McAfee lists Adware in Top 10 Viruses

joelethan writes "In the new sensitive, caring world of Windows security McAfee Virusscan detects adware/malware, just like its competitors. A surprising consequence is that the McAfee's Regional Virus Info now regularly shows adware in its infection top ten. It feels so good to see old favorites like 180Search and DFC listed. "Now for your listening pleasure it's Adware.Gator at number 7 with a bullet..." "

Gator is at number 4

[LiquidCoooled]

However, Netsky still completely wipes the floor with the adware. Over 10 times as many instances of Netsky were discovered than Gator.

USE THESE

[RenHoek]

Because there are still people who don't know:

Ad-Aware [lavasoftusa.com]
Search & Destroy [safer-networking.org]

To keep your pc running fast and without too many crashes..

VirusScan Enterprise 8.0i

[Anonymous Coward]

I have just upgraded to Enterprise 8.0i at work to test it out and I am very impressed with it. Good scanning times as well as some handy features like Buffer Over Flow protection. McAfee may have crappy home user products but the corporate stuff is top stuff!

Re:Time to cut your virus count

[irn_bru]

Preference doesn't come into it: USE BOTH. I've had experience of either one of them missing something that the other one has then picked up.

Reminds me of the joke:
Q. Why does and Irishman wear two condoms
A. To be sure, to be sure...

And this...

[garcia]

While not exactly *required* as AdAware and SpyBot are it is certainly a nice addition to the list.

SpywareBlaster [javacoolsoftware.com]

I would have posted AC to avoid the karmawhoring but Slashdot isn't allowing my subnet to post anonymously anymore. So blame them for the "Continual Karmawhoring".

Re:Right..

[eddy]

>..let's stick to some realism.

Yes, let us.

>Unlike viruses, the user has to actually install them (though that may involve just clicking "yes" in IE).

No, that's wrong. You can get spyware just by visiting a website, which then exploits your browser to install whatever they want to install.

I wouldn't call that "the user has to actually install [it]". I'd call that viral behaviour (even though the installed software doesn't live off a host file or process).

Again; no clicking "yes" required.

Re:Right..

[throughthewire]

Unlike viruses, the user has to actually install them (though that may involve just clicking "yes" in IE)

They might not even have to click 'yes.' If they're not fully patched, someone can sent them a 'cute' e-greeting card which hijacks their home page, and the hijacked page can start installing all kinds of mayhem. No explicit approval by the user is necessary. I recently cleaned up a machine that had been compromised in just that way. Don't Click That! [blogspot.com]

I've been pleasantly surprised by how well McAfee's consumer software works at keeping crapware off of the machines I've seen using it.

And Trend's PC-Cillin 2005 is in beta test [rsc03.net] until September 30th - you might still be able to participate.

Re:damn..

[Mant]

I dont blame them on microsoft. I never said that. But spyware and virus problem is there, you cant deny that..

Only if you don't know what you are doing. I've been running XP for two years, and not one virus, or spyware, and pretty minimal effort on my part.

• Keep windows up to date with auto update
• Use something other than IE and Outlook/OE
• Use a firewall
• Use anti virus and have it auto update
• Run scans with some anti-spyware software now and then (although I've never caught anything I wanted removed). It looks like this will soon get absorbed by AV software.
• Don't run dodgy executables, office documents and the like

The problem is there, no denying, but the solution is way. What is more, it isn't windows specific anyway. Keeping your machine in order and secure is something you should be doing on any OS.

Re:USE THESE

[CheechBG]

*ahem*

HijackThis. End of story.

http://www.downloads.subratam.org/hijackthis.zip

Re:All we need now..

[gl4ss]

would it work? slashdot is adware as well, remember that.

spyware.. now that's something that should be illeagal, installing software without the user knowing what the software will do(and without asking the 'victim' if he wants it or not).

List linked in summary not that great; look here

[Echnin]

The link in the summary shows how many infected files that have been found in North America in the last 24 hours. It's more interesting to make it show the number of infected computers, globally in the last month: Like this. [mcafee.com] Spots 1 and 2 are taken up by "exploits"; I guess these are just unpatched machines. And then on 3, 4 and 5 are the spywa-- or wait don't sue me -- adware infestations, with Gator leading at an 8.28% infection rate.

Gator beats any virus in infestation rate if you look at the more relevant statistics.

Re:adware - Adaware??? Foncusion

[statusbar]

And also just to clarify that Adaware is NOT available at http://www.adaware.com/

http://www.adaware.com/ is actually a Ada software site who is taking advantage of their name to sell spyassasin. Kind of underhanded as it doesn't SAY it is spyassasin.

--jeff++

2 Products that work in the Enterprise

[agtwilight]

/.

Two products we have fully implemented that have helpded (no Mandrake/Firefox comments please heh)

1. Trend Micro Office Scan 6.5 (new version) It caught all the Trojans and malware, left most of the adware

2. Spysweeper Enterprise - This put the -smack- down on every little piece of adware and malware...very impressive.

If you are stuck with M$ this will help alot - both products are centrally managed and controlled...I dont work for either, but you can get on top of the virus/malware pain. We had some users w/ 1000+ malware just from add sites, they werent even hitting the porn/hacking stuff.

Enjoy

Re:Legitimate Businessmen

[networkBoy]

The EULA is scary (but honest I suppose):
"I understand and agree the software product will modify, remove, and add entries to my computer operating system, network parameters, and other installes files that will change the prior default settings, and/or install software from third parties without user intervention, and/or to install software to display electronic advertisements and third party web pages of every kind and nature and/or monitor my actions and report them to the company and/or undisclosed third parties, without user intervention."

According to this EULA it is possible for them to install everything from a mailbot all the way to a kiddie-pr0n server on your machine and when you cause too much trouble for them they can turn you in to the FBI to get rid of you. (Of course I don't think that's what they had in mind).
I think that the lawyer who made this airtight EULA that can be summarized as: WE OWN YOUR BOX should be tourtured to as close to death as possible, allowed to heal up and have the process repeated . . . often.
-nB

Re:North Americans are clueless

[I8TheWorm]

As an American geek, I take great offense to that comment. As a matter of fact, I'm on a contract right now that includes three H1-B programmers from India, who, while faster coders than I am, marvel at my problem solving skills.

I lengthy discussion about the difference in our styles turned up that Indians are taught based on memorization, while Americans are taught based on problem solving.

So go ask those other programmers on my contract whether or not American geeks suck at IT jobs.