spybot

[RationalThoughts]

I was wondering if people could give me reasons not to use spy bot.

 

[screw3d]

There is no reason why you shouldn't use it

Why are you asking this?

 

[RationalThoughts]

just wondering because I read an article a while back about some spyware progams doing just what they claim to get rid of and it was listed as one.

 

[mechBgon]

Link?

Best reason I can think of for not using Spybot S&D: the system's set up tight enough it isn't necessary in the first place.

One other potential hitch: if you install the Spybot S&D HOSTS file, it can cause networking problems sometimes. My mom's old Win2000 system had very long delays when establishing a dial-up connection, and it turned out to be the huge HOSTS file... system couldn't plow through it fast enough to keep up its end of the conversation with the ISP's servers, evidently. All water under the bridge now, she's on a nicely locked-down WinXP SP2 system

 

[phonemonkey]

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
I was wondering if people could give me reasons not to use spy bot.

The only thing I can think of is if you like getting pop up ads constantly and don't mind people watching your traffic.

I haven't had any problems with spyware not being picked up (at least that I've been able to find with other spyware detection programs). Then again, I also use TeaTimer and very rarely let it make any changes (like when I'm installing something).

 

[Davegod]

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
just wondering because I read an article a while back about some spyware progams doing just what they claim to get rid of and it was listed as one.

yeah, some products that claim to remove spyware actually do just that.

Spybot S&D and Adaware however are both bona fide, non-spyware, non-nastyness, adware removal programs.

 

[Maverick2002]

I second that, spybot + ad-aware is a great combo. IIRC spybot has certain optimizations to work specifically with ad-aware.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Davegod

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
just wondering because I read an article a while back about some spyware progams doing just what they claim to get rid of and it was listed as one.

yeah, some products that claim to remove spyware actually do just that.

Spybot S&D and Adaware however are both bona fide, non-spyware, non-nastyness, adware removal programs.

Don't forget to add CWShredder and a few others to get rid of CWS(may its creators rot in hell) infections. I cleaned one recently that did something to Spybot - I'm not sure if it replaced the Spybot window, or if it just disabled its scanning engine. Either way, it would start scanning, and stop after only about 10 seconds. CWShredder removed some CWS thing, and I reinstalled Spybot at the same time, so I'm not sure what worked. But CWS was involved. I always make sure that CWS is removed from a system, as Ad-Aware and Spybot can't seem to get rid of it.

 

[Schadenfroh]

List of antispyware applications that are bad

 

[JRez]

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
just wondering because I read an article a while back about some spyware progams doing just what they claim to get rid of and it was listed as one.

It's wasn't Spybot that was putting adware/spyware on the PC, it was SpySweeper.

 

[FrequencyX]

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
I was wondering if people could give me reasons not to use spy bot.

The only bad thing I can think of, which never happens often is the possibility of registry corruption and or winsock settings . There is a utility you can get to fix the winsock settings if a adware scanner possibly damaged them. Just use the reg backup before hand .. If something is wrong, revert back to old reg

But its better to have this software than not

 

[RationalThoughts]

what's CWS?

 

[FrequencyX]

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
what's CWS?

CoolWeb Shredder
A nice little tool to allow you to clean a nasty type of spyware

 

[IndyJaws]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
List of antispyware applications that are bad

Great link! If anyone wants a good read, check out this thread where the author of a "spyware detection" program is busted and threatens to start developing spyware itself!

Privacy Tools 2004 thread on SpywareWarrior.com

 

[theAnimal]

Originally posted by: JRez

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
just wondering because I read an article a while back about some spyware progams doing just what they claim to get rid of and it was listed as one.

It's wasn't Spybot that was putting adware/spyware on the PC, it was SpySweeper.

SpySweeper is not adware/spyware.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: RationalThoughts
what's CWS?

Cool Web Search, the worst trojan/spyware ever

CWShredder is a tool that kills it