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Ad-Aware

Discussion in 'Whatnots' started by Ironbeard, Dec 16, 2001.

  1. Ironbeard Gems: 20/31
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    Remove all ads!
    I recieved an e-mail about a month ago telling everyone to download Ad-Aware and get rid of all their spyware, because spyware was slowing down the network. Now, whenever I run it after going to this site it says it's found two spyware processes, called ...somethingorother....doubleclick....something or other (I could elucidate if asked, but not right now). Anyways, I was wondering if they were at all related to the cookies for getting the little red gems/folders and remembering the password, and if they are if there's any way to stop getting them. I like the red folders/gems and the password remembering, but my Uni has IIRC threatened to disconnect anyone who keeps on tying up the residence network with spyware.
     
    Ironbeard, Dec 16, 2001
    #1
  2. Ragusa

    Ragusa Eternal Halfling Paladin Veteran

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    I use ad-aware myself. First: I was told by extremist that doubleclick is harmless, anyway, I always remove it for I don't want stuff on my PC I didn't install myself.
    Second: I regularly empty my cookies-, temp-, windows/temporary-internet-files- and windows/temp-folders manually - that's nothing trick. Cookies aren't dangerous - even SP creates some, however, some may result in triggering excessive appearance of pop-up windows ... nothing wrong about deleting them :)

    IIRC Ad-aware only checks your local drives, so it cannot mess up your LAN when you restrict it your own drives I think.
     
    Ragusa, Dec 16, 2001
    #2

  3. Extremist Gems: 31/31
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    Cookies?

    You can get them disabled in IE by going into:
    Tools-Options-Security: High.

    Beware that it will set off some of nice cookies too (i.e. remembered SP password).

    Anyway, all today's spyware is actually harmless for home users if you ask me. But if you're using the net at work, then you should disable it all.
    The real danger is in mail attachments, but seems that users don't listen to warnings not to open anything that automatically executes itself without checking what it is.
     
    Extremist, Dec 16, 2001
    #3
  4. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    [​IMG] Well do get the exact names of what's bugging you. DoubleClick is harmless (and it's used by 3/4 of web advertisers), it's basically tracking ads displayed on pages. That's probably due to the Amazon banners. The rest can be cookies, which are used by Amazon to keep track of your book favourites and by this board for a number of things. (The FAQ lists them all.)

    I doubt you can actually live with cookies turned off. Practically every site you go to will use them, and disabling them usually means losing many time-saving options like remembering your preferences, options, passwords and so on.
     
    Taluntain, Dec 16, 2001
    #4

  5. Ironbeard Gems: 20/31
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    Okay, two from the cookies folder - anyuser@doubleclick[1], and anyuser@fastclick[2]. The problem was that certain spyware programs were making lots of access requests per second and really slowing down the university's net access. Since I've not been personally e-mailed to remove all spyware or face disconnection, I guess these two aren't great offenders.
     
    Ironbeard, Dec 17, 2001
    #5
  6. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    No, they're both from ad companies. You'll get one form or another on practically every page with ads. Nothing to worry about.
     
    Taluntain, Dec 17, 2001
    #6
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