http://malektips.com/removing_spyware_and_adware_help_and_tips.html Tips on protecting your Windows computer against spyware, adware, and other malware. Includes definitions of various types of spyware, plus tips on system configuration, managing the Hosts file, and various anti-malware applications. en-us Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:19:55 GMT Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:19:55 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Custom webmaster@envprogramming.com (Andrew Malek) webmaster@envprogramming.com (Andrew Malek) http://malektips.com/graphics/logo_88x30.gif http://malektips.com/removing_spyware_and_adware_help_and_tips.html 88 30 http://malektips.com/virus-malware-scan-virscan.html Scan a file for malware with a multitude of different anti-virus and anti-spyware engines.

While you may have an antivirus application installed on your machine, no scanner can boast a 100% detection rate. If you are particularly concerned that a file you have acquired may have spyware, adware, or other malware, increase the odds that problems will be detected by using a variety of different engines. Even though it is not recommended to run multiple engines simultaneously on your system, you can scan a file with multiple engines with the free scanner from VirSCAN.org.

VirSCAN.org lets you upload a file up to 20 megabytes for analysis (ZIP/RAR files can have up to 20 files) by the following scanners: ...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:32:04 GMT http://malektips.com/virus-malware-scan-virscan.html http://malektips.com/jotti-malware-scan.html Use a variety of engines to help determine if an uploaded file contains a virus, spyware, or other malware.

If you are concerned that a file you have downloaded, received via e-mail, or otherwise obtained contains spyware, malware, or other malware, you may want to check the file against not just one malware scanner engine but twenty. Since no malware scanner is perfect and can catch every type of malware that exists, scanning files using many engines increases the odds that if a virus or other malware exists, it will be found.

Jotti's Malware Scan lets you upload a file for analysis by the following scanners (as of April 30, 2009 - these are subject to change):...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:02:51 GMT http://malektips.com/jotti-malware-scan.html http://malektips.com/free-scan-virus-malware-multiple-scanners.html Use dozens of tools simultaneously to scan files for viruses and other malware.

In the constant struggle against spyware, viruses, and other malware, many tools exist from a wide number of software manufacturers. Unfortunately, no one tool can detect all pests, so while it is not recommended to run multiple antivirus and anti-spyware guard applications simultaneously, not being able to do so could potentially open you up to malware attacks. Thankfully, the website VirusTotal from Hispasec Sistemas lets you perform this type of scan.

VirusTotal lets you upload (SSL uploading is available) or email a file for analysis. It then uses dozens of detection tools, including those from the following well-known companies (as of January 18, 2009 - these are subject to change):...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:25:09 GMT http://malektips.com/free-scan-virus-malware-multiple-scanners.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0011.html If SpywareBlaster protection is keeping some websites from appearing in Internet Explorer, here's how to allow those sites to operate fully.

If running SpywareBlaster keeps certain websites from appearing or operating correctly in Internet Explorer, such as not allowing you to login, you can disable the protection for particular items found on such sites while keeping other protections intact.

Note that every time you update SpywareBlaster and click "Enable All Protection" you will have to repeat these steps....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 6 Nov 2008 20:17:11 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0011.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0010.html If SpywareBlaster protection is keeping some websites from appearing in Mozilla Firefox, here's how to allow those sites to set cookies on your machine.

If running SpywareBlaster keeps certain websites from appearing or operating correctly in Mozilla Firefox, such as preventing you from logging into a website, cookie blocking may be the culprit.

You can configure SpywareBlaster to allow certain blocked cookies while keeping the rest of its protection intact. Note that every time you update SpywareBlaster and click "Enable All Protection", you will have to repeat these steps....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 3 Nov 2008 19:35:04 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0010.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_restricted_sites.html Allow the actions of websites in Internet Explorer that SpywareBlaster has previously restricted.

Besides protection against ActiveX controls and cookies in Internet Explorer, SpywareBlaster also attempts to restrict actions taken by sites potentially carrying spyware, malware, adware, or those performing potentially-undesirable actions. This is done by placing the sites in Internet Explorer's Restricted Sites list, where (depending on your configuration) such sites will not be able to activate ActiveX Controls, download files to your machine, run Java applets, and more.

