Spyware and Spam: How to Get Rid of It

[kring]

With the latest updates, I am now getting spyware alerts from Adaware and Spybot S&D that Kazaa Lite is now leaving spyware. I only use it occasionally (Kazaa Lite) since I don't d/l much from the web (and I have yet to d/l anything from Kazaa Lite) and I just got an alert when I ran both programs on both machines. Topsearch with Kazaa Lite in the information listed. This is the first time that either program has found something left by Kazaa Lite. In both cases, I hadn't d/l ed anything from Kazaa Lite on either machine, just used the Kazaa Lite search feature.

File : c:\program files\kazaa lite\topsearch.dll

I don't know if this is something (spyware) that I need to be concerned about, but it hadn't showed when I ran either adaware or Spybot S&D before now.

 

[Jeratain]

Did you have regular Kazaa installed before you installed kazaa lite?

The famous "topsearch.dll" needed by "Kazaa.exe" is a spyware, that's why KaZaA Lite does not contain it.

My Kazaa folder never contained this file, nor does it currently have it. Kazaa Lite does not have that file in its list of files either, so I don't see why you are getting this unless you had regular Kazaa installed prior to installation of Kazaa Lite.

 

[kring]

No, I never had regular Kazaa installed on either computer. I read too much about it to even consider installing it, between the almost impossible to uninstall to the virus problems on many of its downloads.

Yesterday was the first time that either program (adaware or Spybot) picked up that file on either program. I always review what each program finds before I decide on deleting it or not, that way I know what is being found and whether or not to delete it. I had just gotten the newest update from both programs when it find the file.

 

[hbdragon88]

Mailwasher says to have support for web-based email accounts (so I've read) but I've had serious difficulties in using it for my Yahoo account. Every time Mailwasher opens up and gets access it promptly gets shut down automatically - is it Yahoo safeguards?

 

[kring]

Originally posted by hbdragon88
Mailwasher says to have support for web-based email accounts (so I've read) but I've had serious difficulties in using it for my Yahoo account. Every time Mailwasher opens up and gets access it promptly gets shut down automatically - is it Yahoo safeguards?

I have the same problem; here is a link from the mailwasher FAQ:

Mailwasher FAQ , between a 1/3 and 1/2 the way down the page, which leads to this:

Yahoo Link

From what I recall, and what I gleaned from Yahoo, POP access is only available for Premium Yahoo users.

 

[hbdragon88]

ARGGH! It's gone too far! I registered as a Yahoo user and saw the transitions take place: charges, fees, redeisgned layout (no more frames - ) and the free quota from 6MB to 4MB. JUST to access mail through a POP3 must be premium.

 

[kring]

This May Be a Work around

yahoopops.sourceforge.net is the link in case it does not work the first time.

http://yahoopops.sourceforge.net/downloads.html is the download page for it. Sometimes, the links don't always get it the first time.

 

[Jeratain]

Nice link Kring. I still don't know what to tell you about that spyware you found in Kazaa Lite, it really has me baffled.

About the Mailwasher deal. Yahoo mail is a pita when it comes to the pop mail deal. You can check Kring's link, and maybe it will work, I haven't tried it myself. I do know that Hotmail works with mailwasher however.

 

[hbdragon88]

The links are great, Jeratain.

Ad-aware is an amazing tool, even if I haven't needed to use it much. I never download anything from Kazaa and most of my downloading has come on another computer. Then I switched to my current one which I download very little.

Window Washer has been really awesome. I thought before that Norton Systemworks did a good job of cleaning, but this incredibly streamlined and really fast. I've reclaimed 1.6GB so far.

Hmmm...I checked out Kazaa and they claimed that they were very worried about spyware and that they checked with the companies about spyware. Lies.

 

[sumthinelse]

I suspect that the free version of Eudora also installs data mining stuff. I cleaned my sytem with AdAware but now I have more mining stuff. So I paid $40. Anyhow, I don't expect the Eudora guys to work for free.

Now I'll see if I keep getting the Gator stuff etc.

 

[GenghisK]

Spystopper is a very small "firewall" that actually focuses on blocking cleverly cookies and other ip scan. That will prevent you from being flooded by spam emails just after browsing a website.

 

[Nahuixtelotzin]

I've just found this thread.
Are you familiar with the shareware "Spybot Search and Destroy"-program? I think it's awesome! You can find it at http://security.kolla.de

 

[Jeratain]

Originally posted by Nahuixtelotzin
Are you familiar with the shareware "Spybot Search and Destroy"-program? I think it's awesome!

Yeah, it's pretty good. Someone posted about it on page 1 of this thread as well.

 

[torrasque]

An example of the importance of checking for spyware... As you can see, I have noty checked my computer for spyware in a long time...

 

[Jeratain]

Eek! If I ever got that many I'd reformat just because I'd feel so dirty!

 

[kring]

Double !! Thankfully, the first time I ran adaware on both my computers I didn't get anywhere near that many.

 

[torrasque]

I reckon that most of the spyware was from WildTangent. There are some lessons in this.

1) Check your computer regularly (at least once a week) with a spyware checker, and download the latest spyware definitions at least once every two weeks.

2) DON'T install anything by WildTangent, or that uses WildTangent programs to run.

 

[kring]

I run an adaware and spybot scan several times a week, and check for updates every time before I run them. I also don't auotinstall anything, and am careful on what I do install.

Speaking of WildTangent, I go to the same sites on both my computers, but only one winds up with WildTangent stuff on it when I do the spyware scans. I have unchecked all the WildTangent related stuff in the Startup menu on the computer that gets it, but I still get some on that computer, but none on the other computer. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[hbdragon88]

Eek!

I was a classmate's house (I would say friend's, but she isn't my friend) once and installed Ad-Aware. There was some a hundred objects on her computer. When I came back the next day (it was a video project) the program had been uninstalled.

My Window Washer trial just expired...what should I do now? It was a great program to clean my hard drive.

 

[Jamesds]

I installed Ad-Aware a little while ago, it detected a program called Bonzi-Buddy, and tons of doubleclick cookies, even a Tetris Game, called SkinTris!

Just goes to show the Trojans you may have but don't know about!!!

hhdragon, unfortunately, you now have to register!! I don't like shareware progs. I never download them, so I don't have to get so 'attached' to them. Sorry if that word is inappropriate.