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  1. #1
    Tiger Shark
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Los Angeles
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    707

    Suspicious adware behavior, despite layers of protection

    I run Malwarebytes in monitoring mode and Spyhunter 4 performs a scheduled scan on my system every night. On top of this, my Avira AV suite provides anti malware/adware protection, too. However, every night, Spyhunter 4 turns up 70+ adware incursions, all "minor" (i.e. one bar out of four on its threat scale) and almost always the same ones.

    I'm wondering if something in my very well-protected system is generating this crap regardless of all the above pro-active measures?

    Can anyone please advise on the following possible courses of action:

    - Swap out the two anti-malware procedures described above so that SpyHunter 4 does the background monitoring and Malwarebytes does the nightly scan. I figured there'd be a conflict and/or too much of a draw on system resources if I have them both set to monitor simultaneously, is this a sound assumption?

    - Is there a magic bullet app that will stop this daily recurrence of the same low-level crapware?

    - I never visit pron sites or other dubious places on the Web, my browsing habits are very conventional and respectable. I visit a lot of game forums and PC gaming sites. Should I change my 5-tab homepage or otherwise alter my browsing habits? I have the latest version of IE.

    Thanks, guys, as always I'm grateful for the expertise on tap here.
    Last edited by TwIce; 06-12-2012 at 05:26 PM.

  2. #2
    Mako Shark
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    VA
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    3,227
    I have found the worst sites for viruses and malware are those that teenagers tend to visit like music and gaming sites. I don't use IE so not sure what is available for plugins. I use firefox and have a script blocker and ghostery which both are helpful.

  3. #3
    Mako Shark wh666-666's Avatar
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    Jul 2006
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    In a red kennel
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    Feel free to post a log ....

    Most of the "low level" stuff is just cookies and dubious tracking ads, which there are plenty of on most game sites.
    Compaq A910em: T2330 dual core 1.6Ghz, X3100 384MB GPU, 160GB sata HDD, 2GB RAM
    Gaming rig: Asus Striker II, Coolermaster GX 750w, E4600 @ 2.4Ghz, 2.5GB RAM, Zerotherm FZ 120, 9500GT 1GB
    Server: Mac mini running W23k Server - 1.8Ghz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 1x80GB, 2x500GB externals + LTO1 tape backup

    An important petition, regarding your human rights:
    https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitio...r-both-genders

  4. #4
    Tiger Shark
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    Thanks guys.

    I will post a log later, assuming it's no problem to output one from SpyHunter 4's full scan.

  5. #5
    Mako Shark wh666-666's Avatar
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    It should all fit on here fine
    Last edited by wh666-666; 06-12-2012 at 05:31 PM.
    Compaq A910em: T2330 dual core 1.6Ghz, X3100 384MB GPU, 160GB sata HDD, 2GB RAM
    Gaming rig: Asus Striker II, Coolermaster GX 750w, E4600 @ 2.4Ghz, 2.5GB RAM, Zerotherm FZ 120, 9500GT 1GB
    Server: Mac mini running W23k Server - 1.8Ghz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 1x80GB, 2x500GB externals + LTO1 tape backup

    An important petition, regarding your human rights:
    https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitio...r-both-genders

  6. #6
    Hammerhead Shark
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,248
    I'm an avid fan and true believer of http://www.housecall65.trendmicro.com. Free online computer scan and cleanup. It always picks up something my other spyware and otherware stuff doesnt

    MOBO: Biostar TZ68K+ Intel Z68 ATX
    CPU: Intel Core i7-2700K
    RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB)
    CPU COOLING:Corsair Hydro Series H80
    VIDEO: MSI TWIN FROZR II GeForce GTX 570
    HDD: Intel 320-160GB SSD
    HDD: 250GB WD SATA
    HDD: 1TB WD SATA
    HDD: 500WD SATA
    MEDIA: Plextor Dual DVD
    PSU: CORSAIR HX750 750W
    CASE: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 ATX Full Tower
    OS: WIN 7 x64 Home Premium
    Monitor: Westinghouse 32" LCD 1080p

  7. #7
    Red Shark Moderator cat5e's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    2,600
    Download and make a Boot CD of MS Security essential then try to boot and clean with the CD.

    After running the boot CD I would try to get rid of all live security software that you have and install the free Security Essential into Windows.

    It is a combo AV AntiSpyware that updates through the usual update system and work very well with Windows.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...ity-essentials


    .


    CAT5e
    Microsoft, MVP - Networking
    .

  8. #8
    LOLWUT ImaNihilist's Avatar
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    Nov 2001
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    San Francisco
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    Do you run as admin?

    All the AV/malware detection in the world doesn't mean anything if you run as admin.
    Last edited by ImaNihilist; 06-12-2012 at 09:21 PM.

  9. #9
    Tiger Shark
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
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    Los Angeles
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    Yup, I run as admin. I set it that way as I'm the only user of this PC and I didn't want to be constantly seeking permission to open files, etc. I had no idea I'd be compromising security by doing so. What do you suggest I do about that now?

  10. #10
    LOLWUT ImaNihilist's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TwIce View Post
    Yup, I run as admin. I set it that way as I'm the only user of this PC and I didn't want to be constantly seeking permission to open files, etc. I had no idea I'd be compromising security by doing so. What do you suggest I do about that now?
    Stop running as admin for daily use. Use a standard account. When you run as admin and have Flash or Java installed, you're leaving your system wide open on every website.

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