Hi, one more thing what is the best spyware blocker around? Any recommendations?
beginner123

Firefox

click on the link on my sig

If you want your PC to be cleaned easily, there is this great program called Hitman pro. As a matter of fact, Hitman pro is a wrapper for Adaware, Spyware sweeper etc etc. Unfortunately this program is only available in Dutch. For those that can read Dutch or those who are willing to try it (works pretty easy), check www.hitmanpro.nl

If your system is spyware free to start with then SpywareBlaster 3.2 is highly rated as an effective and free spyware blocker.

I'd say a user that doesn't install/run suspicious programs or clicks suspicious on links...
//Danne

amen diizzy, the best blocker is common sense

Agreed, common sense should be a major consideration.
But common sense only gets you so far these days.
Malware/spyware can also be manifested in the forrm or scripts and exploits embedded in some web sites which can be automatically executed on some computers simply by visiting those web sites, depending on the security settings implemented in the browser settings.

Some of these anti-spyware products employ the use of a database with a list of many such known web sites and will prevent the protected browser from accessing those web sites that are known to contain embedded malware/spyware content. These web sites are not common knowledge to most users.

Personally, I employ the browser lock down method in conjunction with common sense. I don't accept any cookies, don't allow the download of any ActiveX controls and plugins and Active Scripting is always disabled.

spyware blocking wise... like someone mentioned above... "Spywareblaster" works great in preventing activex spyware from getting installed on your pc if u use IE6. I dont, i use firefox so i dont got nothing to worry about, even though lately on some sites i noticed sites starting to use .xpi stuff to "attempt" to install spyware through firefox, but since i know what im doing i dont get infected.

as for spyware removal tools... i recommend "Spybot Search and Destroy" & "AD-Aware" ... i figure between those 3 programs your pretty much about as protected as u can get... cause in the end of the day tracking cookies aint something i would worry about to much cause they dont effect system performance at all or cause any popup ads... it's only the spyware that runs in the background is what u really need to worry about which in that case im sure the the programs i listed above will detect and remove em no problem

What I use:

1)Common sense
2)popupcop
3)Common sense
4)Ad Aware w/Ad shield
5)Common sense
6)Spy Sweeper
7)Common sense
8)Spy-bot
9)Common sense

10) Oh yea, and my customized block list for ads, OF COURSE!!!
--in the sticky

Adaware, Spybot, and Avast Pro. It has script blocker Nemesys

I use the same

Best way to keep your PC sypware free = Common sence = Linux
Best way to keep your PC Trojan free = Common sence = Linux
Best way to keep your PC Virus free = Common sence = Linux

What is Common sence it’s using Gentoo or XandrOS

I would like to start using Linux on one of my machines and try to get up to speed with it. I use alot of aerial photography and other image software that I am not sure about using with Linux. Do you dual boot and use Linux for specific tasks and Windows for other things?

Hi nmpaulcp I used to have both them on my PC before but now I use Linux for everything at home and work as well, I still have windows on a old PC but it doesn’t get used very often , Linux is faster and so much better than Windows. After I started using Linux at work every body wanted to try it and soon every body start using it so the company dumped windows. I also use image software and with Xandros I am at the moment running PhotoShop 7 , Fireworks MX , Flash MX, Paint Shop Pro 8 , Dreamweaver MX, yes they are all window programs but I’m using Xandros Desktop OS Business Edition which comes included with a program called CrossOver Office http://www.codeweavers.com/ and with it you can run most windows programs and I found with Flash and Photoshop they run faster and better than in windows. Linux also has lot’s of it’s own image programs and they are very good. A program called Gimp is like Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop then there is Inkscape works like Fireworks and for 3D Modelling one of the good ones is a program called Blender 2.33a, similar to 3D Studio Max with out the high price tag or for Animations Vari Cad is very good.

You can Back up all your DVD’s in Linux as well. If you still want to use your old window programs with Crossover Office you can also use Nero 6 , DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter , but I find Linux’s own K3b http://www.k3b.org/ , AcidRipp or DVD:Ripp a lot better than Nero


If you want to give Xandros a try ! You can down load a free Home version one form here http://www.xandros.com/ it doesn’t have Crossover Office on it but you can get the feel of it, Or try and find the 30 day Demo Business Version with Crossover Office on it for a try. Xandros is a good one to start off with and after you get the feel of it you can use some of the other Versions of Linux like Fedora Core , Gentoo, SuSE, Slackware, Red Hat, Debian, Mandrake, Turbo Linux . I think after you tried Linux you wouldn’t want to go back to windows again.

If you need any more info on getting started in Linux let me know.