PCWorld Forums: Spywarepro.org reliable? - PCWorld Forums

Because I had problems with the stylesheets used for websites, the helpdesk of my computer shop suggested that those problems could be caused by malware. I already use several antispyware and anti-malware programs, but they did not find any serious ptoblem. When I stumbled upon a site where I could scan my computer for free: antispyarepro.org. that program found after a short scan the all sorts of malware, at least 60, which I only could repair after buying the program. So I bought it and it seemed to have cleaned everything.

Because some of the utilities in the program didn`t work, I sent an email to their support address. I didn`t get an answer.

When I scanned again one week later, two weeks later, three weeks later, nothing was found although some other programs found several severe risks.I looked again at the spywarepro.org webpage. It mentions awards, like one from PCUtilities, but when you click on one of the award links, they bring you to their setup program (spywarepro.exe) instead.


At a check for updates it always shows: "Your adware definitions are already latest.


I feel cheated. and I wonder if www.spywarepro.org is a serious program or a hoax. Who knows?

Hey haakman! One question? Do you have " McAfee SiteAdvisor " on your browser? If you have , you should have read the warning sings for the "Spywarepro" by SiteAdvisor. I did a google seach of this program and most of the links in google came up RED. I also went on McAfee SiteAdvisor to check on your program and did find some very disturbing posts. This is a sample of what some of posters had to say :
Wow. The last time I checked this, it said 40 red downloads. Now there's more. Unbelievable.
Use Download.com and Softpedia.com, since they detect and prohibit such "buggy" downloads.
Man, you are so right. But, (this was posted 12.14.07) there are only 29 red downloads. McAfee, Make this site DARK RED!!!

Posted at 12/14/2007-03:40:42 PM by palz, Reviewer , [ Reputation score: 1 / 9 ]


Here is another :
do not download anything from this site, it gives you viruses

Posted at 01/18/2008-06:27:03 PM by 2day4speed, Reviewer , [ Reputation score: 1 / 9 ]



Now, my suggestion is to stop using this app. as reported by these posters. Are you getting any kind of pop-ups, or ad messages inviting you to visit certain sites? This App. might be the source of infection your other programs are detecting.

You did not mention the operating system you are using . Also what other Anti-Virus , Anti-Spyware do you have installed on your PC.



In the meantime please download and scan your PC with "SuperAntiSpyware". This should give you a pretty good picture of what maleware is still residing or hiding on your PC. This program is FREE and used by most of us here. You can find this App. Here

http://filehippo.com...perantispyware/ , . If you decide to install this scanner, make sure to UPDATE before scanning. You will find the update tab on the front panel in the lower left hand corner.



If it finds any maleware please quarantine all. I forgot to mention that McAfee SiteAdvisor is a free plug-in that works in Firefox and Internet Explorer. You can download it from McAfee's site.



I hope this will help you somewhat.



FLASHORN.

Thank you, Flashorn. I tried to download McAfee Site Advisor, but I see it is not available in my country (The Netherlands), I understand that I have been cheated. I am afraid I can`t do anything against these frauds.In Google I was not warned against this site. My operating system is Windows XP SP2. I am scanning now with SuperAntiSpyware, but it did not find any infections so far.
The Anti-Spywareand anti-adware I use: XoftSpySE, Spybot and Ad-Aware.

Hey haakman! Well, that is unfortunate that you cannot have the services of McAfee SiteAdvisor, as it is a very usefull tool.As for your Spyware Scanners, I too have Xoftspy and really like this one. There is another option that you might consider. This one is Not a scanner but, A prevention type App. It will effectively stop maleware from downloading on your PC before maleware has time to do any damage. To read about it and download if you so choose @ http://www.javacools...areblaster.html , . Another tool that you might want to consider is "WinPatrol". This App. will warn you of any changes made to your PC and ask you to accept the change (if you are up-dating or making changes to an already existing App.) or deny the changes, that you might not be aware of. Find it here : http://www.winpatrol.com/ , Both of these Programs are free. Now, how about your AntiVirus , you did not mention that you had one. Very important to have and to keep up-dated. Did you REMOVE "Spyware Pro". To do so, you did go to the "Add / Remove " in Windows Explorer. You might also check in the " Programs Files" , to make sure that nothing is left behind. While were at it, You do have a " Firewall " installed right? You might as well be safe on the internet. I will give you a few other programs or tools to look at. To " Clean " out your temps files we use "ATF Cleaner " , it is a exe. and will not install on your PC. Just double click on the file and run it. Find it here http://www.atribune....tent/view/40/2/ .

