Avast anti-virus

[pauljt]

I am giving this a try. Anybody have any experience with it? (Avast anti-virus,that is). BTW...I found this forum just yesterday while I was looking for help getting rid of "richfind". I am computer literate but no expert...but willing to learn. When I downloaded Avast it cleared 24 problems on the first scan...mostly trojans. Today I added Spyblaster,Adaware and Spybot SD. I was having all kinds of trouble with pop-ups but haven't had one in about 2hrs so I'm hopeful that the problem is fixed. Looking forward to using this forum to try and educate myself on all things computer-related. :cheers

[ECA]

REALLy look at Spybot, goto advanced mode...LOTS of tools, esp resident, TURN THEM ON..

Myself, I like AVG, from grisoft... NICe program and free..unless you wish to pay for BESt version.

[llbbl]

pop-ups aren't always due to spyware

[llbbl]

http://www.avast.com/

here is link

I am going to post about it in the Free Virus Scanning thread.

http://forums.designtechnica.com/showthread.php?t=4690

[ECA]

No,
NOT all popups are due to Bots...This is true.
about 1/2 are from MS selling the backdoors to companies to POPUP on IE...

[Ioman]

I have heard bad things about Spyblaster - like it will install a bunch od spyware on your system then tell you that it has removed it. So the user thinks the syware was there all along.

Spybot and Adaware should be fine IMO.

[llbbl]

Maybe you better define Bots ECA .

I think causes 98% of pop ups is computer code that is displayed through a web browser. This could be HTML, PHP, javascript, ASP, DHTML and Perl...

[ECA]

spywareblaster, not spyblaster...only cleans and LOCKS ActiveX.

You want LISTS, and definitions...I hate that... Im not in school any more..

cookies--those little thing stored on your computer to make it easy to Log on, or so a site KNOWS who you are, many sites use them, and MOSt can be placed on your machine without ASKING..So they know you return.. Also placed there by adverts to see if you are looking at there ad's.

Dialers--BAD, they can use your phone modem and dial ANYWHERE, in the world. that $49 charge for a 3 min call at 2am to amsterdam.

Hijackers--A browser hijacker is a small program or registry setting that is responsible for changed IE start and search pages. If your browser starts with a different start page (one you haven't changed yourself), you most probably got hijacked. Intelligent hijackers do not only change these pages, but also add a small file that will restore the hijacked settings upon each system start. Hijackers often use ActiveX installation programs and/or security holes.

Keyloggers--Modern keyloggers are much improved. They do not only log the keys you press, but make also screenshots to show the spy what Windows you are working with, the capture information about your internet use, and much more. The spy doesn't even need physical access to your machine because many current keyloggers send their logs by mail.

LSP--A Layered Service Provider is a system driver linked deep into the networking services of Windows. It has access to ALL data entering and leaving the computer, as well as the ability to modify this data. A few such LSPs are necessary to allow Windows to connect you to other computers, including the Internet. But Spyware may also install itself as an LSP, thus having access to all the data you transmit. LSP are currently used by CommonName, New.Net, NewtonKnows and webHancer.
I HATE LSP, there is NO diffinative location that SHOWS the good or BAD ones, and manny machines have Different ones.

Malware--MALWARe is Malicious ware. its there to be MEAN. It trys to change things, make things not work, or just erase your Boot block.. Windows can fight these, but until removed they can REALLY be a pain.

revision--these are really undefinied, but they try to UPDATE, or change the way you view, wonder the web. they redirect you to WHERE they wish you to go.

security--DSO exploits, and backdoors into your system. They can access your computer, see everything do anything.

trojans--A trojan is a program that has gotten onto your machine without your knowledge and contains malicious code, that would for example allows persons using another computer to connect to yours over a network. Typical trojans are open to anyone trying to connect (any person on your local network or even the internet).
the Idea of TROJAN, is that it ISNT what it says. It does almost anything, AND what you THINK you want. Show a movie and erase your Hard drive. Show the weather, and copy all your passwords and send to the maker.

trackers--Usage tracks are your fingerprints in your system. Whenever you visit a page with your browser, or just open any file, that information is stored deep inside Windows. In most cases that is very useful – if you want to open that file again, you can select it from a list instead of typing the whole filename or browsing the whole directory structure again.
And this information is FREE, and unencrypted on your computer. All your Link history, recent locations visited on the net.
(thanks to spybot for alot of this)

Must remember:
ANY thing that is displayed on you monitor, is STORED someplace on your computer. EVERY page you visit is stored. Every Pic displayed on a page is stored. Every advert you look at, is stored.. every Flash, every ActiveX, movie, Quicktime, song, animation, until its erased..and that can be any date, from ERASE it NOW, or 10 years in the future.

99% of bots also take access time from your machine to deliver DATA someplace else. Some are very transparent and send ONLY 1 time a day, when you LOG ON to the net. Others tend to send data everytime you change a page.
With Dialup access its somewhat easy to tell "IF" there is a LAG on connection to the net. You probably have something SLOWING you down.
On HIGHSPEED, it isnt so easy. I would LOVe a program that would tell me WHAT is useing which channel, and what data its sending.

[ECA]

Maybe you better define Bots ECA .

I think causes 98% of pop ups is computer code that is displayed through a web browser. This could be HTML, PHP, javascript, ASP, DHTML and Perl...

YEP, and ANY of these, as well as FLASH, activeX, and GIF(made to include data), Quicktime, and many other forms can be used to install almost ANYTHING.

I wont even mention useing ANY chat engines, or P2P programs. where you are giving access ON PURPOSE to your computer to OTHER people, directly.