Under normal circumstances, you should never need to modify this list. However, if you need to remove this restriction for a particular website that is not displaying correctly in Internet Explorer while keeping the remaining protections intact, and you are SURE the Restricted website is safe, perform this tweak:...

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:52:15 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_restricted_sites.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0013.html Protect your machine from ActiveX controls that SpywareBlaster does not yet recognize.

If you want SpywareBlaster to protect Internet Explorer from a particular ActiveX control it does not yet recognize, you can add the control to a custom list. Note that you must first have the ActiveX control's CLSID (class ID, a unique identifier).

1. From SpywareBlaster, click the "Tools" image....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:13:08 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0013.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0009.html Keep Flash animations from appearing in Internet Explorer.

Flash animations are commonly used for games, user interfaces, and advertisements. As some complex or rogue Flash files can slow down a computer, SpywareBlaster provides an option to completely disable Flash content in Internet Explorer if these cause a problem for you. Also, this tweak will prevent websites displayed in Internet Explorer from trying to install the Flash Player on your computer.

1. From SpywareBlaster, click the "Tools" image....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 8 Oct 2008 19:13:27 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0009.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0008.html Help protect your Internet Explorer home page from being accidentally changed.

To help prevent your Internet Explorer home page from changing, either accidentally by you or by spyware, you can have SpywareBlaster apply a change that keeps the page from being altered from within the browser.

Note that this may not work against all spyware and adware as some threats can reverse this setting. However, this tweak may protect against some threats, so it is a good idea to try it anyway....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Mon, 6 Oct 2008 20:48:56 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0008.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0012.html Make backups of your Hosts file in case it gets changed by spyware / adware.

Your Windows machine's Hosts file has legitimate purposes. Normally, if you try to access a network resource that domain name system (DNS) servers cannot translate, a Hosts file can translate the verbal address (such as "server2") into an IP address. However, this file can be abused so that accesses to popular websites such as cnn.com, ebay.com, and paypal.com, for example, end up going to other lesser-known, rogue, and/or phishing websites.

To help protect against undesired changes, SpywareBlaster lets you create encrypted backup copies of the Hosts file. Then, if spyware or adware modify this file, you can restore from a saved backup....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Thu, 2 Oct 2008 20:20:41 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0012.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0007.html Stop Internet Explorer from advertising itself in its title bar.

Normally, when you view websites in Internet Explorer, the title of the browser window changes to the currently visited website's title plus the addition of "Windows Internet Explorer" or "Microsoft Internet Explorer" (depending on your Internet Explorer version).

If you'd like, you can use SpywareBlaster to change this title to just about anything you want, such as "My Browser", "Just Surfing", or you can make the browser name blank....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:02:22 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0007.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0006.html Use SpywareBlaster to change Internet Explorer home, search, and other default pages that may have been changed by spyware / adware.

SpywareBlaster lets you change the default Internet Explorer start, search, and other pages for the current user as well as the local machine defaults. This is useful in case spyware or adware changed these pages to one not of your choosing.

Note that if your machine is still infected with malware when you make changes with this tool, those changes may get reverted. First, clean your machine up with spyware / adware removal tools, and then use this tool to change the pages back to what they used to be....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:24:10 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0006.html http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0005.html Save and recall system settings that may get overwritten by spyware or adware.

To help repair damage to your machine in case of a spyware infection, SpywareBlaster can take a System Snapshot of various computer settings including registry settings, browser settings, Winsock settings, etc. This way, if your machine becomes infected, you may decide to restore your machine to a previous state to recall older browser and system settings.

Note that before creating a System Snapshot, make sure your computer is free of spyware, adware, viruses, and other threats! You may wish to download and install other spyware / adware removal tools to help ensure your machine is clean....

Read more at MalekTips.]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:58:35 GMT http://malektips.com/spywareblaster_0005.html