Adware/Spyware Removal

[star]

I run SuperAntiSpyware on my laptop on a weekly basis and it always discovers some adware/spyware usually tracking cookies, although I always quarantine/delete any that are found - they just keep on reappearing.

 

What do you suggest I do to zap these for good?

 

I've got Kaspersky Internet Security which never does discovers any of these!

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Base tracking cookies are meaningless and you will always get them when you surf the net.

 

Do you have anything major appearing?

[star]

Base tracking cookies are meaningless and you will always get them when you surf the net.

 

Do you have anything major appearing?

 

I will paste a list of the things appearing next time I do a scan.

 

Thanks for the response.

[star]

Base tracking cookies are meaningless and you will always get them when you surf the net.

 

Do you have anything major appearing?

 

 

Not sure if any of these are major these are some of the ones that appear:-

 

xx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies\Low\xx@......

 

@adviva(1)txt

@ad.yieldmanager(1).txt

@xiti

@doublclick(1).txt

@tradedoubler(1).txt

@at.atwola(2).txt

@112.2o7(2).txt

@2o7(2).txt

@serving.sys(1)txt

@atdmt(1).txt

@adrevolver

 

Also noticed sometimes when I click on links to open web pages they don't open and "doubleclick" appears in the address bar with the web address I'm trying to access.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Star, most on that list I recognise as basic tracking cookies, harmless in themselves but they do tell their owners what sites you visit most frequently and what type of purchases you may be looking at. They are nothing more than marketing strategy things to help advertisers target their adds. Just dump them on a regular basis, is best.

 

I would also recommend you install a bit more antispyware type of programs, SAS on its own is OK but another such as Malwarebytes is better, plus perhaps spywareblaster. Each one will find or stop the stuff the other misses.

 

No anti anything software is totally perfect, but don't be tempted to install any more antivirus than the one you have, two will conflict and cause trouble.

[star]

Is there anyway of stopping this tracking for good?

[RandyL]

What browser do you use?

 

As noted almost all cookies are completely harmless. Also many of them are useful. If you set your browser to block all cookies it will but the result may not be what you want. For instance you won't be able to save passwords.

 

As Nev said the best thing to do is just dump them on a regular basis.

[star]

I use Internet Explorer - would you recommend I use something else?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Firefox web browser | Faster, more secure, & customizable | Mozilla Europe

[star]

How would I go about changing the browser?

 

Is it just a matter of downloading Firefox? will my computer automatically configure other applications like modem, anti virus etc?

[RandyL]

Star the point is that you are worried about nothing.

 

Although Firefox has some features that IE does not you still need security programs.

 

My advice is to stick with what you know.

 

It doesn't appear you have a problem but to answer your question:

 

You don't have to change anything to use Firefox. You can change it to your default browser or not. If you do and you use Outlook Express as your mail client you may have to do some different things like use Thunderbird or open IE first depending.

 

The point I make though is as long as your security is good don't worry about harmless cookies.

 

Do you really want to know how to lock down your browser? It might be air tight but good luck surfing. You won't like it.

[wellies]

It is possible to opt out of being tracked around the Internet by cookies. Tracking cookies are not much to worry about in my opinion but I know they worry some people. This page brings a number of advertising company 'opt outs' into one list. It replaces tracking cookies with 'opt out' ones. You would have to come back to this page and opt out of them again each time you clear cookies (unless protected using CCleaner or similar).

 

Firefox has an extension that permanently opts you out of tracking/advertising cookies. The opt out cookies will remain even if you delete all other cookies. They will remain undeletable (if that's a word :)) until the extension is uninstalled. Then the cookies can be removed in the usual ways.

 

Firefox can be installed without the need to configure anything but your firewall will probably ask permission to connect it to the Internet. Just a case of choosing 'yes' when the time comes. Not worth installing for the tracking cookie worry alone though.

 

So, the information and methods are out there. Worth considering though, is that a free Internet could rely on a certain amount of advertising revenue. Maybe better to allow at least some rein.