Windows Repair and Tech Support Software

Having completed my first round of attempting to get spyware, I am not entirely certain that I going about this correctly. Maybe I should remove my “Computer Tech” hat and become more of an “Average Joe”.

I have been using Internet Explorer 7 and Spybot with TeaTimer installed as my real time spyware blocker and even after going to known malware sites, I came up with very little spyware. I received many notices from Internet Explorer that software was attempting to install itself but I declined it every time. I didn’t get a single warning from Spybot’s TeaTimer. This leads me to think that people either aren’t using IE7 or FireFox as their browsers. Or possibly they are completely ignoring the warnings that they are getting.

Warnings from web browsers are NOT to be ignored. They are what protect you from keyloggers, adware, spyware and other sorts of malware. Even spyware blockers won’t help if you bypass their warnings and choose to install the software anyway.

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: Spyware Blockers, Web Browser

Ok, this post isn’t really about how to get spyware. Its about how not to get spyware.

While doing my tests of Spyware Blockers I have noticed something. Most of them want you to download or install something. If you avoid just this one step, you will be MUCH safer online. If you are asked to install an ActiveX plugin, download a file to do a “Virus Scan” or get the latest “Java” release, just say “No”. If you agree, you will almost certainly be infected.

Spyware creators prey on people that don’t understand this simple fact… “Downloading browser plugins puts your computer at risk.” Of course there are many safe ones such as Adobe Flash, Sun’s Java and Microsoft ActiveX but you have to be certain that you are getting your software from the original manufacturer. If you aren’t, there is a high possibility that you are installing spyware.

Thanks,
The Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: AntiSpyware, Spyware Blockers

I just want to let you, my readers, know that for the next couple weeks (maybe longer), I will not be posting as much as I have been. I have decided to do a series of posts that require a good amount of testing.

I am going to test a series of Spyware Blockers to see which Spyware Blocker program really blocks the most spyware. These must be Real-Time spyware blocking programs. Simple removal tools are NOT being tested here.

I am going to test freeware applications but I am also going to test paid and commercial spyware blocking packages in this test because I really want to see which one is the best and see how much spyware the freeware blockers are able to block in comparison to the commercial programs. I especially want to see if the freeware and commercial versions of the same program fare differently!

Methodology: To test these spyware blockers, I am going to use my test Windows Vista PC (fully patched) in an Administrator’s login with UAC and Windows Defender turned off. I will use Microsoft Internet Explorer and it will be set to accept all cookies as well as pop-ups the security tab will be as low as I can go (medium). I will create a complete system backup so that I can refresh it to the same settings after each test. I am then going to install a single spyware blocking program and search around the web for spyware. I am then going to use a series of spyware removal programs to see what I was infected with. By comparing which programs found which spyware on my system, I will be able to see which blockers fared best. I am going to do this with as many spyware blocking programs as I can find. I am going to use the same websites in the same order to get infected and I am going to use the same spyware removal programs in the same order to see how infected my computer becomes.

Programs: I am going to test Spybot S&D with TeaTimer, Avira AntiVir Premium, AVG, MalwareBytes Anti Malware Professional, SuperAntiSpyware Professional, Spyware Terminator, and PC Tools Spyware Doctor, Windows Defender. I will add more to this list as I think of them or become aware of them.

Submission: If you have a real-time spyware blocker that is not yet on the list, please share it with me by leaving a comment HERE.

Once I have completed the test with each software I will post a short review (with screenshots). When I have concluded my tests, I will put together a monster post to compare the PROs and CONs of each program.

I can’t wait to see the results!

Thanks,
Tim, the Free Downloadable Software Fan

written by Tim \\ tags: AntiSpyware, Spyware Blockers