Just the other day I was called by a reader of this column who thanked
me for providing him with the knowledge of tools to remove the SPYWARE
and ADWARE from his computer. He continued on to ask if I could go
one step further and tell him what to watch out for, to prevent his downloading
this type of stuff by accident. So, this month’s column will consist
mostly of a couple of lists that I have accumulated with names of software
applications or plug-ins to be aware of.
The folks who write Spyware and Adware are continually improving their
skills and abilities to get around precautions in place by many of the
“anti-“ programs. Fortunately those programs are continuing to improve
their skills in detecting such software, and so far appear to be keeping
up with it. The best news for us users, is that the best software
continues to be free, without the hidden costs associated with the so-called
free Spyware and Adware plug-ins.
Deceptive, Misleading, Delusive, Fallacious ... software
"Anti-Spyware" products that actually install software widely viewed as Spyware:
- Mail Wiper's Spy Wiper and Seismic
- Trek8's Spyware Nuker
- Enigma Software Group's SpyHunter
- Spyban / Look2Me (defunct)
Other programs that present the potential for serious system
performance degradation, invasion of privacy and system crashes
include, but are not limited to, the following:
- ad aware.com/ada-ware.com/spy-bot.biz)
- AdwareHunter
(adwarehunter.com/browser-page.com)
- AdWareRemoverGold
(adwareremovergold.com)
- Alexa
- Any BuySmarter Product
- BargainBuddy
- BDE/Brilliant Digital
- ClientMan
- ComputerShield
- CoolWebSearch
(Some variants use HOSTS file to block access to anti-Adware/Spyware sites)
- Cydoor
- DownloadWare
free-spyware-scan.com)
- Grokster
- HackerSmacker
- IgetNet
- IMesh
- InternetAntiSpy
(internetantispy.com)
- KazaaPlatinum
-
Kazanon
-
Lop
-
MediaUpdate
-
MP3U
-
nCase
-
Newnet
- NoAdware
(noadware.net/netpalnow.com)
-
PC ToolWorks 2003
-
Popupguard
- PurityScan
(purityscan.com/puritysweep.com)
-
RapidBlaster
- Real AdWareRemoverGold
(adwareremovergold.com/sg08.biz)
-
S Scanner
-
SaveNow
- Soybouncer
(spybouncer.com)
- spybotsearch.com\ blacklistonline.com.98.222. 170spybot.com\
-
SpyAssault (spyassault.com)
- SpyBan (spyban.net)
noadware clone
- SpyBlast
(spyblast.com/advertising.com)
- Spyblocs/eBlocs.com
(eblocs.com)
- spybot -download. com\deletespyware.net\spybots. net\spybot-search.com)
- SpyDeleter
(spydeleter.com/209.50.251.182)
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- SpyEliminator
(securetactics.com) dead?
- SpyFerret
(onlinepcfix.com)
also Lop Uninstaller, Xupiter Uninstaller
-
SpyGone (spygone.com)
- SpyHunter
(enigmasoftwaregroup.com\ spywareremove.com\spybot-spyware.com\
- SpyKiller
(spy-killer.com/ maxionsoftware.com/ spykiller.com/ spykillerdownload.com/
- SpyKillerPro
(spykillerpro.com)
- Spyware Annihilator
(solidlabs.com)
- SpywareBeGone
(spywarebegone. com\freespywarescan.org)
- SpywareCleaner
(»www.checkforspyware.com/ - »www.spw2a.com/sc/)
- SpywareCrusher
(spywarecrusher.com)
-
SpywareInfoooo.com
- SpywareKilla
(spywarekilla.com)
- SpywareNuker
(spywarenuker.com/ trekblue.com/ trekdata.com/ spyware-killer.com/
- SpywareRemover
(spy-ware- remover.com/ spywareremover.com)
-
SpywareThis (spywarethis.com)
- SpywareZapper (spywarezapper.com)
looks like it may be TZ Spyware Adware Remover
-
SpyWiper (mailwiper.com)
- ssppyy pro (ssppyy.com)
- TZ Spyware Adware Remover
(trackzapper.com)
- VBouncer/AdDestroyer
(spywarelabs.com/virtualbouncer.com)
- VirusGuard
- Vloading
- Warnet (warnet.com)
- webHancer
- Windows Antivirus 2004
- XoftSpy
(download-spybot.com/ paretologic. com/downloadspybot.com/no-spybot.com)
this may be a SpyHunter clone
- Xupiter Toolbar
- ZeroSpyware
(zerospyware.com/zeroads.com)
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To
educate yourself some more about Spyware and Adware, the methods of how
it finds it's way onto your computer, and helpful suggestions on
removing it, set aside a few minutes and read this detailed page: or visit one of these two sites:
Anyone wishing to file a formal complaint about Spyware, deceptive software or practices by a person or company may do so HERE.
To wind up this month’s column, I wish to alert you that all of the
anti-Spyware programs I have mentioned in previous columns (Spybot Search
& Destroy, Lavasoft Adware, Spywareblaster) have all produced updated,
improved and still totally free versions of their software. Even
if you are already running these programs on your computers, check for
updates today. And while you are at it, make sure your anti-virus
program has been updated as well.
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