Anti-Spyware Programs

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

Wow, just with Ad-aware so far, I am absolutely amazed how quickly my computer is moving!

I didn't realize just how slow it had become! This is fantastic! It's just going to be flying by the time I do all of your other recommendations! Thank you so much for your help!

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You're welcome Stephanie. If you ever have any questions, recurring problems or need some follow up advice let me know. I'm staying subscribed to this thread.

Here's a few more tips to keep note of for Win98:

1. If the Windows Update feature isn't already configured to do auto updates, configure it or simply select it in the start panel to download any security patches that are still available. They stopped making them, but there still might be some you haven't downloaded.

2. Download the latest version of Internet Explorer that has support for Win98 if that is your favorite browser.

3. If you want a browser that has a built-in pop up blocker, download Firefox from www.mozilla.org

4. Run Spybot and Ad-aware once a week. If the only thing you're getting is spy cookies, and not major programs, then you're doing just fine.

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

Well... reading these last three replies, I think I'm going to sound dumber as we reply back and forth, but what the heck.

I've got some ideas, but I'm going to try not to jump ahead. My first question is:

1. Did you get an error message when you tried to install Service Pack 2 with Automatic Update?

2. If you got an error message, do you get the exact same error message when you try to install with the CD?

3. Do you have, (at the very least) both Ad-aware SE Personal
and Spybot S&D?

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lol my turn to say I didnt see youre last post!!

yes it was the same error message for both updates.. i cant get any updates at all anymore!!

yes i do have both adaware and spybot

Originally Posted by RoyalEnchntrss

lol my turn to say I didnt see youre last post!!

yes it was the same error message for both updates.. i cant get any updates at all anymore!!

yes i do have both adaware and spybot

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1. What does the error message say in exact words? Can you quote it word for word or post/send me a screenshot of it?

2. Does the Ignore List in Ad-aware indicate anything other than "0"?

That's all I'm going to ask until I know more.

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

1. What does the error message say in exact words? Can you quote it word for word or post/send me a screenshot of it?

2. Does the Ignore List in Ad-aware indicate anything other than "0"?

That's all I'm going to ask until I know more.

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1. when i go to update it tells me that updating is disabled but i went through and have done what it told me to and when i go into my startup list in services.msc it says its on automatic already. ive tried turning it off and back on but that doesnt work either. I really dont know what to do. im stumped. especially since i went to school to be a computer programmer. lol

2. no its just 0 in my ignore list

thanks for trying to help!! its like our very own tech support! haha

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

"adware se"? I'm assuming you meant "Ad-aware SE". Am I correct? There is a program out there called "Adware", but it is actually a fake, mailicious program that spies on you. Another one of our members was having trouble removing other spyware because she had this fake program.

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Yes Adaware Se, that was what I wrote wasn't it? Anyway, I have had those three on the pc for a while now but hadn't heard of this one. So I ran it to see and nothing came up.

Originally Posted by RoyalEnchntrss

1. when i go to update it tells me that updating is disabled but i went through and have done what it told me to and when i go into my startup list in services.msc it says its on automatic already. ive tried turning it off and back on but that doesnt work either. I really dont know what to do. im stumped. especially since i went to school to be a computer programmer. lol

2. no its just 0 in my ignore list

thanks for trying to help!! its like our very own tech support! haha

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That's why I asked you if you were getting an actual error message. In this case, one of the options is to quote the error message word for word and enter it in an advanced google search. Then you might see some situations where people had to solve the same kinds of problems. What exactly does it say when it claims that updating is disabled?

Originally Posted by Charcoal

Yes Adaware Se, that was what I wrote wasn't it? Anyway, I have had those three on the pc for a while now but hadn't heard of this one. So I ran it to see and nothing came up.

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No, you specifically said "adware se", which is a malicious spyware/malware program. Otherwise, I wouldn't have tried to double-check with you. If you haven't found anything with all 3 plus the Microsoft beta, then you're doing a good job and don't need my help.

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

4. Run Spybot and Ad-aware once a week. If the only thing you're getting is spy cookies, and not major programs, then you're doing just fine.

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How do you know the difference?

It should tell you it is cookies.

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

That's why I asked you if you were getting an actual error message. In this case, one of the options is to quote the error message word for word and enter it in an advanced google search. Then you might see some situations where people had to solve the same kinds of problems. What exactly does it say when it claims that updating is disabled?

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Ohhh i fixed it! I was tinkering and my background intellegance was turned off :-o no wonder.... lol

I get so hacked off when I download one of these programs and it only scans it and doesn't remove all the spyware! *groan*

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

How do you know the difference?

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Once the scan is done, and you are viewing the "Scanning Results" you can look under the "Type" and "Description" tabs. The ones that are cookies should be described as a data miner or cookie.

One other thing I forgot to mention if you haven't already done it yourself: Next time you open Spybot, Click on "Immunize". Spybot will do a very quick check. Then click on the immunize button with the green plus sign to give your computer even further protection. This doesn't take long at all.

Thank you, Ryan!

Originally Posted by RoyalEnchntrss

Ohhh i fixed it!

I was tinkering and my background intellegance was turned off :-o no wonder.... lol

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Cool. I'm glad you fixed it! Thanks for giving us an update.

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

I get so hacked off when I download one of these programs and it only scans it and doesn't remove all the spyware! *groan*

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Yes, it can get quite frustrating. When I do house calls for friends and family I've run into some tougher malware than I would ever get on my own system. Sometimes it takes a scan, a reboot and then another scan and reboot before you find out that the problem is worse than you thought. This is where Hijack This can come in handy. However, there have been times when I had to do some research on how to remove an even more deeply rooted problem without Hijack This. If you're looking for tips, note the exact name of the malware and do an advanced google search with the name including sentence fragments such
as; "how to remove", "spyware" "get rid of" "can't remove" etc. You're bound to find some very helpful solutions. You can also ask here too if you like.

Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

Cool. I'm glad you fixed it! Thanks for giving us an update.

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youre welcome now im trying to get all of my updates ive needed!

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

Thank you, Ryan!

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You're welcome Stephanie!

I'm frustated because I keep getting the same DSO exploit from Spybot but it won't go away.

Any suggestions?

Katie

Originally Posted by TNR1

I'm frustated because I keep getting the same DSO exploit from Spybot but it won't go away.

Any suggestions?

Katie

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I'm glad you asked. Those DSO exploits have long since been fixed with any Microsoft Windows updates you may have had, (for many months I believe) so you can actually ignore those particular entries. The author of Spybot has a page that explains this: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/36.html They have also released a patch that will fix the registry. Then you won't get the DSO entries for something that's already fixed. You can download it from one of the mirrors here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4392.html

well i got some of the updates I needed but now i can't install SP2 because Im using StyleXP to change my logon and boot screen.. lol Ah so now I get to research THAT problem..