un-installing Ad-Aware

[mobiman]

Please comment on the following given by an instructor, Thank you :
"Step 3 . Un-installing Ad-Aware
It's advisable to uninstall the software after
every use. as some adware can detect pro-
grams that detect them! If they detect that your
computer is installed with Ad-Aware, they will hide
themselves so that Ad-Aware cannot detect them."

[BILL G]

I have been using Ad-Aware for 4yr+. I would send the Instructor to The Back Of The BUS. Ask HOW and WHERE ?

[Corrine]

http://img116.exs.cx/img116/1231/z7shysterical.gif I'm certainly glad that you thought to seek a second opinion. As just one example, the worm W32/Mytob-BH (http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/w32mytobbh.html) turns off antivirus software. There are others that have disabled Microsoft updates or the firewall. I wonder if that instructor thinks that means users should disable their A/V. I should certainly hope not.

The best thing is to maintain a secure system, with a firewall, Windows patches up to date, install and update software like Javacool's SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard, keep your A/V updated, consider an alternate browser (i.e., Firefox or Opera) or if using IE, install IE Spyads.

I would also suggest Tony Klein's often referred to article: "So how did I get infected in the first place?". There is a previous version here (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971) with the one just updated yesterday posted at LzD (http://www.landzdown.com/index.php/topic,2783.0.html) and FL (http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22879) (reproduced with permission).

[BlueZannetti]

-{ Quote: "Please comment on the following given by an instructor, Thank you :
"Step 3 . Un-installing Ad-Aware
It's advisable to uninstall the software after
every use. as some adware can detect pro-
grams that detect them! If they detect that your
computer is installed with Ad-Aware, they will hide
themselves so that Ad-Aware cannot detect them."" }-If you think about this a bit, purely from a programming perspective, why allow the choice to exist if it's malware? Why wouldn't the author just cloak it from the start? Well, they would...., if they could. It's a really strange comment when you think about it...

Blue

[Corrine]

Good ole' Google. I found the cached story (http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:G3oUN-bLOoEJ:straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/digital_life/story/0,5597,334777-1129672740,00.html+%22If+they+detect+that+your+computer+is+installed+with+Ad-Aware,+they+will+hide%22&hl=en)

Its from

"The Straits Times Interactive"
Aug 16, 2005
Pull the plug on POP-UPS
CANICE PANG gives the lowdown on those nasty pop-up windows and how to detect and banish them

The thing is, for Canice Pang to have specifically showcased Ad-Aware for removing popups, she should recommend the Plus or Pro version's Ad-Watch to keep pop-ups out in the first place. Of course, we all know there are many other options as well. :) .

[TNT]

-{ Quote: "Please comment on the following given by an instructor, Thank you :
"Step 3 . Un-installing Ad-Aware
It's advisable to uninstall the software after
every use. as some adware can detect pro-
grams that detect them! If they detect that your
computer is installed with Ad-Aware, they will hide
themselves so that Ad-Aware cannot detect them."" }-
That's just one dumb statement. Why would one program a malware to detect whether Ad-Aware is installed, if it can hide from it anyway?

[Corrine]

Indeed, TNT. That does tend to make me doubt the validity of any other advice provided by that individual.

[MikeNash]

-{ Quote: "Please comment on the following given by an instructor, Thank you :
"Step 3 . Un-installing Ad-Aware
It's advisable to uninstall the software after
every use. as some adware can detect pro-
grams that detect them! If they detect that your
computer is installed with Ad-Aware, they will hide
themselves so that Ad-Aware cannot detect them."" }-

Horse riding instructor?

;D