Another good tool is the CWShredder, also a exe. , Double click and run. no install required. Find this one here : http://www.intermute...r_download.html .

The last one is a virus scanner.Called "RemoveIT Pro V4 SE" Small but, very effective. By the way , I use all of these tools and ALL are FREE. Find this one here : http://www.incodesol...om/removeit.php , You will have to install this one if you decide to download it.




This should keep you busy for a little while . IF you have any more questions, don't be shy, there are allot of very qualified members to help you out.



FLASHORN.

Thanks again, Flashorn. I already use Spywareblaster. Uninstalled that Spywarepro and learned my credit card was not charged for it. I also did not get any confirmation after my payment for it. curisouser and curiouser.

I have a Sygate firewall , AVG virus scanner and AVG Anti Spyware

The SuperAntiSpyware found some adware and removed it. Thank you also for thet tip and for the ATF Cleaner.

Hey haakman! Well, you have all the right stuff on your PC. I'm still surprised that McAfee SiteAdvisor is not available to you. try and locate something similar. Very useful in preventing bad downloads. And you're very welcomed. Keep safe.



FLASHORN.

:D Hi haakman :



You experienced the classic symptoms of what is called a "Rogue/Suspect" antispyware program ;

to make sure "it" is completely gone from your computer, I recommend you use the FREE

"RogueRemover", available from www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php .

Thanks, SpiritWind. I downloaded the RogueRemover. It says that SpywareDetector in my computer is a rogue program.
In www.comparespywareremovers.org the test results seem to indicate it was the best. Is that also a fake?

Hey haakman! It's me again!! I clicked on the link you provided and again my little icon from McAfee SiteAdvisor , turned RED as a tomato. So I went to McAfee's site to investigate . This is what some of the posters had to say about :"SpywareDetector",
Misleading
article. It claims that the #1 program is Spyware Detector. It received
a 2 out of 5 rating from PC Magazine
(http://www.pcmag.com...,2073458,00.asp) and its website
is marked red from SiteAdvisor because it has been "known to bundle
adware".

Posted at 09/16/2007-03:47:28 PM by Narfbite, Reviewer , [ Reputation score: 1 / 9 ]



And again from another ;

This
is not a legitimate independent review site. It is a spam site to lead
you into buying THEIR product. Its intent is not to inform but to
garner sales, very similar to the toptenreviews.com sites. These sites
are out of date, exaggerate the claims for their products, and are
intended to con you into buying their "solution".

Posted at 08/27/2007-02:16:37 AM by Vanguard, Reviewer , [ Reputation score: 1 / 9 ]



In my opinion, it would be Best to stay away from this site and others like it. Tell me, you say you do not have access to SiteAdvisor or Cannot download the tool. In any case you should follow the advise of Spirit and use "RogueRemover" . IF you are looking for a safe site to download ALL kinds of security Apps. and many other, THIS site should be very helpful and more importantly VERY SAFE.

http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=20 .



FLASHORN

Thank you, Flashorn. I understand I better keep off that detector application and use XoftSpySE or SUPERAntispyware.

:D Hi haakman :



When it comes to WHAT antiSPYWARE programs are "trustworthy", it is best to follow the Advice of

antiSPYWARE Expert Eric Howes, currently the Director of Malware Research of Sunbelt Software,

the Makers of the very good "CounterSpy", available at

www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm . He has a very good "Section" on HOW to

properly read Google Search Results . By the way, XoftSpySE is NOT on his "trustworthy" List and

several yrs ago was on his "Rogue/Suspect" List .

Based on Info available at [http://forum.avast.c...seen#msg261894]

, SiteAdvisor is NOT recommend by many Malware-Fighters . The Choice curently seems to be FinJan,

available at [http://securebrowsin...com/index.html] AND to be up-to-date when "checking" use

LinkScanner at [http://linkscanner.e...er/default.asp] .

