I assume this is the place...when I used search this site was listed the most for " HijackThis "... Need some feedback on this site that appears to give results automatically.. http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php?langselect=english is it any good...a scam...a spyware depository waiting for victims...or the real deal ?
It's the real deal, but it doesn't help much unless you really know what you're doing. In addition, there's now spyware that can actually hack the Windows kernel, and according to Microsoft cannot be detected nor removed. In other words, use Spybot S&D, AdawareSE and be *very* careful not to get spyware in the first place (good luck!). Or, you could just use a non-MS operating system.
It's pretty easy not to get spyware actually. Just don't go on warez/porn sites basically or fishy sites and you won't have a problem.
I wish that was true, but it's not. Spyware is a major problem and you don't have to do anything shady to get it. It's practically automatic. Besides, many popular programs include agressive spyware and Windows itself comes preinstalled with at least 2 individual types! How can you say the only place to get spyware is in unscrupulous places?
Hi Anti-Trend, I update AdWare SE, SpywareBlaster, Zone Alarm, AVG, and go to Windows Update every week...just did it today in fact. Every scan I've done has come up empty...but I've increased my memory from 64MB to 364MB and increased disk space from 6.04GB to 80GB...and my system is actually slower than it was before...I think I've got things running in the background and I'd like to know what they are but I don't like the idea too much about playing with the registry...seeing as I don't know enough to be competent yet. And I'm a non-clicker...I don't click on anything unless I have to. Eg
If all of your scans have come up empty, even the initial ones, you may have a problem. You should have at least been able to remove a few pieces, since as I said earlier Windows comes preinstalled with at least a few pieces of spyware. Otherwise, there are a lot of factors involved in Windows performance. Cache size, swap size, TSR programs, system memory, CPU speed, HDD speed, motherboard chipset, and a myriad of other factors contribute to your overall system performance. Spyware certainly does drag on performance and resources, but it's not the only factor. Antivirus software and any TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) programs you may have running can drag on performance as well. ZoneAlarm, Antivirus software, and lots of other software can eat up CPU cycles and memory pretty quickly. Plus, if you use XP it's already using much more memory than it should reasonably be using. Try turning off XP's "Luna" theme, as well as disabling all animations and effects in Windows. In addition, disable System Restore (Right-click My Computer --> System Restore tab). Finally, disabling the useless "last access time" feature of the NTFS filesystem can yield a performance boost, especially on a slow HDD. Try adding the following entry to your registry: Code: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem] " NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate"=dword:00000001
Well the initial scans by Adware SE found 101 but none since then...AVG came up with a few too but I don't remember how many...it wasn't alot...less than Adware. Nothing since I quarantined and deleted after the first scan. I clear my cache on firefox regularly. I've stopped all cookies on IE even though I only use it for update, I don't allow cookies on firefox either except the ones I put in exceptions. I regularly do a disk-cleanup and analyze with the disk defragmenter. Windows 2000Pro at 500mhz.
Well I'm not sure what you guys do with your computer, but I can say that I used to have no anti-virus and no spyware detection tool. All I had to protect me is a firewall (Smoothwall). One day (not too long ago), I decided to install AVG and adaware/spybot S&D, and what did they find ? Nothing. But like I said, I don't spend time on porn and warez sites, and I don't use programs like kazaa or emule either. I guess the best protection remains the human brain.
harrack52, The reason I posted this was because I thought it might be useful to people who want to check their computer... as I see people using HijackThis and posting logs all the time. As for myself, this computer is a 1999 model...which I've had since about last August...I'd like to find out if there's anything on this computer that's left-over from before I bought it. Funny...I've posted this same post on the two forums I now frequent the most and the reaction has been a series of " thank-you's " and " great find's "...maybe it's because I'm now dealing with an older crowd that doesn't have porn on the brain. One of the reasons I don't come here very often anymore is because there isn't a single regular poster here over the age of 24 and most are under 19...and there's nothing wrong with that, or do I have to explain that too...but...the sites I attend now I don't have the same problems in communication because they have an older crowd that I can relate to and I don't have to explain myself all the time.
Someone I know had a PC that would not open IE...Scaned and removed everything HijackThis found (a lot) and IE was back to normal. HijackThis is geat to have.
Thanks AXP ! Haven't tried it myself yet but alot of people do seem to be using it to get rid of the crap. Eg :good:
I didn't mean to bring you down and if I offended you I'm really sorry. What I meant is if you're carefull, you have nothing to worry about, and if you're not, you can protect yourself with all you want, it won't change a thing. Feel free to report the post and let the other mods/admins judge my behavior.
You haven't said anything that warrants a report...even if I used them...but I never do. I guess I'm just tired of making posts and then having to explain why I made the post. I thought the post was quite clear...I was asking for an evaluation of the site...and posting it as an alternative to posting logs in a forum...which, to my understanding, takes up the free time of the person who has to analyze it. I did not post it for an analysis of my own security measures, or an evaluation of what you may think are my personal habits.
If by "you guys" you mean me, you're wrong. I use Linux exclusively, so I never see malware at all. But I work with and administrate Windows PCs every day, and I was an NT domain admin for a long time. The company I work for now has a Linux backend (servers, routers, etc) with NT5 clients, as well as some legacy systems which cannot be upgraded (Win95, Win98SE, OS2). Even with a lot of high-risk systems, we've never had a virus or significant malware incident since I took the reigns about 8 months ago. So Harrack52, you're at least partially right: understanding the nature of the threat and the securty capabilities of the platform you're running is paramount to security. On the other hand, before I came on board, my current employer's network (both hardware & software) was in shambles. I had to rebuild/refurbish every single PC, reinstall each and every OS, develop a uniform software rollout, etc. Part of the reason I had to tear down and rebuild everything is popular software which is generally accepted to be secure: Outlook, Norton Antivirus, Internet Explorer and AOL. Viruses can easily install themselves automatically by using the default behavior of Outlook's preview pane. All the user must do is receive a malicious email and mouse-over it (perhaps to delete it?). They don't even need to open it to be infected. Norton AV was installed, but failed to stop a widespread infection of a Sasser varient (and yes, they were behind a firewall even back then). I don't think I even need to go into the security capabilities of IE and AOL. What I want you to realize is that the issue isn't so cut and dry as "don't be stupid, and your Windows system will never get spyware or viruses". Imagine if we were talking about washing machines instead of Windows. When your washing machine breaks down, the service mechanic comes by, sees what you've done, and hits you over the head with a wrench. "You idiot! Everybody knows this machine will malfunction if you use the 'delicate knits' setting!" The point is that not everybody has sysadmin-level skills, even if they otherwise have tons of common sense. Even if they did, some things which seem safe are not.
