Best 'ware to stop registry changes ... ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tx2
  • Start date Start date
T

Tx2

Have been looking at the Ad-Watch offering for Ad-Aware, but as i can't
seem to get it to keep the changes i allow, i have given up on it.

Everytime i start the system, MSN is making changes which i have to
allow in Ad-Watch each time ... am i doing something wrong?

Is there an alternative, recommended solution that will prevent
spy/malware from altering my registry that i can use, and that will
retain the settings i authorise/disallow?

I'm not opposed to paying for the software, so don't necessarily want a
freeware solution.
 
Try WinPatrol (freeware). This program monitors for changes to your 'run' key in the Windows registry, including some browser settings too. The program runs actively in the system tray and will alert you to any programs attempting to change your registry settings. The program also monitors your HOSTS file too. Here's a link:

http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10289770.html

--
Best regards,

Todd


Have been looking at the Ad-Watch offering for Ad-Aware, but as i can't
seem to get it to keep the changes i allow, i have given up on it.

Everytime i start the system, MSN is making changes which i have to
allow in Ad-Watch each time ... am i doing something wrong?

Is there an alternative, recommended solution that will prevent
spy/malware from altering my registry that i can use, and that will
retain the settings i authorise/disallow?

I'm not opposed to paying for the software, so don't necessarily want a
freeware solution.
 
Todd said:
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Try WinPatrol (freeware). This program monitors for =
changes to=20
your 'run' key in the Windows registry, including some browser settings =
too. The=20
program runs actively in the system tray and will alert you to any =
programs=20
attempting to change your registry settings. The program also monitors =
your=20
HOSTS file too.
Click to expand...

Generally speaking, if a user has permission to change the hosts file on a
system, he would likely also have permission to terminate or otherwise
cripple %TOY%. Malware is known to often disable security software.

The safe thing to do is not to run any Trojans in the first place. It is
also a good idea to log on as a super user only when necessary, not for
everyday work. OTOH, it's simply crazy to suggest that the key to
information system security would be bogging one's system down with multiple
virus scanners, ZoneAlarm, Ad-aware, Spybot-S&D, advertisement blockers,
heaven knows what else, and all the additional vulnerabilities the
aforementioned programs may feature.

Follow-ups set.

Thor
 
Tx2 said:
Have been looking at the Ad-Watch offering for Ad-Aware, but as i can't
seem to get it to keep the changes i allow, i have given up on it.
Click to expand...
Everytime i start the system, MSN is making changes which i have to
allow in Ad-Watch each time ... am i doing something wrong?
Click to expand...
Is there an alternative, recommended solution that will prevent
spy/malware from altering my registry that i can use, and that will
retain the settings i authorise/disallow?
Click to expand...
I'm not opposed to paying for the software, so don't necessarily want a
freeware solution.
Click to expand...

Install Linux or BSD on your computer and top with mozilla as browser.
Problems gone.


You _could_ start with testing mozilla on your XP.
 
Tx2 said:
Have been looking at the Ad-Watch offering for Ad-Aware, but as i can't
seem to get it to keep the changes i allow, i have given up on it.

Everytime i start the system, MSN is making changes which i have to
allow in Ad-Watch each time ... am i doing something wrong?

Is there an alternative, recommended solution that will prevent
spy/malware from altering my registry that i can use, and that will
retain the settings i authorise/disallow?

I'm not opposed to paying for the software, so don't necessarily want a
freeware solution.
Click to expand...

You could try out Prevx home thats checks for reg changes and has some
buffer overflow protection etc. www.prevx.com

Or there are some regitry monitors out there (StartupMonitor @
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml, RegSentry @
http://www.batalisk.com/, WinPatrol @ http://www.winpatrol.com/ ) - it
depends what you want to check for / protect against. Usual advice applies:
Don't run anything if you don't know what it is or if it's reputable or not.
 
Install Linux or BSD on your computer and top with mozilla as browser
Click to expand...

I'm happy to stick with Windows thanks. It's a decent operating system
that simply requires a bit of 'tweaking' to secure, much like the
alternatives...
Problems gone.
Click to expand...

I doubt it, a switch to Linux would mean a whole new set of unnecessary
complications and problems.
You _could_ start with testing mozilla on your XP.
Click to expand...

I already use Firefox in favour of IE
 
Have been looking at the Ad-Watch offering for Ad-Aware, but as i can't
seem to get it to keep the changes i allow, i have given up on it.

Everytime i start the system, MSN is making changes which i have to
allow in Ad-Watch each time ... am i doing something wrong?

Is there an alternative, recommended solution that will prevent
spy/malware from altering my registry that i can use, and that will
retain the settings i authorise/disallow?

