SpyBot - Search & Destroy | anyone know about this ???

my sister sent me this link:

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp

it's a freeware download that searches your computer for 'spybots' (cookies and other nasty thing that keep track of your online activity.) she said it worked great for her and others in her company.

so, I tried it and was stunned at the list of 'trackers' I was carrying. was I out of my mind to do this???


an interest feature, descriptions of the individual 'bots' are provided for most of them.

here are two samples:

Company: Microsoft
Product: Internet Explorer
Threat: Security hole

Company URL: http://www.microsoft.com/
Company product URL: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/
Company privacy URL: http://www.microsoft.com/info/privacy.htm

Description
There's a security hole in IE allowing websites to execute code without asking you first. You can find more information at http://security.greymagic.com/adv/gm001-ie/


Company: Advertising.com
Product: Cookie
Threat: Tracking cookie or cookie of tracking site

Company URL: http://www.advertising.com/
Company privacy URL: http://www.advertising.com/privacy/privacy3.html

Description
I won’t call a saved IP in combination with a log of visited web pages anonymous!

Privacy Statement
Do you collect personally identifiable information on people who simply visit your sites while web-surfing?
No. We only collect personally-identifiable information when people voluntarily provide such information, such as when they sign up for a service or promotional event. For web-surfers who simply visit our sites, or click onto banner ads, we collect anonymous Click Stream Data that permits us to provide better, targeted advertising messages.

What is Click Stream Data?
Click Stream Data is anonymous information on a web surfer, such as a web surfer's IP address, web pages which have been viewed by a surfer, date and time, domain type, and responses to advertisements.

Found a creepy crawly on my PC that Norton couldn't find!

IMMEDIATELY after a Norton scan... :wow:

the net is becoming seriously diseased and dangerous... i miss newsgroups on a 'dumb' terminal...

Norton doesn't look for spyware and adware. However, I had the migmaf virus the first week it was spreading - before Norton released their update. Spybot found it.

The first time that you run it, you'll be amazed at how many cretins have been spying on your browsing habits.

Good program.
Have you done your Microsoft Updates?

After the first time, you will usually have just tracking cookies. That is, unless you download new programs.

and watch how many cookies get blocked as you surf the net. As I mention elsewhere, even my own pictures posted on my Earthlink pages come with cookies that Spybot blocks.

will be interesting...

But....... be careful on what you tell it to delete. It may be something you really need after all.

The net, especially this summer has become a very dangerous place to hang out without protection.