Ad-aware: no idea what I should block or should not block

I recently downloaded Ad-Aware 5 and want to run it but I have no idea what I should block or should not block. Is there any kind of list that gives this information?

 

I'd be inclined to allow it to delete anything which it finds. It's possible that one or two programs which came bundled with spyware might cease to work, but if this happens then are plently of spyware-free alternatives which you can look at.

 

LoisTO--Ad-Aware will give you the option to back up anything that you delete. so if you have problems you can always restore.

 

Yup. Anything Ad-aware finds is spyware.

I remember a couple of programs that wouldn't operate without having their spyware portion loaded. But IMHO, any program that uses spyware doesn't belong on my PC. I can find another non-spyware app to do the job.

And some programs will reload bunches of spyware every time they are run. Again, find a version that behaves better. kazaa for instance loads bunches of spyware. kazaa lite will do the same job and does not load spyware. No brainer which I would choose if I were doing the music thing.

 

My Family Tree Maker version 6.0 has a DSS Agent loaded every time the program is opened. Although the thing has no teeth now (doesn't report anything about my computer), it still loads and is found by AdAware. The program will not open if the DSS Agent is deleted. I simply added it to my ignore list and all is well....

 

There are a couple of spywares you need to be careful about when removing, as doing so will cause you to lose your internet connection. WebHancer is one. I think another is Brilliant Digital, and I think there are a couple more as well. There used to be a pinned message on the Ad-aware forum site that talked about these, but I see it's not there now. The safest thing to do is post your scan results in a message on that site; somebody there will advise you.

 

LoisTO--Following up on what md2lgyk has suggested, when you go to the Ad-Aware forum site,
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/
you can run a search for Webhancer (removal of which requires special handling) and BrilliantDigital, since questions on these two are asked almost every day.

 

Webhancer and BrilliantDigital,

In my MailWasher I have had e-mail referring to both.

Both got deleted right off of the server.

I have no Idea what either one is and Ad-Aware has not found any reference to either.

Are they addon software or what ?

BillyBob

 

BillyBob--Read and be happy for having MailWasher
http://www.cexx.org/webhancer.htm
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-875278.html

 

Welshjim

Merci mon ami.

Thank you my Friend.

SI SI. OUI OUI, Yes yes

to being glad for MailWasher. It has earned the $20 I spent on it many times over already by just assiting me ( if I am watching of course ) in keeping tons of TRASH off of my machine.

All it needs to do it suggest a possible Virus and it has earned its keep.

Thanks again.

BillyBob

 

For the DSSagent problem:

Broderbund, after receving probably a coupla' million complaints, posted a removal tool called "cleanbc.exe" for this annoying little beast at http://support.broderbund.com/brodcastpatch.asp.

I've used it several times without problems.

 

I have used the cleanbc.exe tool.

I had several of those complaints to them myself.

That makes the DSSAgent not send info to anyone. But when you open Family tree, ADAware finds the DSS Agent to have been loaded again. I tried to delete the Agent but FTM will not load without it.

Thanks MIZ