For several yrs I have recommended the NetCraft Toolbar, available at

[http://toolbar.netcraft.com] , which MAY be something you MAY be interested !?

Hi SpiritWind,
Thank you very much for this information and Eric Howes` advice. It will take some time to read all. As for XoftSpy, for me it was the only one that found CWS.Oslogo, which was very annoying as it made it impossible to read some websites with many stylesheets. Spybot and other free appliances didn`t find.it.I had also had Spyware Doctor scan my computer, but did not buy it, as it did not find that CWS Oslogo. XoftSpySE was the only one that solved my problem with stylesheets. .

Hey haakman! XoftSpy SE is one of those Scanners that is not well known but, IS very effective at cleaning out the dirty laundry from your PC . The list that Spirit is talking about at Spywarewarrior is very extensive and yes in the beginning XoftSpy SE was not that good but, since "2004", XoftSpy SE , has been "OFF" his list and more than made up for it's mistake as a novice company, being now recognized the way it should. The "CSWShredder" is also a exe. that does not install on your PC and would have caught the CSW Oslogo and taken care of it. I just renewed MY subscription to XoftSpy SE as I also like the fact that it is a complete scanner and fast.



FLASHORN.

Thanks, Flashorn. I am very glad with XoftspySE. It finds more than e.g. Spyware Doctor, and unbelievably fast. As for CSWshredder, there is some confusion. Google asks: Do you mean CWshredder?, but I insisted on CSWShredder, and found a page (Security Worm) where it was called in one and the same paragraph CWShredder and CSWShredder... Below the download link I read: Not available! Is that the one? I don`t think so. Perhaps CWShredder from TrendMicro?

Hey haakman! I'm sorry for the error in spelling. Yes you're right. I did include the address in my second post so here it is

www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html . I always keep a copy in my Tools Folder and run it once every few weeks , just to be safe. I do allot of surfing and try not run in bad situations but , you never know! I also use a "Virtual Browser" called Sandboxie, when I'm really in doubt but , still want to visit the site. This is another completely safe install. Here is the link if you should be interested, http://www.sandboxie.com/ There, you will find all info you need to understand it's operation. It is also free for 30 days at which time there is a notice to buy for 5 Seconds then you can use it normally.

Keep Safe.



FLASHORN.

:D Hi haakman :

Another "thing" that rogue/suspect antispyware promoters do is create "programs" with similar

sounding Names to the trustworthy, reliable program(s) with established track records. The ONE

with the Track Record is "CWShredder", which was bought a while back by Trend Micro .

CWShredder is a highly specialized program that primarily looks for "CoolWebSearch" Infections ;

I feel this program is unnecessary IF you use the FREE "SpywareBlaster" from the

javacoolsoftware Site that was mentioned earlier, which has MANY CoolWebSearch Sites in its

database that PREVENT its Users from going to those Infected Sites .

Hi, Flashorn, I used the shredder, no browser hijacker found. And bookmarked Sandboxie. Is it sort of anonymizer too, so that I can download programs otherwise not available ouside US without my ip address being known by the sender?

Hi Spiritwind,

Thank you. I already use Spywareblaster for more than a year, but nevertheless CWS oslogo has entered my computer. Perhaps I didn`t update Spywareblaster in time.

Hey haakman! NO, it is a "Virtual Environment", meaning, that you are not using your hard drive to download, Hence , everything that you would come in contact with on a site, eg. virus, adware, spyware, and so on, would not WRITE to the hard drive. It would all be STUCK in the Sandbox , so you would not be able to download an App. to your PC. You can however retrieve what is STUCK in the sandbox, but that would be allot of trouble, especially if you find out that the site in question is safe to navigate. The basic operation of the sandbox is to let information flow out meaning your inquiries, hence your IP Address, but capture whatever information flows back towards your PC. It would all be STUCK in the sandbox. This is the purpose I use it for, to make sure I do not get infected. But the Sandboxie Site has All of this info and more.

Keep Safe.



FLASHORN.

haakman! To add to Spirit's post, I must admit that, Since I got the Auto Update for a price of $9.95 I have Not seen Any infections from what Spywareblaster protects you from. So you don't have to remember to update constantly. I think that the $10.00 is well spent if you are on the keyboard as often as we are.

Keep Safe.



FLASHORN.