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General discussion

Which Spyware scanner?

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Nov 18, 2003 1:15AM PST

Hi, All.

My system performace has recently degraded, and a couple of web sites say they detect spyware (needless to say, they're trying to sell spyware detection software!) I live behind a firewall on this computer and have MacAfee AV software installed, but I suppose something might have snuck in. What's the consensus for the best (free) spyware scanner/remover?
Thanks in advance -- Dave K.

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Re:Which Spyware scanner?
by Marianna Schmudlach Nov 18, 2003 1:28AM PST
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Check the programs that are running at startup too
by Keith Marcotte Nov 18, 2003 2:46AM PST

I worked on the neighbor's computer on the weekend. Browser kept crashing on a certain page (that she visited frequently before). Virus scan showed nothing. A spyware scan located one item (Dssagent) which usually isn't too serious. However, getting rid of MSN Messenger, MS Office FastFind and a few other items in startup that she wasn't using cured her problem. Internet access is now a lot faster too.

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Dave, maybe you should add preventatives
by LarryD Nov 26, 2003 5:44PM PST

SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard (both found at www.wilderssecurity.net) to prevent reinfection.

BTW can these (somehow) be added to 'that' post? I'd offer it as a reply but wouldn't know how or where to start)

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Re:Which Spyware scanner?
by calbear94 Nov 26, 2003 4:34PM PST

I recommend ad-aware by Lavasoft.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware

It works really well. You run the search and it comes back with obects detected. Of those objects, it tells you how many spyware and how many files (such as cookies). You can either go into the registry and manually delete the spyware or have ad-aware do that for you.

Sean

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