Spyware - General

D'oh! Didn't notice it there with the broken link. Right, I'll give it a look over and add to the list if it seems in working order, thanks.

(So if there *is* a proper free version, what's the point of the SpyAudit thingy?!)

--
Andrew Clover
mailto:and@doxdesk.com
http://www.doxdesk.com/

No, it isn't free! You have to buy it to be able to update your definitions.

(ATTENTION: Your Spy Sweeper definitions are out of date. Your privacy and your PC are at risk).

And now I will remove it from my computer. I don't like this sort of programs. They create a false sense of insecurity. And you should buy their program to be secure. Neh, the other programs are better because they exist out of a sense of indignation and not serve the god of money.

I never claimed that it was free.  Here's a quote from my first post:

The first thing you'll notice is that unlike SpyBoy and Ad Aware it isn't free. However, that's the cost Webroot of having a telephone support staff.

And another:

Webroot is aiming for a different market segment than Spybot and AdAware. Namely, novice users what want immediate access to live help. That requires we charge money. As we already have customers who are aware of the other products hopping on board, the strategy seems sound.

Would anyone like to comment on the software?

Othre than the fact that I would never reccomend it?

Othre than the fact that I would never reccomend it?

Seconded!!!

frankly, from what u've layed out as the goal of your marketing strat, the software need be little or no different from that of adaware or spybotSD.  two things which, in essence, need no improvement upon (i don't like the improvements upon adaware 5 in 6, btw.).

i don't want to try DL'n this.  mind explaining how it differs from spybotSD or adaware?  does it have an option to submit recovered spy/adware to your support staff for suggestions?  how'd that be handled?

aside from that, the fact that it's a for-profit thing (esp. the fact that it'll have to be marketed towards certain behaviors and wares) will severely limit the types of things the prog will be legally allowed to dig up.  adware is different from spyware in that adware has won some legal battles.

though the idea of having a support staff isn't a bad one.  but let's face it:  that's what cexx and similar sites are for.

Okay, the software seems to do the job pretty well; I shall add it to the 'Commercial anti-parasite software' list.

My only concern is that of LSPs: like older versions of Ad-Aware, and some of the other commercial packages, SpySweeper doesn't seem to know how to remove them properly - with the result that you lose network connectivity when software like NewDotNet and CommonName is deleted. Please look up the Winsock2 methods WSCDeinstallProvider and WSCUnInstallNameSpace for the proper interface to this.

I haven't checked SpySweeper's detections exhaustively, but here are a few points I noticed when running it over my own parasite collection:

%WinDir%\inf\tv_enua.inf
- triggers BonziBuddy false positive. This is an MS file that multiple programs (including Bonzi) install.

F:\text\documentation\python 2.1\4suite-0.11.1\docs\text\packages
F:\text\documentation\python 2.1\4suite-0.11.1\packages
- triggers 'Riviera Gold Casino' false positive.

%ProgramFiles%\Kazaa\bdcore.dll
- triggers BDE false positive. This is a part of Kazaa to do with download virus scanning. 'bd' means BitDefender not Brilliant Digital.

%ProgramFiles%\Kazaa\topsearch.dll
- triggers TopSearch detection. This is indeed connected to Brilliant Digital, but it's not really adware as such, and AFAIK as part of Kazaa can't actually be removed.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{669695BC-A811-4A9D-8CDF-BA8C795F261C}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\KBBar.KBBarBand[.1]
- Detected as 7Search, but can also be caused by PowerStrip.

caught one ILookup reg entry, but missed its files
didn't catch lop/Rnd files (a common problem)
caught FavoriteMan/ZZ, missed the other variants
'Morpheus BHO' should be classified as WurldMedia with the others.
missed RapidBlaster/lp
caught one SaveNow reg entry, but missed its files
missed Xupiter/OrbitExplorer variant

Hope this helps. I don't object to a company trying to make a commercial package to remove unsolicited commercial software; actually I'm glad I've got something else to put in there that doesn't end up in the 'questionable' list (like the horrid Spyware Nuker and vBouncer).

Some of the marketing still seems a bit dodgy: that 90% claim, the general pointlessness of SpyAudit; it also disappoints me to see yet another snake-oil internet 'accelerator' promoted. But then, the same could be said of Aluria.

--
Andrew Clover
mailto:and@doxdesk.com
http://www.doxdesk.com/

I removed Spy Sweeper. But it left a file on my system after the uninstall (C:\WINDOWS\unSpySweeper.exe). Maybe you could amend that in your next update of the software.

Andrew, fred, thanks for taking the time to look over it.  I've just gotten in over the weekend, so I'll taking a look at the issues you've brought up just as soon as I am able.

-MMcLean

Have we now earned a lifetime free version of the software? To keep reviewing it?

Fred,

After all the accusations of being a tight fisted bastard who's trying to sell something that should be given away, you want something for free?  But my corporate masters might feed my sould to the demons of avarice for that.  

I have run Spyware Blaster, Spyware Guard, Spybot S&D and Adaware. They have found no spyware on my system.

I ran Spy Sweeper and it found several including Cydoor, Alexa, Eacceleration, Bullguard pop-up as well as Angelfire and Passport cookies.

Some of these i can be fairly sure I dont have. Are they false positives and how do you tell? Does Spy Sweeper tell you exactly where it found them??

I would need to know if this program is better than the rest before I would consider buying it. As for the charge being for telephone support, I can see no reason to phone. I have no problems with the free and excellent programs mentioned above. If I did, this forum can help.

Do I actually have the Spyware listed above? Any help much appreciated as usual.

Mark

The best way to determine where the files are is to run a sweep.  In step 2, Remove Spies, each spy will be listed in a tree ladder.  Click on the + sign next to the spy in question and  the location of the file will appear underneath it.  

-MMcLean

Tried the full sweep again several times, but it cannot find Alexa, Eacceleration, or Bullguard pop-up it found the first time. (???)

Also It says I have the Cydoor Spy. Its not. Its the dummy file within Kazza lite. The other Spyware detection programs seem to be able to tell the difference.

sorry.  that last post was by me!!