Spyware, Adware and Browser Hijacks:
What
is spyware?
What is Adware?
You should be using
Ad-Aware
and Spybot
to scan your PC for problems.
Most browser hijacks can be cured by running hijackthis,
saving a log file and getting expert help
in how to modify the regestry to remove the hijack.
Other related links:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
If you don't want to deal with these problems by yourself, then e-mail me of call.
===========================================================================
More Info:
Snips from articles and URLs to the full articles.
".....not only delights you with banner ads but tracks your internet
usage also."
"These six companies have infiltrated a growing list of common software
applications: Calypso e-mail, Cute FTP, FreeSubmit, LapLink FTP,
NetCaptor, Free Solitaire, Trade Trakker, Sonic Mail, PK Zip, Human
Click, Free Tetris and more . . . The list is very extensive."
See the full article
here:
http://www.epinions.com/cmd-review-272F-172905FC-3A147381-prod2
===============
How did Comet
Cursor get onto my machine? What does it do? And is it really spyware?
Because I downloaded software from RealNetworks
and Comet Cursor came bundled with it, something I didn't notice at the time
but learned as I read the "spyware" stories. It's not clear to me
that RealNetworks even mentioned I was getting it, but if they did, I missed
it. I wonder how many millions of people -- dutifully counted by Comet Systems
as part of their installed base -- did the same thing?
If you think you might be one of them, do this: Click on the Windows "Start" button, select "Settings," then "Control Panel," then open "Add/Remove Programs." On the "Install/Uninstall" tab look for Comet Cursor. If you see it and don't want it, you can remove it.
It is also possible, as a friend found out, to have Comet Cursor show up as an icon someplace on the PC, but that was because his kids downloaded the program, perhaps to get the South Park cursor. There is an uninstaller included with that version of the program.
I THINK it's pretty
sly of Real not to have made it obvious that I was installing Comet Cursor with
their product. Thankfully, it's not an issue for users of version 8.0 of RealAudio
because Real's bundling agreement with Comet has ended.
( end article snip )
SK comment:
Note: There is no guarantee that an update to Real Player 8 will remove "previously"
installed spyware.
See the full article here:
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2677247,00.html
====================
More on Real Player and Comet Cursor:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/16120.html
RealNetworks
admits to new spyware bug
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/12167.html
===================
See the full article about this older list of software that was known
( by the author of the article )
to have at one time, installed spyware.
http://twcny.rr.com/technofile/texts/tec040200.html
Programs that
placed the spy software onto Windows PCs
123Search
3D-FTP
3d Anarchy
3rd block
Abe's FTP Client
Abe's Image Viewer
Abe's MP3 Finder
Abe's Picture Finder
Abe's SMB Client
Access Diver III
Acorn Email
AcqURL
ActionOutline Light 1.6
Active 'Net
Add URL
Add/Remove Plus!
Address Rover 98
Admiral VirusScanner
Advanced Call Center
Advanced Maillist Verify
AdWizard
Alive and Kicking
alphaScape QuickPaste
ASP1-A3
Auction Explorer
Aureate Group Mail
Aureate SpamKiller
AutoFTP PRO
AutoWeb
AxelCD
Beatle
Binary Boy
BinaryVortex
Blue Engine
buddyPhone 2
Calypso E-mail
CamGrab
Capture Express 2000
Cascoly Screensaver
CDDB-Reader
CDMaster32
ChanStat
Charity Banner
Cheat Machine
Check4New
ChinMail
Clabra clipboard viewer
Classic Peg Solitaire
ComTry Music Downloader
Crystal FTP
CSE HTML Validator Lite
CuteFTP 3.0
CuteFTP 3.0 beta
CuteFTP/Tripod
CuteMX
CutePage
Danzig Pref Engine
DateTime
Delphi Component Test
Delphi Tester
Dialer 2000
DigiBand NewsWatch
DigiCams - The WebCam Viewer
Digital Postman
DirectUpdate
DL-Mail Pro 2000
DNScape
Doorbell 1.18
Download Minder 1.5
Download Wonder
DownLoader v.1.1
Dwyco Video Conferencing
EasySeeker
EmmaSoft ChatCat
EmmaSoft dBrow
EmmaSoft KeepLan
EmmaSoft Soundz
EnvoyMail
EZ-Forms FREE
File Mag-Net
FileSplit
Folder Guard Jr.
