Free AntiSpyware for Windows XP

Microsoft recently released a newer beta version of their AntiSpyware tool. After downloading and installing this new version of Antispyware, I must say I was impressed. The tool found everything I threw at it, including a few that AdAware could not find. Microsoft has also implemented a network for people to join if they wish to combat new spyware. It is kind of like a huge lab if you will. Althought...

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Are You Secure?

David Geer

How do you know your computer is secure?

No computer is or can be 100-percent secure. However, you should take several reasonable measures like anti-spyware, anti-virus and firewalling tools, and ...

Auditing or testing your security with online tools.

Here are some good, free, Internet-based self-serve tools that will tell you a thing or two about how secure your computer is on the Internet.

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome& langid=ie&venid=sym

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 [Some tools may have appeared in other blogs here]

http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/scanoptions.asp

http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/

About the author: David Geer writes for national and international publications like Computerworld, certain IEEE Computer Society publications, The Enterprise Open Source Journal and dozens more. E-mail him at D avid@GeerCom.com, call him at 440-964-9832 or visit his Web site at www.GeerCom.com.


Combat Computer Spyware! An AntiSpyware Program Isn't Enough

Combat Computer Spyware! An AntiSpyware Program Isn’t Enough By Jim Shutes LapeerTechGroup.com Spyware has become an epidemic on the Internet. A lot of computer users have Spyware and don’t even know they have it, much less how to get rid of it. If your computer has been taking you to websites that you don’t want to go to, or if you get pop-ups when you aren’t even on the Internet, or if your computer has been running extremely slowly lately, for no reason, you probably have Spyware. So what, exactly, is Spyware? Spyware is a wide range of benign to malicious programs that...

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The latest information and news on Spywaredude:

Google
'WSJ' calls Microsoft antivirus tool 'spyware' (CNET)
In what appears to be just a bad headline, the business publication says that Microsoft plans to introduce spyware. (It's actually planning free antivirus software)
Court Slams Door On Sale of Spyware (Slashdot)
coondoggie writes "The Federal Trade Commission yesterday had a US District Court issue a temporary restraining order halting the sale of RemoteSpy keylogger spyware. According to the FTC's complaint, RemoteSpy spyware was sold to clients who would then secretly monitor unsuspecting consumers' computers. The defendants provided RemoteSpy clients with detailed instructions explaining how to ...
WOT Releases Extended Protection for Web-Based Email Users (PRWeb)
WOT, Web of Trust, extends the security protection of its popular browser add-on to the top three Internet-based email services -- Google Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. WOT checks links embedded in email and warns users of dangerous websites to help them avoid spyware, spam, phishing, identity theft and other Internet fraud, before they risk clicking. (PRWeb Nov 21, 2008) Read ...
WOT Releases Extended Protection for Web-Based Email Users (PRWeb via Yahoo! ...
WOT, Web of Trust, extends the security protection of its popular browser add-on to the top three Internet-based email services -- Google Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. WOT checks links embedded in email and warns users of dangerous websites to help them avoid spyware, spam, phishing, identity theft and other Internet fraud, before they risk clicking.
Phisher-besieged PayPal sends users faux log-in page (The Register)
Error.com's missed opportunity PayPal, the online payment service that is a major target of phishers, has been caught sending customer emails that confuse its own login page with a third-party landing site that offers spyware protection and a bevy of other products.?
FTC get CyberSpy?s RemoteSpy banned in the U.S. (Geek.com)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been successful in its bid to get the RemoteSpy spyware application released by CyberSpy Software banned in the U.S. For now the ban is temporary, but the FTC are pushing to make it permanent. The ban stems from a complaint (PDF) lodged by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) back [...]
Microsoft to offer free anti-virus software (The Manila Times)
Microsoft has announced plans to offer free anti-virus software to PC users starting next year. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant said the software, code-named "Morro," will "provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans."
Commercial vendor of spyware under legal fire (ZDNet)
Just like every decent marketer out there, vendors of commercial malware tools are very good at positioning their tools. However, their pitches often contradict with themselves in a way that what's promoted as a Remote Administration Tool, has in fact built-in antivirus software evading capabilities, rootkit functionality and tutorials on...
Microsoft Will Replace OneCare with Security Software (NewsFactor via Yahoo! ...
Microsoft plans to stop accepting paid subscriptions to Windows Live OneCare in mid-2009. The security software is slated to be replaced by a free offering code-named Morro, which will focus on providing consumer PCs with core protection from viruses, spyware, rootkits, trojans and other forms of malware.
Week in review: Yahoo to replace Yang (CNET)
Search giant searches for new CEO, while Microsoft takes its security strategy in a new direction. Also: Sing along with DRM.

Removing Stubborn Spyware from your Hardrive.

Internet Explorer is the browser used by most computer user and because the browser was designed to have third party functionality spyware distributors have taken advantage of the opportunity to spread their surveillance software. Creators of spyware are very aware that many users now have spyware removers up and running on their computers. To counter this, spyware producers have designed browser help objects (BHO’s) that do not begin running until the user connects to the internet using Internet Explorer. This type of dormant BHO also keeps users from identifying spyware by viewing...

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