CounterSpy/Microsoft Adware

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Spidious

I was using Microsoft Adaware for a while. The other computer managed to get
Trojans on it. So as to weather or not the Microsoft program was actually
working is anybody's guess..

But the computer shop that fixed it STRONGLY recommended removing the
Microsoft AdAware program. Saying that people specifically write programs to
get in to peoples computers. I have seen that CounterSpy, which the MS
program is based on had a free 15 day trial period. I tried it before the
computer shop told me about the MS program.

Is it safe to run the MS or the original CounterSpy (Stronger) program. Or
should I just stick with the Norton Internet Security ?

I am more than willing to pay for the CounterSpy or use the free MS program.
If they will actually do good on my computer and keep it safer....
 
You are confusing Microsoft AntiSpyware with Lava Soft Adaware, your post
clearly proves so. I don't know of MSAS having a 15 day trial period, also
it is still in the beta stage. If you did encounter any Trojans, its best
you use an Antivirus utility, not a spyware utility.

Microsoft AntiSpyware is based on a product Microsoft acquired from GIANT,
in December of 2004.
 
You are correct. I worded it incorrectly. It is Microsoft anti spyware that
is based on the Giant program. But still is it safe to run ?
Is it going to get stronger ?
The 15 day free trail program
http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/product.cfm?id=410
Made by Sunbelt Software looks just like the MS version..
So is the free MS version just as good. Not so far from my test. The CS
version found 4 that the MS version did not find. They were minor spyware.
But still they missed finding the.
 
Spidious said:
You are correct. I worded it incorrectly. It is Microsoft anti spyware that
is based on the Giant program. But still is it safe to run ?
Is it going to get stronger ?
The 15 day free trail program
http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/product.cfm?id=410
Made by Sunbelt Software looks just like the MS version..
So is the free MS version just as good. Not so far from my test. The CS
version found 4 that the MS version did not find. They were minor spyware.
But still they missed finding the.
Click to expand...

Hi

Why pay for this ?, look at Download.com

Lavasofts Adaware, 115 million downloads

Spybot, 50 million downloads

http://www.download.com/3101-2001_4-0-1.html?tag=dir

Why give away your money to Sunbelt ?
 
Went back to their site and double checked what I said. I was correct.. They
are/were related to Giant.. See Below..

How Come Microsoft Updates Sunbelt's CounterSpy With Spyware Definitions?
There is a whole story here, but this is what Microsoft states on its
website: "Anti-spyware solutions require definition updates-signatures of
known spyware and other unwanted software-that are necessary to keep the
solutions up-to-date. Because of a legal agreement between Sunbelt Software
and Giant that preceded the Microsoft acquisition, Microsoft will provide
spyware signature updates to Sunbelt through July 2007." There is a separate
link to a Sunbelt Company Newsletter called Stu's News where you can find
all the background information.

But looks like to me after 2007 you would be better off with MS..

Isn't it just great that to be on the Internet safely you now have to have
running/or using

Microsoft AntiSpyWare
Spybot
SpyWare Blaster
AdAware
Norton Internet Security
Norton Antivirus Scanner

And some decent amount of knowledge of just what is safe to delete when they
find something....

At least I found the following info on PC World Magazine site.


Beta Update: Future Windows AntiSpyware Looks Like a Winner

As we were completing testing for this story, Microsoft released a beta
version of its new Windows AntiSpyware, the product formerly owned by Giant
Software, which Microsoft acquired in December 2004. The beta turned in
excellent results in our tests. Because its signature files were more
up-to-date than those in the rest of the products, we didn't compare it
directly with the others in this roundup; nonetheless, AntiSpyware looks
like it will be a top-notch product when it's ready for shipping.
It was able to detect 91 percent of the adware/spyware in our test suite,
including 96 percent of processes running in memory, 67 percent of home- or
search-page modifications, 100 percent of BHOs and toolbars, 95 percent of
Registry additions, and 100 percent of other items such as menus and buttons
added to programs. The utility scanned our 2.7GB of data in less than 3
minutes. AntiSpyware's real-time monitoring stops infections by preventing
changes to the browser home and search pages, identifying unknown processes
in memory, blocking unauthorized edits to the Hosts file, and preventing
changes to Registry run keys.

To counter browser home- and search-page hijackers, AntiSpyware can
automatically reset the pages to the operating system defaults. You can also
specify custom home and search pages by selecting Advanced Tools, Browser
Hijack Restore. AntiSpyware will alert you to any attempts to change the
designated pages from the custom or default settings. This is a better way
to handle hijackers than the similar scheme of Webroot's Spy Sweeper, which
restores the pages to the settings that were in place when Spy Sweeper was
first installed. Read more on AntiSpyware.

Windows AntiSpyware boasts a clean, intuitive interface that is nearly
identical in features and layout to that of Sunbelt Software's
CounterSpy--an application that also makes use of Giant Software's
spyware-signature technology. Unlike CounterSpy, AntiSpyware automatically
ignores cookies as it scans--a refreshing change for those users who
appreciate the automatic log-ins and site personalization features that
cookies can provide.
 
I would look closely at the detected items and decide if they are real, and
worth paying for.

I'm skeptical. So far, when I've looked at items other software finds on my
systems that Microsoft Antispyware has not, I see false positives, or
cookies. I wouldn't expect Sunbelt's software to be any different.

I certainly question the information you were given at the shop. I think
they are misinformed about the issue, based on what you've written.
 
I re-installed them after getting my computer back.
Hopefully Bill Gates will do us all right and keep our computers safer !
 
I was using Microsoft Adaware for a while. The other computer managed
to get Trojans on it. So as to weather or not the Microsoft program
was actually working is anybody's guess..

But the computer shop that fixed it STRONGLY recommended removing the
Microsoft AdAware program. Saying that people specifically write
programs to get in to peoples computers.
Click to expand...

I run a computer shop. Every XP computer I work on goes out of here with
Microsoft Beta AntiSpyware on it. It is also one of the major tools I use
to clean the computer up with in the first place.
I don't quite follow "Saying that people specifically write programs to
get in to peoples computers." What's THAT got to do with MAS? What does it
have to do with *anything*?
 
Menno, try to make sure those PC's are not going into product environments
such as joining a domain, I would wait until beta 2 to fully recommend MSAS.
 
I don't quite follow "Saying that people specifically write programs to
get in to peoples computers." What's THAT got to do with MAS? What does it
have to do with *anything*?

Wow what planet do you live on ?

Are your trying to say that all those people out there that write viruses,
trojans and probably some of the spyware programs for companies. Do not
exist ? If they didn't, we would not need all of these protective programs
for our computers !
 
It makes some sense, people do write malicious programs just get into your
PC. Some do it profit, fun, testing, revenge, boredom, lost loved one,
stalking, stay in touch etc.
 
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