Antispyware Master - OUCH!

[aldiboronti]

@KarlGauss

What is the problem with AVG’s link scanner?

What isn’t the problem?

AVG 8.0 's LinkScanner seems to issue defective user agent code, and when a web server rejects its entry due to the defect, LinkScanner then labels the perfectly healthy website as “unsafe”, whereas leaving a terrifying block of error messages on the log of the website. It is not only causing a turmoil in the world of web masters from the fear that LinkScanner is turning away their legitimate visitors by the bugs in the software, but is distorting the search results by arbitrary calling healthy websites as unsafe. If not fixed immediately, AVG may become quickly an outcast of the internet world. As a royal user of AVG 7.5, sorry to see that a great company is destroying itself by releasing a buggy product prematurely.

Mozilla support

It also makes Firefox very unstable, causing constant crashes.

AVG are saying they’ve fixed the problem now. I won’t be re-enabling it in a hurry though.

[Dragwyr]

I’m glad you were able to get your system cleaned, KarlGauss. This may help you in the future…I’ve been following the advice by Gizmo Richards on how to secure your PC and haven’t had a major incident yet.

[drachillix]

@Whack-a-Mole

In short, invest in a decent anti-spyware program. There are several to be had (research first to be sure they are legit and not one of the many counterfeit anti-spyware programs…or stick with a known brand like Norton or McAfee or Kaspersky).

Every program has its blind spots, no matter whos name is on it, or how much you pay for it. I do virus/spyware work on a daily basis.

Our main tools:
SDFix
AVG
Superantispyware
Spybot Search & Destroy

If it isn’t clean after a couple passes of this we usually backup, reformat and reload.

There are exception where we cannot and thats where the big bucks get spent. Infected servers or key workstations with tons of valuable data. Manually digging out registry issues, killing undeleteable files with preinstall invironments, etc.

[Whack-a-Mole]

@drachillix

Every program has its blind spots, no matter whos name is on it, or how much you pay for it. I do virus/spyware work on a daily basis.

Our main tools:
SDFix
AVG
Superantispyware
Spybot Search & Destroy

If it isn’t clean after a couple passes of this we usually backup, reformat and reload.

There are exception where we cannot and thats where the big bucks get spent. Infected servers or key workstations with tons of valuable data. Manually digging out registry issues, killing undeleteable files with preinstall invironments, etc.

I agree. I also do a great deal of support and many if not most PC related problems I run into involves spyware. I usually deal with this in one fashion or another 1-2x per week.

I still respectfully disagree with those above who think AdAware and Spybot are in any way sufficient (at least the free AdAware…not sure about the paid version).

Numerous times I have run into spyware that explicitly evaded AdAware. Even to the point of redirecting web searches and keeping me from downloading it and even once on AdAware would spot it, remove it and it would come right back. I have seen SpyBot identify many infections, remove them and they come back too.

While any program may be programmed around AdAware in particular seems a first stop for any spyware programmer wanting to be particularly malicious. Because it is free and the common answer to anyone with a spyware problem lots and lots of people have it so if putting in the effort at evasion it makes sense.

Again, better than nothing but there is much better to be had.

True nothing is perfect and I too am not a fan of Norton or McAfee (personally prefer Kaspersky to those two for those like my mom who need a one stop shop and cannot be arsed to sort through different scanners).