Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Domains

Domain: lavasoft.de

Stories and comments across the archive that link to lavasoft.de.

Stories · 4

  1. Spyware/Adware Prevention In Large Deployments?

    Ask · Security · · posted by timothy · from the you-mean-besides-free-software-desktops dept. · 782 comments
    foQ writes "I work in the IS department for a ~2000 networked computer environment across 10 locations. As with most people, we have experienced serious problems with spyware/adware. We have SpyBot and Ad-Aware installed on most computers, but this doesn't prevent the computers from getting these programs and only sometimes properly removes all of them. Is there a tool that we could push out to all the PCs to basically do what anti-virus programs do and block these programs from running and clean them from the computer?"

  2. New Tricks from Browser Hijackers?

    Ask · Spam · · posted by Cliff · from the adapt-or-(preferrably)-die dept. · 104 comments
    Fortunato_NC asks: "I'm the IT manager for a small business that delivers its service via a browser-based application, and we take around two dozen to three dozen tech support calls from users each day. Many have something to do with pop-up ads making using our product nearly impossible, which is odd, since we don't have any advertising on our website. Of course, it's spyware causing the pop-ups, and we recommend using a product like Ad-aware to take care of the issue. However, not everyone gets the message. Today I was on a client's computer using WebEx helping them remove yet another 'browser helper'. The uninstaller for this program consisted of running no fewer than four separate programs, each of which forced closed the Internet Explorer windows, killing the WebEx session, and making it very difficult to service an already upset client ('What do you mean I have to join the meeting AGAIN?'). It seems as if this product anticipated the need to have someone remotely help the user remove it and went out of its way to make that task nearly impossible. Has anyone else on Slashdott encountered spyware or malware specifically designed to make life miserable for *remote* support techs? What other nasty tactics are spyware authors using that you've noticed?"

  3. Fighting Marketing Drones Over 3rd Party Web Tracking?

    Ask · Privacy · · posted by Cliff · from the keep-it-or-lose-it dept. · 27 comments
    Web Sawy asks: "I work for a large-ish company (4000+). We have a number of disparate divisions and, believe it or not, varying knowledge on How Technology Works. It was brought to my attention that one part of the corporate website has been using 'a third party tool' to 'compare the performance of individual ads'. In other words, some external party is tracking user surfing habits. How does one go about educating co-workers on the evils of these third party services, which are currently 'helping' the Marketing department? What technologies are people using to do this type of reporting to help the Marketing department generate their numbers? In the world that I live, I can't even see those third-party ads (or hidden images!). I certainly can build my own user tracking system using existing technologies but before I fight that major uphill battle, I wonder if Slashdot readers would share their insights."

  4. Slashback: Mexico, Ukraine, Oceania

    Slashback · · posted by ryuzaki0 · from the seymour's-gettin'-married dept. · 188 comments
    More reason below on why not to eat the yellow links, as well as the ongoing interesting effects of the Sircam virus, and whatever happened to Linux in Mexican schools. (Answer: it didn't.) And please send some good news for next time.

    ... and you'll like it! LupusUF writes: "As everyone knows by now...Kazaa is using top text links Kazaa is using top text. But not only are they using them, they are badmouthing people who complain about them. When someone posted a complaint, a Kazaa moderator (Super_Harris) started out his reply by saying "How Dare You!" and then went on trying to explain why they are using top text. Another moderator makes some more poor excuses in the same thread. The same thread also has some very useful information about the spyware that kazaa has installed with the latest version (cydoor, Onflow, New.Net, WebHancer).

    My advice would be to get ad-aware.

    I hope Kazaa starts treating its users with more respect, and at least gets moderators that can answer questions without treating their users like idiots."

    Sircam Sircam A quivering, cowardly reader wrote to point out that sensitive Ukranian government documents were apparently leaked by the Sircam virus. Even juicier than the steady stream of love notes, recipes, tax information, homework, bids and schedules that keeps flowing into my mailbox.

    Don't look for much help from Microsoft on this, either, and hardly any from ISPs. Most of the ISPs I've contacted still claim not to have heard of Sircam, and say "it's not our responsibility." Email from Microsoft (after I cc'd them on a few of my virus alerts) equally disclaims responsibility. Funny how Sircam never made it to the front page of their site. Kudos to Charter Communications for calling customers to let them know they were infected -- and a pox on Prodigy for refusing to.

    May the path of least resistance rise to meet you. Alec Muzzy writes: "Wired has a story about a failed plan to install Linux on computers for Mexican Schools in an effort to save money. Instead they have decided to run Windows, because Linux wouldn't run on their hardware. As they say, 'It was easier to go with Windows.'

    Here's a perfect example of where the free cost of Linux should have been an advantage, yet they decided to go with Windows instead. Does this mean that the costs of running Linux are higher than the cost to purchase Windows?"