Question about Spyware and Adaware....frustrated here!

I have a router, software firewall, and Nortons on my machine. Two to three times a day, I run adaware and spybot. I always get 6 to 8 spyware hits each time. :argh: So today, I bought PC-illen by Trend. I couldn't install it because I couldn't remove my Norton's anti-virus. It kept saying I needed the disk to remove it except I've long since lost the disk. I think I eventually got it off but by then I had decided to install a 2005 Norton's that we had at work instead of the 2002 version I had. I do update the virus protections weekly.

So, my question is how do I block, not remove, the spyware and adaware stuff. Which program do I need to better protect my system?

Thanks for any advice you can give me. Oh, I use IE. I know, I know. I'm just not brave enough to change when I can't even remove a program without hours of effort.

with a link to '75 security tools' or some such

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=242x1855

Don't quite understand your 'block, not remove' question. Maybe the link can answer it, though.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

This is a prevention tool. Also, with Spybot Search & Destroy, have you run an immunization recently? This stops a number of things.

Some random advice ...

One among many problems with spyware and adware prevention is that what constitutes these things can come in many forms. Cookies, for instance, often show up as data miners or the like and will cause a hit on a spyware scan. You get cookies from websites typically, so given the frequency of your problem I suspect you are visiting a website daily that sets one of these cookies that shows up as spyware. You either didn't say this, or I did not read carefully enough. Are the repeat instances of spyware always or usually the same thing, or are they different? If they are the same or at least similar, I suspect very strongly this is the problem. The default home page for IE, for example, sets a cookie that detects as spyware. Many major news organizations have the same issue with their websites; they generate revenue this way.

If this is the issue, the most solid solution is not the easiest. You need to determine which website(s) you visit are setting these cookies. Then you need to use a browser or firewall that lets you block cookies selectively. A more drastic solution would be to disable cookies entirely, but this can cause problems with a number of websites that rely on them for full functionality. I can't do online banking, for instance, without a cookie being set.

Now, if the spyware is coming in the form of executables (programs) stored on your computer somewhere, and if this is happening every day, you have a far more serious issue. If you're not getting this from installing "free" programs, utilities, screensavers, etc. that come bundled with spyware or adware, it's getting on your system in a way that could suggest you've got a hacker/trojan/virus problem. If Norton is your only virus scanning tool, do not rely on it to have caught it all. As mentioned elsewhere, I cleaned a system that had Norton installed that had 11 distinct viruses/trojans and hundreds of individual instances of spyware.

All that said, even with the best methods available, you're not going to stop all forms of spyware and adware unless you basically go into ultra-secure mode and manually inspect every single bit of traffic that comes across your internet connection. A lot of it isn't malicious; it's simply intrusive and provides a potential security risk if your system becomes infected with something else. Until websites figure out another way to generate income, it will be with us.

My suspicion is I have some executable program that keeps activating the spyware. It's the same everytime. In Spybot, it's reported as tracking cookie and in adaware it's hitbox and several others.

I'm going to try the suggestions on the other thread and think about your ideas in the morning. I don't mind buying additional software since I'll also install it on our work computers. Thanks for the help.

If you're getting "tracking cookie" and "hitbox" notices, you're almost definitely getting this from a website. Major websites are riddled with them.

your problem is cookies. If you use a browser that notifies you of when a cookie wants to be set like Firefox does you can decide if you want to allow it or not. When you don't use a browser like Firefox you can install a free program called CookieWall
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/cookie.htm
This program works great and you will find that most of what you are picking up as you surf are tracking cookies.
Once you stop websites from setting all the cookies they want you will find that you have very few hits on Spybot or Ad-Aware and almost all scans are free of garbage.
The business of programs like this is kicking spyware and adware ass
and business.is.good.

Its free and its excellent.

If you're using IE, change your security settings to "high".
Stop using IE.

You're *always* going to get cookie trackers unless you want to oversee the cookies for every site you visit.

I use IE exactly 3 times a month and *always* get trackers.
Innoculation is good.
I use at least 3 spyware progs.
Just remember to keep them up-to-date.

Only other thing would be to run something like Zone Alarm and visit this guy: http://www.grc.com/default.htm.

Good luck.

Cletus

like to add. For those who do not keep track of the cookies installed on their machines. Alot of posts in DU set cookies on your machine without you knowing it unless you keep track of them with a program like Firefox or CookieWall. When a poster links to a site some sites set cookies on your computer without you even visiting the site posted.

All you have to do is click on a post and they pop up. I have brought this up to DU administrators and the sites in question. DU has nothing to do with this but the sites I questioned and wrote e-mails to have No Idea why this happens (Ya Right)
Cookies suck and most are just for tracking your surfing habits and selling your information.

I loved that the 0.x versions of FireFox had this as the identifying text for cookie management.

I have no point. Just wanted to mention it. :-)

When I get home, I'm going to try the suggestions. At least I now understand the problem better.

Aren't regular cookies considered "spyware" by some of these programs? That might explain why you have so many pop up throuhout the day.

I'm probably wrong though...

but I don't know. I've implemented many of the suggestions and I'm getting less.

by Norton, but there are much better.. i have to run 'Windows-Find and Fix Problems' and 'one step clean up' all the tilme to clear the XP file breakdowns.. just to keep it running. I have ActiveX problems constantly.. sometimes a 162 problems in 25 areas... but i seem to have resolved that one...

i just right click on my spybot and anti virus and click 'disable' or close.
when i play game competitions.. or download something