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The Bad AntiSpyware List

Thursday, January 31st, 2008
at 8:45pm

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There are so many choices out there for Anti-Spyware programs. The problem is… do you realize how many of them are scams? There is a huge list of Rogue Anti-Spyware programs available, which I read off in this video. Keep in mind that any programs you hear me read are BAD, and should be uninstalled immediately if they are on your computer.

A Rogue Anti-Spyware program is one that has been tested by Experts in the field of Spyware removal. These programs can make it onto the naughty list in one or more of the following ways:

  • False positives In cases where it is noted “false positives work as goad to purchase,” the apps in question produced inexcusable false positives on a “spyware-free” system.
  • Poor scan reporting This means that the application either did not provide information about what it found or did not report enough information about the basis for the items it found.
  • Knockoffs/rip-offs The term “knockoff” means at the very least that the app in question substantially imitates the look, feel, and experience of another program. With some of these “knockoff” apps there may be evidence of more serious borrowing from other programs, but there are no specific allegations to that effect as yet from the affected parties. The term “rip-off” means that there are specific allegations from the affected parties of unauthorized borrowing from their applications.
  • Aggressive/deceptive advertising “Aggressive” advertising consists of the obnoxious, intrusive, use of pop-ups, false GUI elements, or other advertising techniques designed to badger, pressure, or coerce users into buying the application advertised. “Deceptive” advertising employs advertising techniques and information designed to create a false sense of alarm among users in order to stampede them into purchasing the application being advertised.
  • Flawed, inadequate detection schemes “Flawed, inadequate detection schemes” refer to scanning techniques that are insufficient to produce reliable detections of spyware, adware, and malware. These detection schemes typically rely exclusively on matching file names/path and Registry names/paths without using MD5 hash checking or signature matching to uniqiuely identify detected components. In some cases, there may be other problems with the detection scheme, such as failing to scan all drives on a system or skipping key system areas during scanning.

So now what? How do you know what to trust? The following applications are recommended by Experts in this area, as well as this site.

Don’t let yourself get taken in by claims of “100% protection”. Do your research, and make SURE that what you are buying or installing on your computer is a legitimate program.

CORRECTION TO VIDEO We were discussing who is responsible for the Rogue list. Suzi does, in fact, own the website it is hosted on. However, a man named Eric Howes is responsible for putting together and maintaining this Rogue list.

Here are several coupons to help ease the strain on your wallet:

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43 Comments

Ben Winzenz

January 31st, 2008
at 10:52pm

Don’t forget about Spybot Search and Destroy! That still has to be my favorite anti-spyware program. I recently re-validated my excellent experience with this tool when I ran it against my in-laws computer after them telling me that there was some weird stuff going on (desktop wallpaper replaced, new programs installed, fake “your PC is infected” popups, etc.).

Spyware Removal

February 1st, 2008
at 4:19am

Shanmugawrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt http://live.pirillo.com - There are so many choices out there for Anti-spyware (spyware (spyware removal) removal) programs. The problem is… do you realize how many of them are scams? There

Windows Vista Torrent

February 1st, 2008
at 5:25am

Tech Interviews How to Start a Website How to Deal with TaxesThe Bad AntiSpyware ListHow to Choose the Best Airline How to Keep From Being Stinky How to Get Along in an Online Forum MMORPG Etiquette How to Deal with Media and MP3 Players while Driving How to get Homework Done

Doug

February 1st, 2008
at 10:02am

Really nicely done. A article like this gives those users who need advice against making the wrong decision. And so many do.
Well done.

Kat

February 1st, 2008
at 11:23am

Why are so many of you convinced that Spybot and AdAware are “great” protection programs? It’s simply not true anymore. They are neither one as good as they used to be. For instance, one commentor stated that he started using them on his parent’s machine after getting the fake security warnings. Those security warnings belong to a specific malware infection called Smitfraud. Running Spybot and AdAware will NOT get rid of that infection fully. There are specific measures that must be taken in order to get rid of it.
I don’t understand what the hype is about those two products. Is it simply b/c they USED to be the only option, and actually worked great? Is it b/c their name is the most widely known?
What happened to research, and finding out what really is the best?

Area52

February 1st, 2008
at 9:58pm

Very good. I’m planing on getting a new for anti-Spyware program!

pclover

February 1st, 2008
at 10:20pm

Thanks for this list. I will pass it on to my friends.

Pentium965

February 2nd, 2008
at 9:39am

Wow, Moral of video, get a firewall

Cozby401

February 2nd, 2008
at 10:55am

Wow tell it like it is! Word!

Cary Enoch Reinstein

February 2nd, 2008
at 3:35pm

You should also mention Sunbelt’s Counterspy. It’s CNET’s current top pick for anti-spyware. I used it to replace Spyware Doctor which found nothing. Counterspy immediately found and fixed two problems.

