Home
>
Software
>
SpyBot - Search and Destroy versus Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta).... My personal experiences...

SpyBot - Search and Destroy versus Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta).... My personal experiences...

Ok... Where to start?

Well, I guess I will start at the beginning.....

Like many surfers and especially webmasters and webmarketers, I spend quite a bit of time running around the net, researching this, investigating that and so on.

So of course I come across any number of questionable websites with even more doubtful software. In many cases the webmasters aren't even aware of how much damage that piece of software they are linking to can cause. In other cases, it's the actual programmers, and of all people they should know better.

I have seen some messed up systems due to spyware, hackware and other malicious programs (and I am not even going to start talking about the viruses or Denial of Service attacks some people find amusing).

Not all to long ago, a friend of mine was surfing the web and came across a website that all of a sudden triggered a bunch of popups, one after the other, she couldn't even close them down as fast as they were coming. Amongst all of those popups were also install windows and guess what???? They were set to run some macro that automatically assumed she had hit open (for the request to open, save or cancel) and the next thing she knew 6 new software programs had been installed on her computer.

Now, she's no dummy and knows her way around a computer well enough to know to check for uninstall files, to run 'add/remove programs' and even knows her way around the registry well enough that she could remove almost all of them.

But let's step back a moment, these darn things triggered themselves to install, wether the surfer wants it or not, it doesn't matter. We're going to shove this software down your throat regardless.

Ok, back to my friend. She was able to remove all of the programs but two. One was being so stubborn, it wasn't even funny anymore. I went to a tech net site I use occasionaly and ran a search (you can use google too and most often find great info from one of the groups there) and came across some information from that programmer's own site with details how to uninstall it (mind you though, the software didn't even mention his homepage or anything).

Holy coding batman, this thing wouldn't even remove with his own instructions. So one of the techs she knows ran SpyBot - Search and Destroy ( http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html )and they were finally able to remove it (well, so they thought).

Let's shift gears a moment. There's a program that hit my own system a while back called WinTools. You will see it in your process files (check the taskmanager) with names such as wtoolsa.exe or wtoolsb.exe and so on.

Here's the kicker on this one. You go in and uninstall it, it shows it has disappeared from your system and the next thing you know (if you check processes again) this thing is back again...... What the heck? I just got rid of it... How is this possible? Did I just experience some glitch in the matrix? Nope, sure enough, you uninstall this puppy, it comes right back again.

Ok, out with Spybot and it cleaned it and the rest of my system (there were 2 more spyware programs I really didn't need, so off to the big recycle bin in the heaven with them).

All was well, or so I thought.

My system started lagging really bad and I knew RAM wasn't the issue, nor were system resources overall the issue, but it kept getting worse. Dreaded 'blue screen of death' minidumps started happening randomly. Virus scans and Spybot scans weren't finding anything, the system is defragmented and cleaned up, what gives?????

A friend told me about Microsoft releasing the beta of their AntiSpyware program (I don't believe I am going to say something nice about Microsoft, groan, all my ancestors are rolling over in their graves now, I know it). He had noticed in a couple of cases (He's a MCSE tech that swears by Spybot - well he used to) that this new program was picking up ghost files that spybot had not caught.

Ok, off to http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx and let's download this software... It's a free beta.

It's an easy and smooth install and runs pretty fast. I run a system scan and guess what, I have 4 programs on here that Spybot had supposedly removed and where not showing up in any of their reports anymore. Well, well, well..... (I disconnected from my ISP at this point for a bit) Let's remove them all. Reboot the system.

Look at that, as I am booting up, one of the programs (wtoolsa.exe) is trying to reinstall itself as my laptop is booting up again, but look, hahahaha, it can't find the system resource to do it. Yipeeeee.... After I finished booting up, I even ran the MS Antispyware one more time and rebooted just to be sure and look at that, it didn't even try anymore.

I am proud to report that my processes file doesn't show WinTools anymore, in any of it's many forms. The other three items we found on my laptop are gone as well.

Oh, and my friend's computer is also clean now.

Well, that's my story, like it or not, in this case Microsoft wins. Don't get me wrong. Spybot has served me well and I am leaving it installed, because you never know what Microsoft might not catch.

One final thought I wanted to leave you with though is this. Be very careful to what you have your computer set, be wary of software that just appears from nowhere, or if you are surfing and a website tries to convince you to download something you didn't request. Also, make sure your Antivirus, Spybot and MS Antispyware are all up to date with their latest libraries and definitions.

Here's to your success,

Xavier

Xavier Nelson is the publisher of eBusinessCornerNews, your source for reviews, articles, free resources and more. Get your free subscription at http://blog.makemoneymarketingonline.com today.

Also, proudly presenting "The Complete eBusinessCollection". Visit http://blog.makemoneymarketingonline.com right now for a great collection of tools and resources that will take you to the next level and a very generous and free 2-tier affiliate program you can actually make money with!

limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

A virtual private network can help ensure your information remains security and your privacy remains intact. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Artificial intelligence-based cameras are giving air defense operators unprecedented capabilities in monitoring and protecting airspace.

Apple's iOS 18.1 Inactivity Reboot automatically reboots your iPhone if it hasn't been used or unlocked for more than three days, providing better data protection.

An inventor designed rooftop solar panels for a Tesla that draws solar energy while the car is parked, adding travel mileage without plugging in.

There are currently no laws governing what artificial intelligence can and cannot do with the information it gathers; here are 10 things to avoid telling AI chatbots to keep yourself safe.

A credit union with over 240,000 members recently revealed it was targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in a data breach that was part of a two-month attack by hackers.

Scammers have become skilled at creating convincing fake websites that can easily fool unsuspecting users. The CyberGuy offers tips to protect yourself.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

CAPTCHAs, which are used by websites to confirm whether users are people or bots, are harmless, but hackers are using them to infect PCs with malware.

Hackers recently leaked personal information of about 500,000 Americans and stole patient medical records that included lab results and insurance details.

The holiday season sees a rise in mobile shopping scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to stay safe.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy.

Beware of these six sneaky holiday scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives you tips to avoid falling victim.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data.

Artificial intelligence is making life easier for cybercriminals, allowing them to create elaborate scams to trick people. Kurt the Cyberguy explains how to protect yourself.

Cut through all the digital clutter and delete multiple emails from your Android simultaneously. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how it's done.

Tips to prevent your holiday decorations from being stolen

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson lays out the immediate steps you should take if your phone has been hacked and your personal information becomes vulnerable.

Fraudsters are sending people bogus invoices through PayPal as part of a sneaky scam that is going around; here's how to protect yourself from being fooled.

A former Colgate-Palmolive employee was shocked to discover $750,000 had been drained from her 401(k) account. "CyberGuy" offers tips on how to prevent identity theft.

Electric vehicle maker Harbinger recently showed its electric delivery truck can handle icy roads with agility and stability in winter.

To make the busiest time of year more manageable, here are some tricks for tracking your packages, taking quality family photos and curating the perfect Christmas playlist.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to keep your online Amazon gift purchases a secret from loved ones or friends this holiday season.

SpyBot - Search and Destroy versus Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta).... My personal experiences...

Software