Education continues with Install of Spyware Doctor

I installed Spyware Doctor last evening.

I now know ( or am more certain anyway ) how a lot of Tracking Cookies and such get in here.

I went to ONE ( 1 ) site and got notification of FOUR ( 4 ) Tracking Cookies coming in. The software quarrenteened them right there. ( made them useless I believe )

Went to another site and got three ( 3 ) more.

And at no time did anything show on the screen. ( other than the warning Window )

The address also shows at the warning Window.

I had cleaned out ALL cookies before going on line. I checked after and sure enough there sat the seven ( 7 ) cookies.

 

BB:

I read, from what you are saying, is that if you visit web sites, you get tracking cookies.

True, sometimes you will.

Not sure what your point is.

BTW I hope this was just a test install. I'm not sure why you would pay money for this app?

 

Why not ? It has already earned its keep. Knowing how is one thing . But knowing from where ( or at least from what site ) ain't bad either.

It is true that I did not need the programs to tell me HOW they were getting in as I already knew that.

I do not believe ( at this time anyway ) that this will be just test install. As I now have a much better idea of WHERE they are coming from. The first 4 came from a game site that the kids ( and me too on occasion ) go to. So that tells me I need to do some checking on the other machine that the kids use.

The others came for a site I visit now and then.

BillyBob

 

There are many good free apps that do what this one does, such as SpyBot and Spywarebuster.

And, many of these apps are calling "normal everyday" cookies, tracking cookies, when in reality they aren't.

And, IMHO, tracking cookies are nowhere near the security or privacy threat that these programs make them out to be.

http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/cookies/

 

I have SpyBot also. But, unless I am missing a setting somewhere it does not alert me in anyway as they come in.

As far as I know SpyBot only lets me know AFTER the fact that the Cookies do exist. I do not believe it lets me know what site I was on when they came in.

If I am missing a setting then let me know and I will see what I can do.

Is it because I do not load it a startup ?

With SpyWare Doctor running I get an alert Window as the cookie comes in.

Plus, just like most everyone else I do have a tendency to try new things. Some turn out to be better and others just the opposite.

BilyBob

 

It's Spywareblaster where you can block them on the way in.

But as I said, cookies should be the last of your worries when it comes to spyware and security.

 

I believe my original post included the word EDUCATION. And that is just what I am getting.

I believe a well rounded education includes trying this and/or that.
To see which is better for my use.
To see what others have to say and provide their suggestion/ideas.
To see which one may do a better Job.

Spywareblaster was mentioned. I set it up and updated it. It says that it does not need to be running in order to provide protection. Well after I set it up I had ten ( 10 ) cookies come in. ( This was without SpyWare Doctor loading )

So unless I have missed something again, there is no real way ( other than checking the Cookies folder ) to be sure it is doing its' job. Also I did not see any message that it was blocking anything. Have to sort of blind trust it I guess.

And I find nothing anywhere that tells me it is running.

However SpyWare Doctor has an Icon in the Systray that allows me to see that it is actually loaded. Also the message when something is picked up. And I actually see it added to the list of Startup items. ( as of 5 minutes ago that is ) But I have not restarted Windows yet to make sure that it does load. It did last evening but today is a new day.

Anyway. Just an overnight testing really says nothing anyway.

Gotta go refill the coffee cup and read the morning paper.

BillyBob

 

Since you asked BB:

Give SpywareBlaster a fair trial BB and you'll come to agree with what has been posted on the forum before. It does a fine job of keeping known Spyware off the drive. It will take the load off AdAware and Spybot and they will not ordinarily not find anything amiss when you run them.

As has been pointed out, it will no stop ALL cookies from being accepted. You wouldn't want that anyway since it reduces your enjoyment of the internet considerably. If you actually wanted that, you wouldn't need a 3rd party tool to do it, your browser allows for that setting.

FWIT, I use SpywareBlaster and CookieJar to handle the cookies for me. SpywareBlaster stops the bad ones at the door while the CookieJar dumps all the rest (except those that I choose to keep, it allows for that) when I either reboot or manually choose to run it. The benefit of this method is, it doesn't require either program to be running and consuming processor time or resources. These little programs merely use XP's inherent power and make setting that accomplish your goal without further burden. I do appreciate that CookieJar allows me to keep the cookies that make life easier as to favored site ID remembering.

I can honestly say that since setting these two tools to work in concert, I have NEVER had AdAware or SpyBot find anything amiss, and that goes back more than a year. I just don't need to run AdAware or SpyBot very often anymore, perhaps not at all.

SpywareBlaster and CookieJar are freewares and can easily be found with any search engine.

IMHO, I think that represents, "The time of day." Whether you choose to set your clock is up to you.

ps, since you already have SpywareBlaster, here's the link for Cookie Jar:

http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/programs.asp?Program=Cookie Jar

 

unnecessay

Other than Ad-aware, I generally haven't bothered with a lot of other spyware programs. I use the latest version of Firefox and have the cookies set for originating site only AND to expire when I close the browser. I also use "exceptions" so that my favorite sites are exempt from losing the cookies upon my closure of the browser. Initially, this is a bit tedious but after a few days the browser is all set up and from that point on I only have to make exceptions periodically. It has the effect of keeping my system clean and of my not having umpteen spyware progs running to do what this awesome browser already does.

 

Thank you surferdude2

I can do that.

But I am beginning to see that some problems may have been caused by my own fingertips.

I know I had SpywareBlaster activated at one time. All of the sudden it seemed to have quit working. That may well have been caused by Ol' BillyBob here. I had a problem and used an older Restore Point. I should know about that. But, just like a car my mind needs a Jump Start now and then.

When I opened it last evening ALL Item Protection showed as DISABLED. Changed that in a hurry.

BTW.

If anyone replys to this post and I do not reply back after this evening, please do not get the idea that I am ignoring you. I have to go for a Cardiac Cath tomorrow AM. ( be there at 6:45 AM ). And what they find will pretty much dictate what I do for the next few days.

But anyway. The time I have spent here and the few bucks I spent on Software IS NOT WASTED. I am not ready to graduate but my knowledge has been improved.

And has brought to my attention the fact that I need to check on things once in awhile. Not everything is "Set and Forget. "

AND IT HAS ALSO helped GREATLY to get my mind on other things.

BillyBob

 

Best wishes to you BB and we'll send up a few prayers on your behalf in hopes of your improvement and continued enjoyment of life. I'll make it apply to the rest of us as well.