WildTangent have been considered adware/spyware for many years now.
None of the other malware programs I used detected it on the machine. Surprised AVG AS missed it because it's usually very good.
None of the other malware programs I used detected it on the machine. Surprised AVG AS missed it because it's usually very good.
It's probably what they consider the definition of adware/spyware is by classification, which goes back to the reason of using multiple programs for detection and never relying upon one.
Wild Tangent removed very easily. It was listed in Add/Remove Programs and I just uninstalled it with that. Than ran S&D 1.5 again and this time it was clean. So it looks like it uninstalled cleanly. Probably will run Hijack This and see whats there.
One thing to look out for is after immunization is all the HOSTS files that will be created as .backup which will start eating up space if one uses a big HOSTS file.
And finally TeaTimer has been officially fixed, no need to use Resource Hacker on it anymore to fix it.
Can you please elaborate on the HOSTS file back up problem? My HOSTS file is 614kb, which is not that big, but obviously adds alot of strings to the registry.
As far as Teatimer goes, I used it for several months a while back, and thought it was a decent blocker, but sometimes it blocked legit strings.
It definitely protects the registry and recognizes a change immediately. Do you use it yourself, and if so, how does it interact with your other security programs?
Can you please elaborate on the HOSTS file back up problem? My HOSTS file is 614kb, which is not that big, but obviously adds alot of strings to the registry.
As far as Teatimer goes, I used it for several months a while back, and thought it was a decent blocker, but sometimes it blocked legit strings.
It definitely protects the registry and recognizes a change immediately. Do you use it yourself, and if so, how does it interact with your other security programs?
The HOSTS file backup isn't a problem per say. I was just letting everyone know that uses the Immunization feature and has a large HOSTS file that Spybot-S&D will create a backup version of the HOSTS file each and everytime you run Immunization - over time those backup HOSTS files will start using up some hdd space.
I don't use TeaTimer or any other resident anti-spyware, sure I've dabbled a bit with TeaTimer but it just isn't for me. I just don't get infected with nasties so I see no use for any resident anti-spyware on my system unless of course if it were merged and combined within an anti-virus application. Plus I don't want to be bothered with that type of resident anti-spyware which constantly asks is this and that is alright to add into the registry because in my views it should be smart enough to know if it needs to block a nasty and only then notify me of it doing so.
The HOSTS file backup isn't a problem per say. I was just letting everyone know that uses the Immunization feature and has a large HOSTS file that Spybot-S&D will create a backup version of the HOSTS file each and everytime you run Immunization - over time those backup HOSTS files will start using up some hdd space.
I don't use TeaTimer or any other resident anti-spyware, sure I've dabbled a bit with TeaTimer but it just isn't for me. I just don't get infected with nasties so I see no use for any resident anti-spyware on my system unless of course if it were merged and combined within an anti-virus application. Plus I don't want to be bothered with that type of resident anti-spyware which constantly asks is this and that is alright to add into the registry because in my views it should be smart enough to know if it needs to block a nasty and only then notify me of it doing so.
Hi Andavari
About "HOSTS file" were can you find it to check how big it is?
About "HOSTS file" were can you find it to check how big it is?
WINDOWS HOSTS FILE LOCATIONS:
Windows Vista = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows XP = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows 2K = C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Win 98/ME = C:\WINDOWS
________________________________________
Source for this info came from the middle of the page at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
WINDOWS HOSTS FILE LOCATIONS:Windows Vista = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows XP = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows 2K = C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Win 98/ME = C:\WINDOWS
________________________________________
Source for this info came from the middle of the page at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Thanks for the info Andaravi
This is what I found.
Files that have been created and or modified since installing SpyBot S&D 1.5 on: 7/September/2007
hosts 175KB File
hosts 1KB BACKUP File
hosts 175KB BACKUP File
Do newer backup files replace "over write" old ones? or does the file just keep getting bigger?
Do newer backup files replace "over write" old ones? or does the file just keep getting bigger?
