General spyware questions...

1. Is there a guide somewhere that can help point out what programs are spyware? Like when looking in Add/Remove Programs, I can tell just by the name some of which are definitely spyware (like weatherbug, etc.) Is there a list of these programs by name (or the name that would appear in Add/Remove Programs?) If not, could one of you guys create one and make it a sticky? I would think that just removing what can be removed in Add/Remove Programs would be an obvious part of the "Read Me First" tutorial of things to be done before posting a HT log.

2. When scanning for spyware using Spybot or Adaware, do you have to do the scan seperately for each user profile? For instance, If I'm logged in as Administrator and do Spyware and Virus scans, do I also have to log in as each and every other user and re-do all of the scans?

3. Is Spysweeper junk? It seems so bloated, I actually thought it was one of those "Spyware programs disguised as Anti-Spyware".


Thanks,

-Steve

 

For instance, the following show up in Add/Remove Programs, and by the names, each sound suspicious to me. I certainly don't want to delete anything that someone needs or paid for.

December 2002
Form1.Fader
PC-Doctor
PConPoint v1.1
RingCentral
Screen Scapes
Remove Virtual Key
Shopper Reports By Spam Blocker Utility
SPYSpotter
Supportsoft Web Controls
Swirling Sparkle
Upromise remindU
Virtual Key Accounts and Sites
WeatherBug
Window Searching


-Steve

 

I do not know of one at the moment!

Yes, you need to clean each user account individually!

SpySweeper is one of the best antispyware programs available. I use it and have been for a few years with no problems!

These are the main ones I would uninstall:

PC-Doctor <-- Useless in my opinion!

SPYSpotter <-- Rogue/Suspect Antispyware program!

WeatherBug

Window Searching