Re: Safe to remove spyware?

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

Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 20:39:00 GMT

More like a Love/Hate relationship. Getting rid of Spyware can be a
difficult, time-consuming operation. It's hard to advise you further,
since we aren't able to see what items these tools are detecting. As
stated earlier you should "Tighten Up/Lock Down" the PC's security
to keep this stuff off. Of course some browsing habits & downloads
just jump over the best of software protections you might have in place.

Do you have someone who might do a Remote Assistance session to
examine your XP instance for you ? I'd offer to do it myself, but don't
know how a Trans-Atlantic session would work.

"NIGHTSHADE-UKT" <NIGHTSHADEUK@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1353A9C7-3552-4B18-BE40-5E6C8E419B26@microsoft.com...
> OMG am even more confused than ever now lol, i ran the first one it found
> lots and again sont know wether to remove them myself, the 2nd one had no
> download link and the 3rd norton firewall wanted me to block. Dont ya just
> love technology.
>
> "R. McCarty" wrote:
>
>> 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
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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