Ad-Aware SE Personal

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by chris2005, Aug 23, 2004.

  1. chris2005

    chris2005 Private E-2

    Is this the best Ad-Aware? A few minutes ago my computer started going crazy and It started to install a whole bunch of stuff and freezing and stuff. I went to my ADD/REMOVE folder and found about 10 things that didn't belong there, so I removed them. I then ran Ad-Aware SE and it found 364 infected files! I had just ran the program an hour earlyer and it found 2. What the hell happend?
     
    chris2005, Aug 23, 2004
    #1
  2. Strogg

    Strogg 5-Star Freakin' Geek

    if you just downloaded it from majorgeeks, then it's the best free version you'll ever get. as a good guide (which i follow), take a look at this: http://www.overclockers.com/tips1166/
     
    Strogg, Aug 23, 2004
    #2
  3. chris2005

    chris2005 Private E-2

    I downloaded it from the official Lavasoft website. That good?
     
    chris2005, Aug 23, 2004
    #3
  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    chaslang, Aug 24, 2004
    #4
  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    That's fine. Did you check for updates too?

    If you found 2 things with Ad-aware and an hour later found 364, it is due to where you went surfing during that hour. What were they? Mostly cookies? The free version of Ad-aware SE is a scanner. It does not block any malware.

    You need to add some blocking software. Try SpywareBlaster (free): http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2859.html

    And possibly SpywareGuard (free) too: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3045.html
     
    chaslang, Aug 24, 2004
    #5
  6. Strogg

    Strogg 5-Star Freakin' Geek

    hehe. yeah, i never realized that majorgeeks has a tutorial thing until AFTER i posted the overclockers.com article. it was too late since the edit button is gone:(
     
    Strogg, Aug 24, 2004
    #6
  7. I.M.O.G.

    I.M.O.G. Private E-2

    Most likely, with that many "infected" files that quickly, the majority of those files were negligible cookies, or you bounced around the internet to places you shouldn't have been. ;)

    Adaware is good, but not complete by itself, spybot should be used also... but the most valuable tool in finding a problematic infection is hijackthis.

    As a general rule, the newest version of the application is best when it comes to things like spyware and virus protection.

    @chaslang: The article you told him not to go to linked back to here for the downloads silly. ;) The OC guide is probably slightly better than major attitudes... Some of the information in his guide is marginal.

    For example points 3, 4, 5, and 6 under getting prepared are unnecessary/misleading/inaccurate:

    3) To take out spyware in one fell swoop, scans should be run from safemode. Running services other than the basics necessary can impair the scans from doing what is intended and waste time. Safe mode is nothing to be afraid of - after all, its SAFE MODE.

    4) No reason to change file view settings. Scan/repair operations can be performed on the files regardless of their visibility status. Changing the setting for "hide file extensions for known file types" is completely pointless - This setting does not hide the actual file, just the extension in the file name.

    5) Safe mode with networking will allow you to run an online virus scan, while not inhibiting your ability to remove spyware infections. (this is OS specific though)

    6) Mislabels the option for networking. Safe mode does not include networking support by default - to get networking support, one must choose "safe mode WITH networking". Not a big deal, but possibly confusing.

    Finally, I would consider viewing the hijackthis log the most important step out of any of these. It is really the only way to be confident your work was successful. While it isn't much in the way of removing problems (quite often, what it indicates is there due to infections which were not able to be automatically removed and axeing the registry entry with hijackthis will do nothing to actually fix it)... It is THE BEST at indicating exactly what the problematic infections are that may be ailing you.

    Those are just a few points of constructive criticism; I like the guides and I'm sure they help many.
     
    I.M.O.G., Sep 8, 2004
    #7
  8. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    Chaslang and I have looked at your points and are modifying the lines we agree with. Many of your opening comments are things we repeat here often as well. While the OC tutorial is indeed different, I disagree with the need to go into services for spyware removal and they left out java removal and optional browsers. Of course I am biased, but prefer my tutorial. I think theres reads neater because of the limits of the forums that he did not have in html. I could create a seperate page in HTML, but no one would see it. Finally, that tutorial has been updated countless times as things change and via suggestions and problems we find thanks to people like yourself. I will make some changes and address your comments line by line later. We may have to agree to disagree on some points, but overall are very close to all being on the same page.

    Check for updates later. Thanks :)
     
    Major Attitude, Sep 9, 2004
    #8
  9. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    As promised, here we go....

    True, I am a big fan of that comment. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=25834

    No argument there. Ad-Aware currently updates more frequently, so is our top pick. For a while, it was the other way around.

    We say that quite often :)

    Addressed this. Our article is a generic guide to not only remove, but some basic security tips for prevention as well.


    Agreed. We tell people to go into safe mode.

    Depends. Some programs, like antivirus are looking for file extensions to scan such as zip, exe, etc. For your antivirus to work properly, this is a good step. Possibly not needed, but depending on what your scanning with, and what for, its a good move.


    True, but we have had people who for whatever reason can not do it from safe mode. There are threads referring to this problem. We wrote a general guide, thats why often some things are OS specific.

    Yes and no. XP will boot into safe mode if you wait, but if you select, those are the options. I can see your point, but i your going to scan with pre-downloaded tools, I would liketo see networking off and for online scanning it must be on to get ot the net.


    Here again, we disagree AND agree :) Yup, Hijack This is a great tool. Too bad 99% of the people who are told to download it dont know what to do with it, skip any attempts to run basic tools and flood the net with their log files. Running our tutorial will cut down on the log file size and often times we can fix a problem without it.

    I like it. We agree and disagree, but as you see, where we do so are minor points and no harm done. Frankly, were all on the same page. I am heading in to re-do the tutorial some now, hopefully it is something we can all live with because it HAS been effective. I think your feedback only improves on it.

     
    Major Attitude, Sep 9, 2004
    #9
  10. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    Updated. Like some of your points. Like some of the OC points. Like some of our points. I think our tutorial rocks now more then ever, thanks to your help, and hope you agree :)
     
    Major Attitude, Sep 9, 2004
    #10
  11. I.M.O.G.

    I.M.O.G. Private E-2

    I like the guide even better now, nice changes.

    BTW, I remember you mentioning something about service tweaking in the OC guide, and it being unrelated to spyware removal... I agree, (except for the points you mention in your guide) however that article was directed at people fixing client PC's as noted in the disclaimer. Service tweaking, defragging, registry tweaking, and XP setting tweaking are all included as ways to give your work the appearance of extra "oomph" when the client gets back on their computer. Not only will their spyware be gone, but they may be even more impressed with how their computer seems to be working faster than it has in a long time... Which ultimately results in them being happy when you charge them a heathy fee. :D
     
    I.M.O.G., Sep 10, 2004
    #11
  12. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    No argument again, though spyware removal alone will accomplish that. I think my point, though made poorly, was that I leave service tweaking to the shops and experts, I do not personally make suggestions, especially in a generic tutorial :)
     
    Major Attitude, Sep 10, 2004
    #12
  13. I.M.O.G.

    I.M.O.G. Private E-2

    Right. Different targets/goals. :)
     
    I.M.O.G., Sep 11, 2004
    #13

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