FourTimes
Free Picture Harvester
Free Solitaire
Free Spades
Free Submitter Pro
FreeImageEditor
FreeIRC
FreeNotePad
FreeSite
FreeWebBrowser
FreeWebMail
FreeZip!
FTPEditor
GetRight
Go!Zilla
Go!Zilla WebAttack
GovernMail
Grafula
Gunther's PasswordSentry
HangWeb
hesci Private Label
HTML Translator
HTTP Proxy-Spy
Huey v1.8 Color Picker
Iban Technologies IP Tools 3.1
Idyle GimmIP
Idyle GimmIP
iFind Graphics
imageN
Infinite Patience
InfoBlast
InnovaClub
InstallZIP
Internet Tree
Internetrix
InterWebWord Companion
JetCar
jIRC
JOC Email Checker
JOC Web Finder
JOC Web Spider
KVT Diplom
LapLink FTP
LineSoft Download
LOL Chat
LOL Chat
Mail Them
Meracl FontMap
Meracl ImageMap Generator
Midnight Oil Solitaire
MirNik Internet Finder
More Space 99
MouseAssist
MP3 Album Finder
MP3 Fiend
MP3 Grouppie
MP3 Mag-Net
MP3 Renamer
Mp3 Stream Recorder
MP3INFO-Editor
MultiSender
Music Genie
MX Inspector BIG AD
My Genie Patriots
My Genie SE
My GetRight
NeatFTP
Net-A-Car Feature Car Screensaver
Net CB
Net Scan 2000
Net Vampire
NetAnts
NetBoard
Netbus Pro 2.10
NetCaptor 5.0
Netman Downloader
NetNak
NetSuck 3.10.5
NetTime Thingy
Network Assistant
NeuroStock
NewsBin
NewsShark
NewsWire
NfoNak
NotePads+
Notificator 1.0b
Octopus
Pattern Book
People Seek 98
Personal Search Agent
Photocopier
PicPluck
Pictures In News
Ping Thingy
PingMaster
Planet.Billboard
Planet.MP3Find
PMS
ProtectX 3
ProxyChecker
QuadSucker/Web
Quadzle Puzzles
QuikLink Autobot
QuikLink Explorer
QuikLink Explorer Gold Edition
QuoteWatch
QWallet
Real Estate Web Site Creator
Recipe Review
ReGet 1.6
Resume Detective
RingSurf
RoboCam 1.10
SaberQuest Page Burner
SBJV
SBWcc
Scout's Game
ScreenFIRE
ScreenFIRE - FileKing
ScreenFlavors
Sea Battle
Shizzam
Simple Submit
SimpleFind
SimpleSubmit v1.0
SK-111
Smart 'n Sticky
SmartBoard 200 FREE Edition
SmartSum calculator
SonicMail
Sound Agent
Space Central Screen Saver
Splash! Siterave
StartDrive
Static FTP
StockBrowser
Subscriber
SunEdit 2K
SuperIDE
Sweep
SweepsWinner
Text Transmogrifier
The Mapper
TheNet
TI-FindMail
TIFNY
Total Finger
Total Whois
Tracking The Eye
Trade Site Creator
TWinExplorer Standard
TypeWriter 1.0
UK Phone Codes
Vagabond's Realm
VeriMP3
Vertigo QSearch
Virtual Access
Visual Cyberadio
Visual Surfer
VOG Backgammon Main
VOG Backgammon Table
VOG Chess Main
VOG Chess Table
VOG Reversi Main
VOG Reversi Table
VOG Shell
VOG Shell
VOG Shell History
W3Filer
Web-N-Force
Web Coupon
Web Page Authoring Software
Web Registrant PRO
Web Resume
Web SurfACE
WEB2SMS
WebCamVCR
WebCopier
WebSaver
Website Manager
WebStripper
WebType
WhoIs Thingy
Win A Lotto
WinEdit 2000
Word+
Wordwright
WorldChat Client
Worm
www.devgames.com
xBlock
Zion
Zip Express 2000
NOTE: If you have installed or seen any of the above listed software in
your PC,
then there is a possibility that your PC has had, at one time, or still does
have,
spyware installed on it.
To be sure...Download the fix and run it!
Disclaimer:
All of the above is information that I have become aware of by reading what
I consider to be
valid sources of information.
My evaluation of this information is totally subjective and you are free to
do with it as you please.
I am not responsible for your choices and although I believe that no harm can
come to your computer by
applying the methods above, it is possible that some spyware enabling software
will become unusable
after running Ad Aware.
If you need more information then do more research.
Return
to The Pittsburgh PC Help Desk