Computer spyware problems,, is there a good solution?

[harmony gardens]

I know we have a few techno guru's here. I like to click on links that people put up for articles, etc, and find that a lot of places I go, I pick up a lot of spyware. I'm running Super Anti Spyware free, and can usually clean things up to keep running day to day, but it's starting to frustrate me, because it takes so much time. What I'm using cleans it up after the fact, and there's an option to pay $20 to prevent them from coming in. Before I spend the money, I thought it might be a good idea to ask here.

What are you doing to keep your computer running?? Is there something I can install to keep this from happening??

 

[skri11a]

I haven't tried a paid version of SuperAntispyware or Malwarebytes, but I'd imagine those are going to do you the most good (one or the other) for sheer simplicity.

Other things that can help:

Use firefox or chrome and install the adblock extension. This will keep those adds from loading and prevent the spyware that comes with them.

Use OpenDNS for your DNS servers (manually configure your network card) and let them do some blocking of sites that are known to spread spyware/malware.

Install a free personal firewall like comodo and have it locked to the teeth. You'd have to manually allow everything legitimate but eventually you'd have a pretty secure system for the things you commonly do.

Usually, if you're safe about where you surf, what links you click on etc... you shouldn't need to worry about real-time spyware checking. I would never suggest it's a bad idea though.

 

[DaveP]

Usually the free version of spyware and virus checkers don't monitor and stop things from being loaded on to your computer. Malwarebytes is the same way, but removes somethings that others don't. They all have their own little set of things they check for and consider important. Running multiple programs is a good idea.

Spybot Search and Destroy is also free and you just make a donation if you like it. It will immunize your computer and prevent spyware and viruses from getting through. You just have to click immunize and it will set up protection for several thousand things that can infect your computer as well as warn you if you try to access a site that is a known infection site.

I use the Windows XP and Windows 7 firewalls, Microsoft Security Essentials (free from Microsoft), Malwarebytes free edition, and Spybot Search and Destroy. The only infection I have had in so long that I can't remember when was recently. It came in through a hole in Java. It was a trojan type program that got through in a Java app. Java version 20 fixed it and I was at an earlier version.

Some of these things you won't know about until you run a full scan that scans every file. It can run in the background while you surf. I do that at least every other week and run the quick scan once or twice a week. Microsoft Security Essentials runs and detects real time threats. It will notify you and quarantine the offending file.

 

[ShannonS]

Be sure that you are updating things like Adobe Flash. Get the web of trust addon if you are running firefox, it can really help.

 

[xrayspex77]

I use Sandboxie to browse if I'm going to a any questionable sites/links then everything is contained in Sandboxie and I can just delete the content after w/o having to go through any cleaners or system folders. Malwarebytes paid version does do a good job tho of live blocking but it doesn't block all, a couple of things will slip through. At the moment I use Malwarebytes, Spybot - Search & Destroy (free software - which has an immunization option that applies a passive block to your browsers for over 100K known spyware), and Hitman Pro and my PC haven't had any issues.

 

[harmony gardens]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to post. So do you think if I paid the $20 a year to super anti spyware it would do the trick??

I could definately get Spybot.

One other little thing,,, since I've had superanti spyware, I've already set it to not knock out things like passwords for the forums I visit, etc. I suppose if I went with a different program, I would have to go through all that again??

 

[xrayspex77]

Any paid subscription I think will help but sometimes a yearly one isn't necessary, I think the Malwarebytes paid version would do the trick and it's not a yearly.

Also, alot of the spyware you pick up could just be tracking cookies, third-party cookies etc...that can be cleaned easily with CCleaner (also free software). I think you should try it, use CCleaner to clean cookies after you're finished browsing then run a scan and you will see alot less spyware being picked up from your anti-spyware scans. There are options on the browser to clean history, cookies etc... but CCleaner seems to do a much better job. Also can set your browsers to not accept third-party cookies (or prompt you with an option) that would help also.

 

[Overlord]

Well my first suggestion would be if you're semi good with computers.

Install and use Linux. No need to worry about viruses or spyware at all.

But this doesn't really work if you're into games and don't know now to dual boot. But on my windows box I have free AVG and spybot search and destroy. To date, not one virus and spybot does a great job at keeping the pc clean.

But linux, ya, its the cats ars.

 

[jamesam1243]

about three years ago a cracker got into my XP computer and was storing his warez on my hard drive and corrupted al my backup stuff, and when i tried VISTA crackers liked to change the Administrator Password. I switched to Linux and have not been back, but my distro is now obsolete and not supported any more, so i need to look for something new. but i just got so tired of M$ and Linux breaking my system with up dates that i am just kind of sick of operating systems period

James

 

[skri11a]

I agree that linux is really the way to go. Ubuntu or Kubuntu (Xubuntu if you have an old machine) are great, reliable distributions that have so many users that it's usually very easy to solve problems that may come up.

I'm with xrayspex though if you're going to stick with windows. CCleaner and 2 manual spyware cleaners is usually all you need. I know you were looking to feel all warm and fuzzy without having to run manual scans constantly, but if you like to click links, there's not going to be a "catch-all" solution for you. I forgot Spybot has the immunization option which will help. The full versions of malwarebytes would help as well as superantispyware but nothing is going to catch it all in one place.

Really, it comes down to smart surfing. Don't be the first to click a link from a thread. Don't click a link if it seems suspicious. Careful what you click on when you search etc...