Spybot-S&D will create a brand new backup each time you add or remove it's HOSTS file. From what I've seen it won't overwrite or append anything hence the reason to manually remove them every now and then.
Spybot-S&D will create a brand new backup each time you add or remove it's HOSTS file. From what I've seen it won't overwrite or append anything hence the reason to manually remove them every now and then.
Andavari I'm not sure what you mean by (add or remove Spybot-S&D HOSTS file)?
So which files do you remove? just the ones called backup? and can you just delete them?
Andavari I'm not sure what you mean by (add or remove Spybot-S&D HOSTS file)?So which files do you remove? just the ones called backup? and can you just delete them?
Add or Remove the Spybot-S&D HOSTS file just means either enabling it or disabling it. It also implies when the Immunization database has been updated which will update the Spybot-S&D HOSTS file entries with any new entries.
The files to remove all end with the extension: .backup
Add or Remove the Spybot-S&D HOSTS file just means either enabling it or disabling it. It also implies when the Immunization database has been updated which will update the Spybot-S&D HOSTS file entries with any new entries.
The files to remove all end with the extension: .backup
Ok so, Spybot S&D HOSTS file has to be enabled through the program? it's not on by default?
And when Immunizing, the HOSTS file backup won't change "grow bigger" if the Spybot S&D Hosts file is not enabled?
Sorry for all the questions Andavari
I really do appreciate your help, explanations and advice
Ok so, Spybot S&D HOSTS file has to be enabled through the program? it's not on by default?And when Immunizing, the HOSTS file backup won't change "grow bigger" if the Spybot S&D Hosts file is not enabled?
Sorry for all the questions Andavari
I really do appreciate your help, explanations and advice
As soon as you Immunize I think it will automatically add it's own HOSTS file list into the Windows HOSTS file (I think it's enabled by default). It won't remove what's already in the Windows HOSTS file though. There's also the original way to install/remove the Spybot-S&D HOSTS file list in: Tools->Hosts File
The HOSTS file list installed by Spybot-S&D will only get bigger when they update them, and only if you remember to apply Immunize again.
Maybe CCleaner should remove those backup's of the host file...
Maybe CCleaner should remove those backup's of the host file...
Problem is the .backup extension is used by several programs, not just Spybot-S&D, but yeah CC could remove them.
Problem is the .backup extension is used by several programs, not just Spybot-S&D, but yeah CC could remove them.
In SpyBot 1.4 you had to insert or remove the Spybot hosts file manually, and each time Spybot made a .backup file. The second picture shows Spybot in "Advanced" mode, with "tools", "Hosts File' ticked. At the top are the Add or Remove buttons.
You can remove those extra backups by just deleting the files with the .backup extension (the ones in the hosts folder, that is). Below is a picture of mine, as soon as I log off here I will remove the .backups that were made today and put in a "real" hosts file.
Better wait 'till Andavari confirms this, he knows a lot more about this than I do.
Your picture of all those .backup HOSTS files explains it better than words.
Those are what will start eating up some space over time, of course it does really depend upon how big of a HOSTS file is used.
Your picture of all those .backup HOSTS files explains it better than words.Those are what will start eating up some space over time, of course it does really depend upon how big of a HOSTS file is used.
Thanks for the kind words. I gotta get into this "hosts file" business, never fooled with it before. Can I just trust good ole Spybot to an effective hosts file in for me?
Thanks for the kind words. I gotta get into this "hosts file" business, never fooled with it before. Can I just trust good ole Spybot to an effective hosts file in for me?
Spybot-S&D's HOSTS file is tiny compared to some others like the MVPS.org HOSTS file which protects against a ton of ad's and malware sites, and they even go through the trouble of listing next to an entry why it's blocked like (the actual URL was removed to protect people from curiously clicking upon it to see what happens):
127.0.0.1 somebadsite.com #[html/TrojanDownloader.Agent.BP trojan]
You can learn a bunch information about the HOSTS file from MVPS.org.
Just remember though if a site you like and know is safe is blocked and not loading that it could be because of what's in the HOSTS file.
Thanks. On the way there now.