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Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:52 am
by matthijs
Wow! That's pretty cool. And free as well.... I really didn't know this existed.
Thanx. Now, which linux distro was it again ...
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:19 am
by seodevhead
matthijs, I wouldn't recommend running too many things side by side because conflicts do happen with both firewalls and AV software. You actually used to get away with this about a year ago, but now because they are getting so complicated, they conflict with each other constantly, much like what has happened last month with ZASS and Spyware Doctor.
Cookies are absolutely harmless... the only reason they are 'picked up' by spyware scans is because they can track usage statistics about you... but we are not worried about that.... we are worried about anything else that can slow our PC's down or log our keystrokes, etc.
I've actually never had a single false alarm... well actually, I take that back. Spyware Doctor did report that the 'podcast manager' of my Cute_FTP was spyware. Interestingly enough, there is a full write up about it on their site, not that it is 'dangerous', but enough people must not like it that they included it in their definitions. Much like the original iTunes Mini-Store, which there was a whole "privacy-flack" concerning.
All the viruses and other malware that I told you about in the past post I did extensive research on and verified that they did exist on my system. First thing I do when I see a new virus detection is pull up all the information I can about it on all the major virus websites. Sophos, Spyware Doctor (PC Tools), Symantec, Kaspersky, etc. Be careful though, because if you put the virus name in Google, a lot of the results that come up are actually 'bad' sites that are trying to put spyware on your system. That's why there are a ton of "malware spyware scanners' out there that people actually download thinking they will scan their systems for spyware, when in fact, the scanner is spyware itself. Only do virus research on trusted sources.
I wouldn't recommend going out and downloading a whole bunch of trials of each to see which ones work. A limited period of time won't tell you much as far as a comparison between the apps. That's why I consider myself rather knowledgeable on this subject.. because I have been fortunate enough to use all the major ones over an extended period of time, all while becoming infected with various things along the way.
ZoneAlarm does not offer the BEST virus/spyware scanner (Spyware Doctor is Tops), but it is certainly formidable now that it uses Kaspersky's engines. But the real benefit of ZA is the new OsFirewall that will instantly engage any new OS processes, etc (I by no means understand a lot of the workings of this stuff). I've seen some tests that indicate that as far as prevention, ZASS w/ OsFirewall is tops. But right now, if you are already infected, my trusting spyware app is Spyware Doctor. It has proved itself to me as far as detection and removal tremendously.
I am able to run the new Spyware Doctor 5 w/ ZASS 7.1.xx with no conflict... but tons of other people report otherwise. So just be forewarned. The only other AV/SW software I have installed is SpyBot S&D and also Spyware Blaster (not a scanner, just immunizer for that added pinch of protection). SpyBot does good at immunizing as well. If you get Spyware Doctor, I wouldn't run all the "live" protection stuff that comes with it. Not that it isn't good (probably the best keylogger detection), but it conflicts with ZASS and I'd rather run ZASS for live filtering. I update/full scan with Spyware Doctor every day. ZASS I full scan every couple days (ZASS is totally slow scanner).