Re: Safe to remove spyware?

From: R. McCarty (PcEngWork-NoSpam__at_mindspring.com)
Date: 03/01/05 

Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 19:08:57 GMT

I wouldn't buy the product before cross-checking with other tools. I
usually trust AdAware & Spybot and Microsoft Anti-Spyware. But
I still run a few other on-line scans just for verification.
Here's a couple to try ( Needs ActiveX installed to run)
PestPatrol http://www.my-etrust.com/products/pestscan/pestscan.cfm
ZoneLabs
http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/index_za.html
SpyAudit http://www.webroot.com/services/spyaudit_03.htm

"NIGHTSHADE-UKT" <NIGHTSHADEUK@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3B9B41DA-93C4-4C7F-A9D9-7CDCDBEBF6D8@microsoft.com...
> Thanx R, hm maybe i'll leave them there for now, although the scanner did
> direct me to URL's with the information proving that it was spyware. Just
> wish i didnt have to buy the product to make sure of safe removal lol.
>
> "R. McCarty" wrote:
>
>> Maybe - The single biggest issue with Spyware identification is "False
>> Positives". Not everything indicted is really Spyware, sometimes it
>> will be triggered by known sites that are mapped in the Registry as a
>> Restricted site or a blocked Cookie. Are you asking if it's O.K. &
>> prudent to remove items manually ? Is so that depends, no single
>> tool will find 100% identical items so you have to decide which tool
>> to trust. Automatic cleaners backup removed items. If you do it
>> manually in the Registry take a moment to Export the key/Value 1st.
>>
>> "NIGHTSHADE-UKT" <NIGHTSHADEUK@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> message
>> news:C8F7E39B-7849-4444-B8C9-C79A9670EBD7@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi guys, yep i know they have added spyware scanning and wont remove
>> > it,
>> > that
>> > is what im asking about, is it safe for me to remove the stuff it found
>> > from
>> > my registry? I have Norton anti virus professional and their firewall.
>> >
>> > "R. McCarty" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Yes, Panda Scan is reliable. However, they've recently added Spyware
>> >> scanning to their on-line tool. Problem is, it will detect Spyware but
>> >> not
>> >> remove it. Panda scan is still an excellent cross-check for your own
>> >> AV
>> >> program. Also, a run with Trend Micro's online scan isn't a waste of
>> >> time.
>> >>
>> >> "NIGHTSHADE-UKT" <NIGHTSHADEUK@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> news:47EC92E9-1F02-4891-B74E-629D4C4A7D41@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I have been religious in using SPybot and Ad-Aware SE Personal for a
>> >> >long
>> >> > time now and have been happy with the results, however after
>> >> > trawling
>> >> > few
>> >> > numerous posts on this site the last few days i decided to run a new
>> >> > check
>> >> > with http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/ apprentley i have
>> >> > 19
>> >> > infected files, most of which are tucked up in Adware somewhere, the
>> >> > others
>> >> > are scattered in my registry, is it safe for me to remove them?
>> >> > Especially
>> >> > this one exclean.exe.
>> >> > I have the log which i can post if any wishes to see it.
>> >> > Many Thanx Nightshade
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>