Can't run Spybot on Win 95

Is there an earlier version of Spybot that will run on Win 95? Thanks in advance

 

Hi lorinbc,

Have a look here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=knowledgebase/faq

And, especially, here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=knowledgebase/faq/faq011

Hope that helps,
ski123

 

Recently, after moving over to Earthlink, (running Total Access 2004) I've found out that I can't run either Spybot or Adaware. Neither program will initialize so I am unable to download any updates. Both Spybot and Adaware will run when offline, but they do not seem to run properly even then.

Earthlink does have its own built-in anti-spyware program with their updates, but I don't feel that I should have to rely upon an ISP for their version of what they determine to be spyware on my system. I've contacted Earthlink about this matter, but all that they have to say is that they do not support running Spybot since they regard it as third party software.

How do others here feel about this matter?

I should have started a new thread for this. I apologize, lorinbc.

 

How do others here feel about this matter?

I think Earthlink is totally 100% WAY WAY out of line.

If it were me I would be raising all sorts of HELL and/or dumping Earthlink. Or at least their software.

Or at least returning to an earlier version.

What the heck have they done ? Joined up with Dell ?

Geeeze. We thought Microsoft was bad ? I am getting the impression that they are mild compared to some of the stuff such as the subject of this post. And what I am hearing about some PC makers.

All you should need Earthlink for is the connection to the Internet.

These are my feelings.

BillyBob

 

Hello Stoofer,

There are aspects of your situation that I'M not clear on.

Earthlink is an ISP, and I find it hard to accept that they are blocking or interfering in a "legal" download or contact. Maybe I'm not being realistic here, but how can they do that? Did you aggree to this in some "fine print "? If this is the case with SSD and AAW, what other programs are they going to do this with?

It also sounds like they have an app running on your system off line that interferes with SSD and AAW. Can you identify it and stop it?

I don't know what "total access" is, it sounds "big brotherish" to me.

I'd dump them in a "NY" minute!

Regards - Charles

 

Charles, this is the text of the reply that Earthlink sent me:

We understand that you have an inquiry regarding the Spybot software.

We would like to inform you that EarthLink does not support Spybot software since
it is a third party software. EarthLink provides it own spyware blocker software
which is integrated in the Total Access 2004 software. Hence, we suggest you to
visit the link below and download the Total Access 2004 software and then enable
the Spyware Blocker.

I don't know what I would look for that would be interfering with the functionality of either Adaware or Spybot, Charles.


BillyBob, didn't mean to raise your blood pressure.

 

Hi Stoofer,

Ok, nobody asked them to "support" Spybot - just a weasel answer. I quess they don't approve of it.

What other software don't they "support" - approve of?

Its hard enough to remain "master" of one's system, but this just takes the cake. Earth Link comes very close to acting like a trojan. Like a trojan, software is introduced to act in ways against the wishes of the user.

Have you downloaded *the Total Access 2004 software and then enable the Spyware Blocker.*?

Regards - Charles

 

Yes Charles, I have downloaded the Total Access software with their version of Spyware Blocker. I felt that I was moving up in the world after being with AOL for so long. Apparently they're all the same.

 

I know you did not mean to and you didn't.

I had my own dealings with Earthlink before I went to Cable.

They just could not seem to understand why I did not need their software. They also could not seem to comprehend what the words " Not interested " meant.

So I had best drop the subject from my end before I print something that would get me kicked off the BBS.

BillyBob

 

charlesvar

Because there are many more users that want it that way than there are those that don't.

When I was on Earthlink I had no choice as to what was installed and activated if I used their software.

BillyBob

 

Hi Stoofer,

*Neither program will initialize so I am unable to download any updates.*

Look in the Hosts file, SSD and AAW may be blocked there.

Windows 95/98/Me c:\windows\hosts

Windows NT/2000/XP Pro c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Windows XP Home c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

(you may need administrator access for Windows NT/2000/XP)


Regards - Charles

 

Charles, after checking msconfig, found a program called SpySweeper that was getting loaded on startup. Disabled it and can now run both Spybot, Adaware and get updates.

