Some thoughts on the (in)effectiveness of spyware tools

[DrMDJ]

How good are many spyware tools? Not very according to this guy: Tools Let Spyware Slip Through Cracks

[Welshjim]

DdrMDJ--Sad, but one at least a partial solution is to use a wide combination of virus\spyware\malware detectors and protectors.
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=31695

[Train]

And as noted On DrMDJ's link:
"We're very, very far from having a magic bullet solution. We're not dealing with fly-by-night operations," Edelman told eWEEK.com. He also warned that many bogus anti-spyware programs are circulating and exacerbating the problem for consumers.


That is no help either.

[greengoose1]

This is a rather complex subject because of the huge size of what we have to work with today in the form of soft ware. Operating systems are bigger and as well as specialized applications.

Then pile on top of it the Malware Problem. Yikes where to begin. Programmers write fixes for whatever malware is coming down the pike. This is a reactive action in all cases and the reason computers get "hit". You flat do not know what is coming next.

Therefore we as computer users have to know about defensive actions that can be taken to keep your computer happy. DrMDJ and Welshjim hit it on the head.

This means that yes we have to use more than one program that is available to contend with this malware threat. For example, the c w shredder program eliminates one particular type of threat period. But this threat is continually being added to in the form of new files that can be placed on your computer. And the HijackThis program cannot contend with it - will not get rid of it or I should say allow you to get rid of it.

But using the tools available to us, we can control the potential damage. Two things you can do is to keep your computer cleaned out and lean and mean. Then fter that use your anti malware programs to get rid of the "bad" files residing in your computer.

This very brief post certainly does not do justice to the area we have to cover but maybe get some thinking started and maybe some additional sharing of views.

[Train]

At present there are over 100 anti-spyware scanners available for download -- some for free, some for pay. Spyware and adware are themselves complex enough to prove bewildering to most average users, however. So confusing in fact is the threat of spyware and adware that users often have trouble distinguishing effective anti-spyware scanners from less effective ones. Although a number of "tests" of anti-spyware scanners have been reported on the Net, many if not most of those tests are of limited value because the design, methodology, and execution of the tests is not fully and publicly documented, leaving even experienced users and experts to wonder just how meaningful those tests really are. Still worse, some of those "tests" are touted by webmasters who are affiliates for the companies whose products were "tested."




Now having that to say from this site, you just might want to read more about it.

[Train]

Fact is I easily found this:

"Rogue/Suspect" means that these products are of unknown, questionable, or dubious value as anti-spyware protection.
Some of the products listed on this page simply do not provide proven, reliable anti-spyware protection. Others may use unfair, deceptive, high pressure sales tactics and false positives to scare up sales from gullible, confused users. A very few of these products are either associated with known distributors of spyware/adware or have been known to install spyware/adware themselves. "

So, for more reading on this idea. . .

[onlyme27000]

i think finding the right balance is a good thing, listed at the bottom of my msg, is what i use, and as a combination ive never had any problems
hope this is of some help

( ME )

[jenae]

Hi, I think Jim's link to Lonny Jones' post over at BBS is one of the best for all of us. One little thing the link to File extensions with executable code... http://www.g4techtv.com/leolaporte/f...sions_pg2.html