Confused about what SpywareBlaster does?

Discussion in 'SpywareBlaster & Other Forum' started by Oliver Costich, Dec 13, 2002.

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  1. Removed all existing spyware with Ad-aware and SpyBot S&D. I installed SpywareBlaster and updated it.

    Ad-aware and SpyBot still find spyware. I though SpywareBlaster would prevent that.
     
  2. Pieter_Arntz

    Pieter_Arntz Spyware Veteran

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2002
    Posts:
    13,491
    Location:
    Netherlands
    Hi Oliver,

    Spywareblaster prevents the installation from a webpage for all the spyware that is in it´s database and disables it if the spyware is already installed.
    What´s worrying me is that you state to remove the spyware and then you find it again on your system on the next scan.
    Could you tell us what the spyware components are that keep coming back?

    Regards,

    Pieter
     
  3. fastclick; coubleclick; hitbox; Avenue A, Inc.; Engage, Inc. is the most recent scan
     
  4. Mike_Healan

    Mike_Healan Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2002
    Posts:
    302
    Location:
    USA
    The first 3 are cookies. You'll need a cookie manager to deal with those. I don't recognize the others.
     
  5. TonyKlein

    TonyKlein Security Expert

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2002
    Posts:
    4,361
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    AvenueA is also a cookie, and the other one as well, I take it.

    Cookies are pretty harmless, and as Mike says, use a cookie manager or the IE Internet Options Privacy tab to manage those.

    They're not spyware in the conventional sense of the word.
     
  6. javacool

    javacool BrightFort Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2002
    Posts:
    4,099
    Sorry I couldn't get to your post before now.

    Yes, all the items you mentioned are cookies used by advertising networks. As such, SpywareBlaster cannot prevent them, but as Tony said they pose much less of a threat than actual spyware (they could be used to track you across various websites, and profile your browsing habits, but they are also easily deleted and blocked).

    The IE6 Privacy tab can manage them, but there are also many good freeware cookie managers available (on top of that, you can use software such as AdShield to block the advertising banners and pop-up windows associated with these advertising networks).

    Best regards,

    -Javacool
     
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