Stop-Sign

[Civrules]

I just saw this ad on the TV about www.stopsign.com and I guess it is something like SpyBot or AdAware. I've just installed it and it is scanning my PC as I type. It looks to be quite thorough but a bit slow.

For those who have heard of it, is it more, less, or just as effective as SpyBot or AdAware?

 

[MarineCorps]

This ad, did it by any chance feature a man and a woman talking and the man had an acent?

 

[Civrules]

Indeed. Same one. Why?

 

[MarineCorps]

Indeed. Same one. Why?

Ah then I have seen it. I figure it is about as useful as AOL spyware protection. Never really paid attention to their ads.

 

[Dell19]

If they are advertising on TV does that mean that there is a version that you have to pay for?

 

[Civrules]

If they are advertising on TV does that mean that there is a version that you have to pay for?

Good guess.

 

[MarineCorps]

You have to pay for all of them from what I can see. I clicked on install on the spy ware removal and it eventually took me to a page where you could DL a free eval of it.

 

[Dell19]

Good guess.

Then why are you downloading it when there are plenty of totally free alternatives?

 

[Civrules]

Well, I assumed that there was also a free version, but turns out you have to pay for it.

 

[Nixnutz]

Chances are that if it is an advertised product you will have to pay at some point.

Also keep in mind that there are a lot of questionable anti-spyware programs out there.

Check out this list: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm and you'll see what I mean.

Stopsign does not appear on the list, but like Dell19 says, go for the freeware as long as its available.

 

[Chairman Meow]

This may or may not be related to that, but a few months ago (while I was away at college), my sister, through running IE on a few suspicious websites, managed to fill the computer with spyware. So, not knowing that I already had Adaware installed, downloaded a "Stop-Sign anti-spyware" program because she saw it in a popup ad (she's way too gullible)... anyway, all it did was install more spyware crap. I ended up just telling my sister to stay away from the computer while I trained my mom to use Adaware. If this program is the same one, then I would definately say to stay away from it.

 

[Chairman Meow]

Chances are that if it is an advertised product you will have to pay at some point.

Also keep in mind that there are a lot of questionable anti-spyware programs out there.

Check out this list: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm and you'll see what I mean.

Stopsign does not appear on the list, but like Dell19 says, go for the freeware as long as its available.

It is on that list. Look under eAcceleration.

 

[Nixnutz]

It is on that list. Look under eAcceleration.

Mea culpa...

Indeed Stop-sign is on the list...even though there is some qualification of the assessment (there is a footnote), I'd still stay away from it and stick with with the freebies.

 

[MarineCorps]

It is on that list. Look under eAcceleration.

Yeah but it was removed. There was some note but I don't rember what it said.

 

[MarineCorps]

General Questions
Why do some people call Stop-Sign spyware?
What is attackware?
Does Stop-Sign conflict with other anti-virus products?
How do I uninstall eAcceleration?
Do I need to configure Stop-Sign after I install it?
What if I want to install it on more than one computer?
How do I defrag my hard drive?
How do I start my computer in safe mode?
How do I show hidden files in Windows Explorer?
How do I transfer my eAcceleration Membership to a new computer?
How do I reinstall eAcceleration?
What if I'm having trouble uninstalling?
How are updates installed and how do I know it's updated?
What does "Shutdown all eAcceleration Products" mean?
How do I restore my computer to a previous state using restore points?
How do I back up my computer's registry?
Why do some people call Stop-Sign spyware?
Some people have labeled Stop-Sign as "spyware". It sounds like a damning accusation until you ask, "What's spyware?"

Some software developers have defined spyware as "...software that employs a user's Internet connection in the background without asking for permission." Stop-Sign does contact our servers whenever you perform an anti-virus scan while connected to the Internet, downloading new virus definitions and software updates. We feel that the phenomenal rate with which new viruses and threats are introduced - often as many as 20 per day - warrants getting updates to you as soon as possible.

There are many other software titles that do the exact things that we do, but are not considered spyware. For instance, Windows Update, Real Player, or MSN Messenger can all detect online presence, account status, and can automatically update files on your computer.

Currently there is no industry-wide standard for the definition of spyware.

Unfortunately, the companies defining spyware are the same companies producing anti-spyware software. Once one of them has mistakenly identified a legitimate product as spyware, all must follow suit or risk appearing ineffective to the public. For the same reason, they're slow to correct their mistakes.

Thats rather amusing.

 

[Nixnutz]

The footnote says basically that eAcceleration has cleaned up it's act somewhat, but they still don"t recommend it....ah, heck...here it is for all to read

"Note on eAcceleration Stop-Sign: eAcceleration's Stop-Sign anti-malware scanner was listed on this page primarily because of the company's history of employing deceptive advertising and drive-by-downloads (1, 2, 3, 4). The company was also known for removing and/or disabling competing apps. These objectionable business practices were employed primarily during the years 2002-2003.

Sometime during 2004 the company underwent reorganization. Not only have the worst of the company's download and installation practices been halted, but the company has completely overhauled its stub installer application, giving users much more control over the software modules to be installed on their systems (1, 2).

While testing indicates that the "threat scanner" is still slow and has occasional problems with false positives -- in large part because of the use of heuristics, which cannot be turned off by the user -- we can no longer classify this application as "rogue/suspect." Nonetheless, this anti-malware application -- at least in its current state -- cannot be recommended, given the many excellent competing anti-virus, anti-trojan, and anti-spyware applications that are available (some for free)."

 

[MarineCorps]

What are heuristics?

 

[Nixnutz]

What are heuristics?

The down and dirty explanation is that the software looks at patterns, rates the patterns and then determines if there is a threat.

The real definition, from searchSecurity is:

"Heuristics is the application of experience-derived knowledge to a problem and is sometimes used to describe software that screens and filters out messages likely to contain a computer virus or other undesirable content. A heuristic (pronounced hyu-RIS-tik and from the Greek "heuriskein" meaning "to discover") is a "rule-of-thumb." Heuristics software looks for known sources, commonly-used text phrases, and transmission or content patterns that experience has shown to be associated with e-mail containing viruses.

Because many companies or users receive a large volume of e-mail and because legitimate e-mail may also fall into the pattern, heuristics software sometimes results in many "false positives," discouraging its use. Security experts note that, although such software needs to get better, it is a valuable and necessary tool."

Clear as mud, right?

Most of the anti-virus programs, especially the biggies, have this capability.

 

[MarineCorps]

Sorry I asked.

Stop sign is an intresting site. It put a tracking cookie on my computer.