I'm not opposed to paying for the software, so don't necessarily want a
freeware solution.
Click to expand...

http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml


This is also a nice util:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
 
Rubbish. While Linux can be secured, it's not a magic panacea.
Click to expand...

It's won't strengthen your arguments to use harsh wordings.

But i'll agree, Linux would increase security, especially against
"registry changes", but there could be other security issues.
 
Thomas said:
Rubbish. While Linux can be secured, it's not a magic panacea.
Click to expand...

Quite right. Windows can also be secured. Most of these problems would
go away if people didn't run their machines all the time using accounts
with administrator privileges.
 
Julian Moss said:
Quite right. Windows can also be secured. Most of these problems would
go away if people didn't run their machines all the time using accounts
with administrator privileges.
Click to expand...

You sound like you don't think anyone uses 9x anymore. Besides, running XP
except as an Admin is about as interesting as using an abacus. Which would
also work.


Shane
 
Shane said:
You sound like you don't think anyone uses 9x anymore. Besides, running XP
except as an Admin is about as interesting as using an abacus. Which would
also work.

Shane
Click to expand...

That comment was lost on me.

What possible reason is there for using an Admin account for everyday use?
 
Jo Bloe said:
That comment was lost on me.

What possible reason is there for using an Admin account for everyday use?
Click to expand...

9x doesn't have them. Plenty of people still use 9x.
 
It's won't strengthen your arguments to use harsh wordings.

But i'll agree, Linux would increase security, especially against
"registry changes", but there could be other security issues.
Click to expand...

(Cough) INI/config files (cough).

Linux is free of Registry worries in the same way that penguins are noted
for not suffering from foot-and-mouth ("hoof-and-mouth", for our USAian
cousins). Start by counting the number of hooves and non-beaks.. ;o)

IMHO, evangelists are illogical creatures, no matter their creed..

--

Hairy One Kenobi

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!
 
[...]
Linux is free of Registry worries ...
Click to expand...

Any Windows user who 'migrates' to Linux would undoubtedly inherit a
myriad of new issues they'd have to deal with.

Personally, sticking with Windows is the preferred option, ensuring, as
i do, that i have an adequate mix of clue and software to secure my
machine against malicious or nuisance invasion.

Preferred, why? Although i would 'enjoy' the 'challenge' of a move to
Linux, as i'm self-employed, i can't afford to for all sorts of business
reasons.

On a personal level, i have found the 'help' that is available for
newbies moving to Linux to be of a "try it and see" ilk, and nothing
substantial as that which you can receive with Windows due to latter's
dominance of the market place, and the variety of builds available for
the former.
 
Shane said:
9x doesn't have them. Plenty of people still use 9x.
Click to expand...

The word "why" springs to mind.

Windows 9x always was a heap of ****. 16-bit subsystem, crashes all the
time, can't manage memory efficiently, crappy FAT filesystem,
vulnerable to DOS viruses, and nowadays no driver support for modern
hardware.

It belongs in a museum (or possibly a chamber of horrors.)
 
That comment was lost on me.

What possible reason is there for using an Admin account for everyday use?
Click to expand...

It's my computer and I want it to do what I tell it when I tell it.

Receiving a pop up box that says I need to ask myself for permission
is kind of laughable.

The reason for trouble isn't people running as admin, I've always
done so (or rather 'admin level' user - not quite the same thing), and
I have never run anything that has infested my system without knowing
in advance about the infestation.

The reason for trouble is thick people using computers, and the
trouble is usually confined to their own box.
 
Shane wrote:
Windows 9x always was a heap of ****. 16-bit subsystem, crashes all the
time, can't manage memory efficiently, crappy FAT filesystem,
vulnerable to DOS viruses, and nowadays no driver support for modern
hardware.

It belongs in a museum (or possibly a chamber of horrors.)
Click to expand...

I use Win ME, and I never experience those problems. In fact, my Hp
Pavilion with PIII 900 mhz, 128 RAM and DSL service is a solid and
very fast "dream machine" in my experience. I have no desire or need
whatsoever to "upgrade" to a unknown barrel of snakes.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
 
I use Win ME, and I never experience those problems. In fact, my Hp
Pavilion with PIII 900 mhz, 128 RAM and DSL service is a solid and
very fast "dream machine" in my experience. I have no desire or need
whatsoever to "upgrade" to a unknown barrel of snakes.
Click to expand...

You should try Windows 2000 someday. Windows 98 is solid as a rock
provided you don't fool around too much with it, but Windows 2000 is
very noticeably more robust especially when you are dealing with
unresponsive and rebellious applications.

In my experience avoid XP like the plague. It doesn't even come close to
Windows 3.1. ;-)
 
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