Secret Downloads

[george]

Anybody ever get programs downloaded on your computer that you know you did not download yourself? but somehow they got their, don't it just annoy you? you have to take out the time to find out what it is, and then go through all that process deleting them.

recently, I was checking through my add/remove program file, and I was like what!!! were did all these programs come from? and to top it off, I've been getting spam a whole lot more than I use to. I use to never get spam, but of lately, it has been very annoying. anybody know what I'm talking about?

 

[* kittie *]

heh I'm not sure if they work on not, but I use a spyware remover.
But yeah...I hate it when programs give me those extra programs.

 

[oworm]

Yep i know exactly what your on about. Why dont you install ad-aware from http://lavasoft.element5.com/support/download/ Its free. I run it at least once a day and it gets rid of all unwanted spyware and inwanted tracking cookies

 

[sarahbug]

Sometimes it can also be a hacker, especially if you don't have a firewall. On my old computer, I didn't even realized I'd been hacked into until I noticed the IRC chat program was on my computer, and I didn't even know what it was at the time.

 

[IslandBreeze]

I use Spybot to remove spyware. You'd be amazed at not only how much junk you get on your computer, but how much slower it bogs your computer down.

 

[MichaelFJF]

My kid's a computer expert. He installed AdAware for me. I run it once a week and it finds all kinds of stuff. I just delete everything that doesn't look familiar. M

 

[MiccyNarc]

I swear by AdAware (not really ) It's a huge help. Once I was actually having performance issues in some games, and I ran some system maintenance applications. Nothing helped until AdAware found a fairly large spyware application.

Anyhow, if you are getting mysterious pop-up ads even though you have pop up blocker (as I do with Mozilla) run AdAware. Spyware is the most likely reason.

By the way, the post reply interface at CF is 1337

 

[plum]

Here's another thread talking about this issue!
http://www.christianforums.com/t73494

 

[AngelAmidala]

I will tell you the worst thing is that stupid Bonzai Buddy. That thing shows up in sooooooooooooo many programs! RAR!

I run AdAware and SpyBot regularly on my computer at work and AdAware on my computer at home.

 

[Krichevskoy]

I use Ad aware and Spybot. They usually catch something that to other one missed.

 

[DJ B.K.]

Where can I get this adaware?

 

[MiccyNarc]

www.download.com

 

[george]

Thanks guys, for your help...the reason why I was so upset, is because I got theses programs on my pc called VIRTUAL BOUNCER and AdDESTROYER. anyone every heard of theses? WHAT! is it anyway. I'm hoping this adaware will help. thanks again guys.



God bless.

 

[Sharky]

yeah those programs come in by browsing almost any kind of website that isn't corporate.

That's why i try not to browse geocities or xoom sites etc. Another way to prevent programs from coming in is to use high privacy setting in IE. It lets you choose exclusive sites that you want cookies downloaded EG: CF .

It doesn't stop all programs though. Some come through flash or scripts.

 

[plum]

Or, you could also switch to the wonderful Mozilla browser! I use it and it has a popup blocker setting and tabbed browsing... fabulous lil thing. fast free download as well!

www.mozilla.org

 

[batikwong]

you can't really eliminate all by just have an ad aware software as some of the time the ad aware software is just the reason you need another ad aware software, the the process keep continue.. but it do help but can't really eliminate all.

 

[g4goddess]

hee hee

this is why I love having a mac. i dont have to worry about so many viruses and things....

 

[MiccyNarc]

*sees debate coming on*
If everyone used macs, then spyware/viruses would be created for Macs. Right now no one bothers because so few people use Macs compared to those who use Windows.

 

[Kathy]

Anything goes wrong with my computer...My Son will fix it. He is great with computers.

 

[seebs]

*sees debate coming on*
If everyone used macs, then spyware/viruses would be created for Macs. Right now no one bothers because so few people use Macs compared to those who use Windows.

This is only part of the story. Other systems do not have the large set of security holes Windows does, because everyone but Microsoft considers security a higher priority.