Internet Spy-ware and pop-up blockers Systems that work for me

[leadarrows]

I found a very informative site. I am still reading info there. They have a tester that's pretty cool.
http://grc.com/x/ne.dll?rh1dkyd2
I run these programs and have paid subscriptions to each.
I think it's worth it because I have no pop-ups and I passed this test 100%.
I'll list the programs and give their subscription price.
1. Spy Sweeper
Version 2.2.0 (Build 44) using software definitions 315
Full Program
http://www.webroot.com
Subscription Price: Including down load of software. $29.95 per year
2. Ad-aware version 6
Ad-aware Professional Edition
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Subscription Price: $39.95 for 2 years
3. Norton System Works
Program cost: $69.95 Subscription Price:$26.20 Per year
4. Registry Mechanic 2.1
http://www.winguides.com
$19.95
5. Pop-Up Stopper by PanicWare get it at wal*Mart for about $10.00
6. The Goggle tool bar is safe and has some nice features like a Pop-Up blocker and a auto fill tab that fills out your name and other info onto on-line forums and such.
It's Free at : http://toolbar.google.com/
For a total cost of........about $200.00 pulse change in tax.
expensive yes but I have zero pop-ups and look what I scored on the security test.
"


Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet — solicited or otherwise — was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.



Other test results:
Your Internet port 139 does not appear to exist!
One or more ports on this system are operating in FULL STEALTH MODE! Standard Internet behavior requires port connection attempts to be answered with a success or refusal response. Therefore, only an attempt to connect to a nonexistent computer results in no response of either kind. But YOUR computer has DELIBERATELY CHOSEN NOT TO RESPOND (that's very cool!) which represents advanced computer and port stealthing capabilities. A machine configured in this fashion is well hardened to Internet NetBIOS attack and intrusion.
Unable to connect with NetBIOS to your computer.
All attempts to get any information from your computer have FAILED. (This is very uncommon for a Windows networking-based PC.) Relative to vulnerabilities from Windows networking, this computer appears to be VERY SECURE since it is NOT exposing ANY of its internal NetBIOS networking protocol over the Internet. "

I just thought you might find this informative.

 

[Steve Frazier]

leadarrows, thanks so much for this post! This past week I've been having strange things happen with my computer and suspect spyware. I'll be investigating the steps you list as a solution.

Thanks again!

 

[leadarrows]

I left out GO-Back. If all else fails. This has saved my rear a few times.
GoBack is easy-to-use software that lets you quickly solve a wide range of computer problems. In addition to retrieving missing or overwritten files, GoBack can also restore your hard disk to exactly as it was at a time before any system problem occurred—even if Windows won’t boot. From the moment you install GoBack, the robust protection of GoBack makes lost data and system problems caused by user error, computer viruses, troublesome system crashes, and software installation problems a thing of the past.
http://www.symantec.com/

You might try the free versions of Ad-Aware and Reg Mechanic first
You will be shocked at how many they find the first time you use them. It's a crime I tell ya.

Also I just looked at my bill for Norton System-Works 2003 Pro 1 Windows 98/Me/2000/XP Digital River
And I got the price wrong I paid: $ 99.95


Sub Total: $ 99.95
Shipping: $ 9.45
Total: $ 109.40
The price I quoted was a up-grade to 2004 version sorry about that.

If you buy the Norton works it comes with a simple version of Go-Back. I up-graded to the full version because you can search for individual files with it.
Go-Back up-grade price.
Item(s) Subtotal: $ 24.95
Sales Tax: $ 0.00
Shipping & Handling: $ 6.95
TOTAL: $ 31.90


Glad to help.

 

[BRL]

Ditto Lead Arrows & thanks for sharing!
I use, or have read good reviews about, all of these products and recommend using them also.

Steve,
I had already told you about System Works, and its a good idea to continue down the path that this thread has caused for you as well. Might turn up something nasty in there that's creating problems.

 

[fordhipo]

A few others that I use are CWShredder http://216.180.233.153/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe (good for the highjacked web browers) Search and Destroy http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp Like ad-aware, finds and removes spyware.
Also Hijackthis http://216.180.233.153/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe which will collect the info of your computer and list everything out and you can save and post info on sites like Tom coyotehttp://forums.tomcoyote.org/ or also merijn fourms and they will help with what to remove to get your computer back to normal.
I have used all the above without problems and all are free. It's really bad where we have to do all this just because of a few people that have nothing better to do then wreck code and mess with people.

 

[fordhipo]

Also forgot the pop up stopper I use http://www.panicware.com/product_psfree.html works well