Also, don't get too frustrated with doing the maintenance you've been doing. It may seem like a pain, but it's no different than changing the oil in your car. It's a necessary evil.

 

[kj4lxw]

Friend of mine recommended a program called Hostman. Anyone have any comments on it? Was also advised to boot up in safe mode and run Malwarebytes, any opinions on this?

 

[xrayspex77]

Sorry never used Hostman before.

Well it's advised to boot in safe mode to run Malwarebytes if you have a serious spyare/virus (like hijacking your wallpaper, blocking your usage of programs, pop ups coming from nowhere, fake virus warnings etc....), safe mode just allows you to be able to isolate the problem easier since it turns off most non core software from starting up at start up. But for just getting rid of tracking cookies and any spyware that doesn't block any of your system functions don't need to be in safe mode to run program.

 

[Fire N Ice]

You could also try installing a virtual machine on your computer and putting a Linux distro on it (Kubuntu if you want a Windows-style interface). VMware is a free VM program that I've used in the past and has always worked well. If you ever get a virus or spyware on it, just delete the Virtual Machine and start over.

 

[mrjaguar]

malwarebytes and superantispyware is a really good route to go. spybot it good, but the teatimer app (realtime protection) is a PITA and it's a memory hog.

 

[BradSmith]

I used to try everything and just got tired of it all. Now I just keep a complete backup all the time and re-install fresh about once a week or so.

I run my business on-line so I have as much protection as possible and a lot of the advice is good. But really there is nothing like doing a complete re-install every once in a while. Plus keep your cookies cleaned out, don't open e-mails that are even a little goofy. I run one computer just for my business and one for fun but I still clean them both each night before I crash out.

 

[Para]

I've tried just about every program malware program there is and the best anti I've ever seen is Prevx 3.0 for Home and Family

It's based on a different model and stops EVERYTHING dead in it's tracts. While other programs are trying to figure out the threat, Prevx has already stopped it.

 

[Overlord]

Agreed on Ubuntu or Kubuntu. With the development those have gone through, there is really no reason to use Windows if you're using your PC for anything other than gaming.

- Its totally free plus all upgrades are free
- Most software is free ... well I don't really know any that do cost money but i'm sure there are some.
- Its safe and secure.
- Far more stable and secure
- Besides gaming, most open source software is better than its windows counterpart due to the fact that it is open source.

Not trying to preach here, but since moving from windows to linux, i've had almost no downtime, i'm fully upgraded with a cost of $0 and Im not worrying about defragging, disc checks, spyware, adware, viruses and can surf sites without worry.

 

[harmony gardens]

I used to try everything and just got tired of it all. Now I just keep a complete backup all the time and re-install fresh about once a week or so.

I run my business on-line so I have as much protection as possible and a lot of the advice is good. But really there is nothing like doing a complete re-install every once in a while. Plus keep your cookies cleaned out, don't open e-mails that are even a little goofy. I run one computer just for my business and one for fun but I still clean them both each night before I crash out.

That's what I'm trying to avoid. Do you have to reinstall all your software, too?? That would take me ages. I do back everything up.

I do have three different computers. One is a dedicated DAW running my music software, and that one NEVER goes online. I play keyboards, I have a ton of samples and loops on one external hard drive, and I have another one to store completed projects and to back up my work to. I also have a UAD card on it, (which I wish I had never bought, because of IRQ problems it causes, and it's basically a proprietary dongle to run a bunch of good plug ins, but they aren't that efficient) I set it up basically as a recording studio, but I also have to use it for live shows. It's rack mountable, so it fits in my rack, along with my soundcard, and MIDI ports.

One is a "work" computer that I use for day to day work stuff, that one is connected to the net, but isn't used online that much.

I don't have much trouble with either of those computers.

And last but not least, my laptop, which is also the smallest and is basically my connection to the world. That's the computer that I'm seeking advice on. I need it to be more turnkey than it is,, because let's face it,,, there's only so much time in a day. It gets frustrating to wait for pages to draw, etc, when I know it's because I'm picking up the same junk every day. I'm leaning towards paying the $20 to SuperAntiSpyware, because it does work well at cleaning things out,,, I just need it to work at the door, and sounds like it will do that if I pay the $20. It would be well worth it if it works.

I would love to go with linux,,, but whew,,, this computer stuff isn't natural to me, and this old gray matter is stretching to do what I do. A smooth running system would be great,,, but the path there seems kind of difficult,,, at least for me.

It's like, gees,,, I spend almost all my time learning things, and I still don't really know anything. lol

 

[Overlord]

If you want to just play with linux in a safe enviorment, you can easily do it via a virtual PC within Windows.

This will let you keep windows but play and learn linux at the same time.
Here's a great and easy tutorial.Install Ubuntu in Virtual PC

 

[skri11a]

What Overlord said.

Linux seems daunting, I'm sure but it's really come to a stage that makes it quite easy to get started. My personal suggestion would be to download the LIVE DVD from the ubuntu website.

Once you burn it to a disk, you can actually boot up your computer with it and use it without making ANY changes to your windows install. Play with it for a day, if you think you could get used to it, click the icon to install. When it asks, tell it to dual-boot and then you'll always have the choice between windows and linux.

The little time you spend on that could turn out to save you hours of frustration in the, not so distant, future.

There's obviously a few of us here that could work you through the speed bumps.