Thanks all for your comments.

 

Hi Stoofer,

Did you download this? If not, do you know where it came from?

BTW, so far there isn't any confirmation that EarthLink is doing any blocking of SSD or AAW. Your finding of spysweeper makes me think that EarthLink has nothing to do with this problem.

Regards - Charles

 

Charles, the only downloads that I've performed in the last month have been my virus updates from Norton and the Earthlink download. I'm wondering about this myself now.

 

Hi Stoofer,

You may have some form of "search" hijacker on your system.

It may pay to look at your system with HijackThis:

http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/ Hijackthis tutorial/ download

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html Tutorial by author

These people do this all day long and are familiar with a wide variety of apps and processes:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php under:
adware, spyware & hijack cleaning
logs and analysis

http://www.spywareinfo.com/yabbse/ under:
Spyware and Hijackware Removal Support
For help getting rid of spyware, browser hijackers, **** dialers, thiefware, and all other unwanted advertising parasites.

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showforum=44 This is Lavasoft's (Ad-Aware) section of analyzing HijackThis logs

Regards - Charles

 

Read the above CAREFULLY.

And then see if you still think Earthlink sotfware is not to blame. ( or at least play some part in the problem ) And if Stoofer has not downloaded or installed anything where else would you look.

Stoofer

Did Total Access come from Earthlink ?

I use Earthlink software for about 10 days. Then dumped the whole thing and started over with just the connection. NO PROBLEMS after that.

Earthlink, AOL, Road Runner or most any ISP software will take over a machine if allowed to.

That is one question I asked when I was thinking of switching from Earthlink Dial-Up to Cable.

Do I have to use Road Runner software ? The answer I got was and honest " NO. " And the stuff is still sitting under the desk in an unopened box.

I gotta check something. Will be back later.

I am back and I see that Total Access is ( or can be ) part of Earthlink software.

BillyBob

 

found a program called SpySweeper

Is that the Spyware Blocker that is availabe from Earth Link Total Access that I saw reference to on the Total Access Site.

On further checking I answered my own question YES

I forgot that that was in a previous rely. But I thought that might be the answer when asking for help/

Sounds somewhat like Dell doesn't it ?

BillyBob

 

Hi BB,

Its hard to line up cause and effect, especially with software.

Now it might have come from EarthLink, but Stoofer at this point doesn't know. And before this kind of charge is made, I think it has to be verified. And so far, judging by the silence on any security forum that I've been to, so far no one else has this problem. There have been cases where malware has hijacked the hosts file to block acccess to SpyBot and Ad-Aware which is why I asked stoofer to check his. That's a known problem and the portal into one's system is thru the browser via "drive by" downloads. Most systems are vulnerable because of poor security settings.

I don't know how well Stoofer is able to protect his system. With all due respect to Stoofer, when one has a problem, one of the first areas to check is the startups. The fact that stoofer did not, but came to that later, tells me he (or she) is not very experienced in diagnosing problems.

Regards - Charles

 

BillyBob, my original problems with running both Spybot and Adaware began after I had downloaded the Earthlink software and before I opted to download Earthlink's version of their Spyware Blocker.

You're right that I should have checked msconfig earlier. I am inexperienced and too trusting about some things, but I certainly didn't expect to get something like this problem when signing up for an ISP. Still, there is the possibility that I obtained this **** somewhere else, but for the life of me I don't know how.

 

Hi Stoofer,

Please don't take what I wrote as an insult.

Good idea to read Arie's pinned link to the safer surfing article at the top of this Board.

Is this program listed in the Add/Remove applet? If so, can you uninstall it? Have you done a search - both for files and in the registry?

Have you gone thru the HijackThis routine that I gave lots of links for? Because if you haven't, you can't rule out that this didn't come from some source other than EartLink.

Regards - Charles