Technobabble

February 3rd, 2008
at 12:30am

Shopping Coupons and CodesOur Podcast Auto Show TipsGiveaway Gets Interrupted by a Wet DogTips for Better PowerPoint PresentationsHow to Start a WebsiteHow to Deal with TaxesThe Bad AntiSpyware ListHow to Choose the Best AirlineHow to Keep From Being StinkyHow to Get Along in an Online ForumMMORPG EtiquetteHow to Deal with Media and MP3 Players while DrivingHow to get Homework DoneGiveaway Night

Web Log de Mini Floppy

February 3rd, 2008
at 3:02pm

de los populares Internet Explorer, Firefox y Opera, menciona la versión para PC de Apple Safari (Wikipedia tiene información actualizada sobre el Safari) y Flock que parece permitir estar conectado a los servicios de redes sociales todo el tiempo.Como reconocer el anti-spyware: Interesantes comentarios sobre el spyware, nos enseña como los programas de spyware ahora se disfrazan de anti spyware. Nos dirige a la página de “Guerrero del Spyware” (al día de hoy la actualización es del 4 de mayo del 2007). Esta contiene una

Mp5Speed

February 5th, 2008
at 7:20am

so since u named pretty much anything can anyone name a good one for me?

Kdees

February 5th, 2008
at 2:05pm

how abt spybot? aint so great bt doing me well so far esp tea timer tool

Kevinnunez

February 18th, 2008
at 1:06am

What about VirusProtectPro?

Merijn.org | Antivirus Software

February 23rd, 2008
at 2:45am

[...] There are so whatever choices discover there for Anti-Spyware programs. The difficulty is? do you actualise how whatever of them are scams There is a Brobdingnagian itemize of Rogue … Read More… [...]

boxingartist

February 27th, 2008
at 10:57pm

superantispyware is good check it out

ed32xd

March 4th, 2008
at 9:21am

heres a new one xpantivirus2008 just got it’s ad today visiting a website(Message box)

photographermatt

March 7th, 2008
at 12:49pm

Thanks for the list. thats gonna save many people money. Because people think oh free download of so and so and next thing they know they get more viruses

thecmcolombian

March 16th, 2008
at 12:55am

there is so many more than 600 lol
add noadwaredang i have spyware terminator
holy

tigerzic

April 8th, 2008
at 9:14am

how do you delete them

ILLUMANOV

April 10th, 2008
at 7:04am

AVORAX is a good free on going project

utiuburself

April 10th, 2008
at 5:16pm

ok stop! which 1 is good?

KeySerialsMan

April 12th, 2008
at 5:57pm

Im infected witth AntiVirus GOld right now :(

liamere700

April 14th, 2008
at 5:55am

alot of add/ so n so lmao

liamere700

April 14th, 2008
at 5:57am

just us a symantec product (norton) or AVG or spybot S&D the best 3 out

alllordgp

April 22nd, 2008
at 11:28am

he forgot the worst one yet.
It was called viras heat~~~
It made you pay for there software or they never deleted it.
But I got spybot search and destroy.
No more viras heat(:
every one get spy bot search and destroy

AidanFrench1

April 23rd, 2008
at 9:33am

whoa :O maybe a good idea to get a mac..

caisback18

April 23rd, 2008
at 12:41pm

you forgot the worst one.. Vista.. nooooooooo….

coolunusual

April 25th, 2008
at 7:57am

u forgot antispywaremater lvl sever!!!!!!!!!

skylinefan101

May 7th, 2008
at 8:52am

best way to keep away from these programs
1. have a macafee site advisor and view the sites details, and look at the comments
2. The way the are named. spy ware terminator, spy assassin, spy hitman wtf?
3. use a yahoo anti spyware its free it found and removed 6 trojins and a spyware and a rouge virus protect from my computers.

Sasuk3xxx

May 9th, 2008
at 4:08pm

wow thats sureeeeee a lot

kedstar99

May 16th, 2008
at 6:41am

The reason why they haven’t added virus heat was because it was made on feb 2008, this vid was made before spy heat was made.

kedstar99

May 16th, 2008
at 6:41am

The reason why they haven’t added virus heat was because it was made on feb 2008, this vid was made before spy heat was made.

thekingdor

May 19th, 2008
at 5:45am

lol “froggy-scan”

painsylvio

May 25th, 2008
at 6:24pm

dude can you help me out please, how do i come about geting the yahoo antispyware???

noobstuntguy

June 2nd, 2008
at 3:17am

dont download AntiSpywareMaster it sucks it includes many viruses and trojans

heartborne

June 2nd, 2008
at 4:50am

“It seems I’m not the only spy!”

What Do You Think?