove them with a combination of AdAware and Spybot. I don't even want to imagine how badly it would hosed my system if I let all the processes that it installed launch on startup.
 
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coolred

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
4,911
0
0
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Well they SHOULD know where the holes are....
Click to expand...

Agreed, its easy to fix something when you know exactly where its broken. But this software raises a question, how will they distribute it. I mean if they give it away, then thats fine, but that doesn't sound like the MS we all know and hate. If they bundle with the OS, thats an antitrust issue. If they try to sell it then they are gonna have problems from the multitude of people that will complain about having to pay to fix a problem that shouldn't have exsisted in the first place.
 
tyler811

tyler811

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2002
5,385
0
71
Originally posted by: coolred
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Well they SHOULD know where the holes are....
Click to expand...

Agreed, its easy to fix something when you know exactly where its broken. But this software raises a question, how will they distribute it. I mean if they give it away, then thats fine, but that doesn't sound like the MS we all know and hate. If they bundle with the OS, thats an antitrust issue. If they try to sell it then they are gonna have problems from the multitude of people that will complain about having to pay to fix a problem that shouldn't have exsisted in the first place.
Click to expand...

Rumor has it they will sell it.
 
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ArmenK

Golden Member
Oct 16, 2000
1,600
1
0
Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
i thoguht i downloaded it, where is the program launched from?
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You might be thinking of the Malicious Software Removal Tool that you get from windows update. If so, the following will answer your question:

Q28: After I run the tool through Windows Update or Automatic Updates, where are the tool files stored? Can I rerun the tool?
A28: After the tool is run through Windows Update or Automatic Updates, it is automatically deleted from the computer. To run the tool without using Windows Update or Automatic Updates, run the tool from the Download Center or from the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/malwareremove
 
shilala

shilala

Lifer
Oct 5, 2004
11,437
1
76
I'm checking Antispyware out.
We've all but done away with adware and malware since we started using Kaspersky. It catches stuff while I'm browsing that I'd never guess was there.
On the first pass it only found adware that I allow (Kazaa bundled adware).
I'm doing the mega-scan now.
While the scan was taking place, it kicked up a downloader trojan that Kaspersky caught and deleted.
Man that Kaspersky is the sh!t.
 
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Indolent

Platinum Member
Mar 7, 2003
2,128
2
0
how do you get the stupid thing to not run on startup? I can't find a setting anywhere.
 
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Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
what the christ. i know it's possible to use IE and not get ANY spyware, i've done it for years now!

don't be a stupid user!
 
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aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
2
0
I never get spyware on my machine, but then, I use Opera :D

(I check with spybot, downloaded the MS antispyware beta and ran it once then uninstalled it)
 
ultimatebob

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
what the christ. i know it's possible to use IE and not get ANY spyware, i've done it for years now!

don't be a stupid user!
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's "easy" to keep IE secure as long as you use a popup blocker, a spyware blocker, keep your system up to date with patches, run an Antivirus program, AND stick with sites that you trust.

Hmm... I think that I just successfully described about 2% of all Internet users out there :)
 
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wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
what the christ. i know it's possible to use IE and not get ANY spyware, i've done it for years now!

don't be a stupid user!
Click to expand...


I never got anything until yesterday. I am usually the one that has to clean up other people's systems. But IE is a piece of sh!t if I can visit one website and 30 something adware/trojans gets installed without me clicking ANYTHING. I run a very clean computer and rarely install any type of freeware, other than the spyware removal type stuff. This isn't about stupid users, this is about a common program (IE) that has so many security holes, you cannot even do basic internet browsing anymore without having crap installed all over your computer.

By the way, I had all the latest patches, and my antivirus was up to date. Adaware and Spybot were up to date as I just installed them the other day to guard against this type of crap. And I use google toolbar which has a popup blocker built in. And no, I don't go visiting a bunch of porn/warez sites either.
 
jadinolf

jadinolf

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
20,952
3
81
Originally posted by: LuDaCriS66
Its kinda funny almost no one knew about the software when it was called Giant Antiyspyware
Click to expand...

True. I never heard of Giant.
 
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Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
And I use google toolbar which has a popup blocker built in.
Click to expand...
if you needed that, then you obviously aren't using service pack 2. i wouldn't consider yourself "up to date".
 
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