Ad-aware FYI

[Dan Murphy]

Once you install it, Mermaid, click on the lower area where it says to check for updates, follow the steps. When finished with that, click on the 'scan now' icon on the left. Let it scan your whole system (it will take quite awhile if you have a lot of files. When it is finished it will let you know. Just follow the steps to quarantine, then put check marks in all the boxes. After that, click on delete (or remove, I forget what it says but you will know). Then they are all gone. You should do this about once a week or so. If you use an kazaa type file sharing (napster-like) do it more often.

As far as a firewall, that has nothing to do with these types of files being placed in your system.

 

[*Flower*]

I was also using ad-aware 5.83.

Thanks to you, Dan- I upgraded tonight and 6.0 found 6 keys and 37 files, for a total of 43!!
I'd just scanned with the old ad-aware last week, and it found nothing.

UGH!!!

 

[shep]

Are you supposed to get rid of everything it finds?
I did and think something got messed up, hope to straighten it out when I get home....

 

[MarkRG]

Thanks Dan! I really have been slack lately in checking up on it. Downloading now

Shep(and others) - No, you shouldn't just blanket delete everything it shows- you need to examine each one - anything in cookies for sure can go, but be very careful in files that look to be part of programs. Known spyware will be shown as such and ones AdAware is iffy about will be marked in some way. You in particular Shep, may need to reinstall whatever software your internet provider has.

Also, these low price internet providers(Netzero for example) require ad software be installed. That's the deal you're making to pay near nothing for internet access. Be very careful in deleting anything out of software directories.

Now to define some of this better:

Spyware - software, that by one way or another is tracking your use of your computer in some way or another and then transmitting that information when you go online. All without your permission. Most of these track your browser clicks, but some of the more invasive track what software you use, and the malicious ones even can steal passwords and such.

How do these get onboard? When you install things off the web on most cases. A good example is you'll browse to a website and a popup box will appear saying that you need some kind of plug-in to view this website and your browser wants to install it. READ THESE CAREFULLY! Some of these are in reality, spyware. And you can click no and the website may load correctly anyhow.

Also some shareware, and in a few cases, off the shelf software have these things installing themselves without your permission.

Always excercise patience and read when clicking thru boxes is your frontline defense. Ad-Aware is the second line.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Thanks, Dan! 91 files!!

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I just downloaded and did a scan and it found 269!!
What should I do now??....How do I know if I should keep them or not??

Do I have to look at each one??

Is this bad to have that many? I never did anything like this before and don't want to mess it up.....

Thanks
Lisa

**Alot of them say hotbar, brilliant digital, and tracking co????????

 

[Dan Murphy]

Well, I have always marked and deleted all it found. Never any problems. Mark, above, says some may be needed. I would say if it sounds like spyware type file, mark it to delete. It will be backed up for you in ver 6, if it is needed. Ad-aware is just looking for known offenders.

 

[epcotfan]

Some people have reported conflicts with Norton Anti-Virus. You may want to read these review from download.com before proceeding:

http://download.com.com/3302-2144-10186632.html?ob=0&pn=1&fb=2

 

[Liz]

OH MY HECK!!!

I had 472!!!!!!!! And I had just done the old Ad-aware that morning! Most of them were cookies. YIKES! Thanks Dan!

 

[Towncrier]

Yet another update was released today. It seems like they are coming out every other day. Good for them. I think that I'm going to have to register this piece of software just to show them my support.

 

[Patrick IL.]

Thanks Dan, I downloaded it it and broke a hundred with it scanning and finding those little buggers