OT: Anti-Malware Info

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otfiddler - 21 Aug 2004 15:34 GMT

I came across this site yesterday, looks like it could be helpful for Windows users.

http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?date=2004-08-19

Larry

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Heather - 22 Aug 2004 02:34 GMT

Not a bad List, Larry. We use most of those for spyware, etc. Never heard
of Swat It tho, and not too sure of SpySweeper....some of these so-called
anti-spyware programs either cost money or actually download their OWN
spyware. Or *find* spyware and then tell you that you have to buy their
program to get rid of it. Stick with AdAware and Spybot.

The Cleaner is an anti-trojan proggie and it is excellent, but isn't free.
However, there is a 30 day trial. I have used it myself and also on my
neighbour's computer.....it found 12 trojans on his. AdAware found about 65
spyware cookies. And he sells main frame computers for a living, lol!! It
took me 2 hours to clean up his XP......he didn't have Zone Alarm active coz
he heard it might slow it down......lordy, all the malware slowed it down,
grin!!

Another excellent freebie that we all use is SpywareBlaster. It is a small
program that prevents a lot of spyware from downloading onto your computer.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

AdAware has a new version out. 1.03 I believe. I am using the Pro version
and think the free one is the same number. But frankly, I may go back to
the free one.....it is just as good. I was surprised when it found 3
low-level registry entries that were 'suspicious'. But it has a deeper scan
than before.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Cheers.........Heather

> I came across this site yesterday, looks like it could be helpful for Windows users.
>
> http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?date=2004-08-19
>
> Larry

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Larry Wheat - 26 Aug 2004 12:18 GMT

Heather:

Always happy to provide aid and comfort to the "Wintellians" in the
group.

I was amazed to discover that an unpatched Windows machine connected
to the Internet will only be virus-free for twenty minutes:

http://news.com.com/Study%3A+Unpatched+PCs+compromised+in+20+minutes/210
0-7349_3-5313402.html

I don't know how you tolerate that.

Larry

> http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?date=2004-08-19

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Danny McCarty - 26 Aug 2004 19:44 GMT

>Subject: Re: Anti-Malware Info
>From: otfiddler@spammalammadingdong.com (Larry Wheat)
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> I was amazed to discover that an unpatched Windows machine connected
>to the Internet will only be virus-free for twenty minutes:

So you use Apple? I have Norton anti-virus and others on my Windows machine-
it checks every bit and byte that comes in over the internet, and updates the
virus list every day or two. My first machine was an Apple, 25 years ago.

>http://news.com.com/Study%3A+Unpatched+PCs+compromised+in+20+minutes/210
>0-7349_3-5313402.html
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>> http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?date=2004-08-19

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Larry Wheat - 27 Aug 2004 02:00 GMT

Danny:

Yeah, I'm a Mac user, and I had a IIGS before that. I'm a happy Apple
driver for twenty years, reinforced by having to use a Wintel machine at
work.

Of course if major corporations switched from Wintels to Macs, IT
workers would be the new Maytag repairmen and help desks could rent
phonebooths for call centers.

There are no viruses that affect Mac OSX computers, unless they have
Microsoft Office installed.

Larry

> >Subject: Re: Anti-Malware Info
> >From: otfiddler@spammalammadingdong.com (Larry Wheat)
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> >
> >Larry

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Danny McCarty - 27 Aug 2004 17:07 GMT

>Subject: Re: Anti-Malware Info
>From: otfiddler@spamorama.com (Larry Wheat)
>Date: 8/26/2004 8:00 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: <1gj54w7.zpenvh1y5wb23N%otfiddler@spamorama.com>

Larry,
True, except that if the Mac was the only machine on the block, it would get
all of the attention of the hackers and become just as riddled with virus. ;-}
Oh, I work for IBM, so I guess my view is a bit slanted.

>Danny:
>
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
>> >
>> >Larry

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Larry Wheat - 28 Aug 2004 01:50 GMT

"Security through obscurity" --- The 5% market share is part of it, but
I think more important points are that Apple devotes more time in
writing its OS and that Apple makes the box AND the OS, so they always
work together.

I suspect Microsoft COULD write virus-resistant software if they made it
a prority.

Like somebody said in a Mac article on this subject: "SO WHAT? If I live
in a neighborhood with an extremely low crime rate, I really don't care
WHY the burglars stay away. Maybe I have good locks on my doors. Maybe
they don't like the stuff in my house. Bottom line, Ill still sleep
better at night."

IBM makes great hardware, especially those new chips for the G5.

Larry

> >Subject: Re: Anti-Malware Info >From: otfiddler@spamorama.com (Larry
> Wheat) >Date: 8/26/2004 8:00 PM Central Daylight Time >Message-id:
> <1gj54w7.zpenvh1y5wb23N%otfiddler@spamorama.com> > Larry, True, except
> that if the Mac was the only machine on the block, it would get all of the
> attention of the hackers and become just as riddled with virus. ;-} Oh, I
> work for IBM, so I guess my view is a bit slanted.

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Heather - 27 Aug 2004 02:56 GMT

> Heather:
>
> Always happy to provide aid and comfort to the "Wintellians" in the
> group.
>
> I was amazed to discover that an unpatched Windows machine connected

to the Internet will only be virus-free for twenty minutes:

> http://news.com.com/Study%3A+Unpatched+PCs+compromised+in+20+minutes/210
> 0-7349_3-5313402.html
>
> I don't know how you tolerate that.

LOL!! I don't *tolerate* it. First of all, I have WinME and the virus
writers are concentrating on XP and NT. And you are more likely to get a
trojan than a virus without a firewall. Never had one of those either. But
I am getting ready to put XP on here and have had it for 18 months, but
hesitate simply because I like WinME. I was going to dual boot, but that is
a lot of work and I don't know anyone in this town that I would trust to
work on this computer, grin.

Secondly....besides *safe hex*, I have EZ Trust as an on-access scanner, and
F-Prot as a manual backup. Then I have Zone Alarm Pro, AdAware 1.03 Pro,
Spybot S & D and SpywareBlaster......not to mention I have CWS Shredder and
HiJack This sitting on my desktop....grin.

Paranoid? Nah!! I rarely get spyware anymore and I still use Mailwasher to
download my email.....so my OE never sees the *bad stuff*. Just ran Spybot
which I alternate with AdAware.....and nada once again. I don't bother with
a HOSTS file though......messes up my game playing site. (G)

To be serious, *safe hex* is the best antidote. And the *boys* on the
antivirus n.g. have a website that covers anything and everything to do with
malware....
http://www.claymania.com/nav-map.html

Part of the reason for the heavy artillery on here is that I am known in
other circles as *Auntie Virus* and just tonight had to email several of the
above proggies to a fellow in England who can't access the internet due to a
mess of malware/viruses on his computer. Genealogists don't seem to keep up
on malware, grin.

Like you, my daughter uses a G-4? Mac at home, plus an earlier one. But has
to use a PC at work and hates it.....(she is a graphic artist and certified
*pressman*).

And I am sitting here waiting to hear from her as she is flying in from
France tonight. She had an absolute ball over in Paris and the south of
France for 2-1/2 weeks. She used to work on archaeology sites in France and
Belgium, so was visiting a friend from that era.

Cheers.....Heather

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