My idiot cousin downloaded kaaza on my computer. I deleted it, but I read a post here somewhere about spyware. What is that and how do I get rid of it?
Go immediately to http://www.lavasoftusa.com and download Ad-Aware, and then RUN IT!
Spyware is stuff that, well... spies on you. It reports on your web browsing and such to a third site (usually run by marketers). It also can intercept and redirect web searches to those sites that paid the spyware manufacturer.
I believe that KaZaa includes Gator as its spyware.
Also, explain computer etiquette to your idiot cousin. Namely, YOU DON'T F**K WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S COMPUTER!!!!! YOU DON'T INSTALL ANYTHING ON SOMEONE ELSE'S COMPUTER WITHOUT ASKING!!!!
Use a large stick if you need to.
Oh believe me. I was really really angry with him. He's not going anywhere near my computer again.
Oh and thanks for the info
Rene,
Clear your history. I don't you situation but if Aunt Mable comes and needs to use your computer to check on her knitting circle, she can see all the sites "you" visited very easily. If your idiot cousin went to www.superpornoyoudonotwantto explaintoAuntMablewasnotyouvisitingit.com you may be in the family gossip next Thaksgiving (or Canadian equivalent).
Kazaa also uses Cydoor as part of the spyware.
If you're wanting a P2P program like that, go with Kazaa Lite. It's basically Kazaa without the spyware.
Where does one get Kazaa Lite. (All the Mp3's but less filling). Before anyone answers better ask ScottN or Electron if telling me puts Phil at risk of violating DMCA.
Oh, that last sentence may seem silly, but it is not a joke.
Google is your friend.
KazaaLite.com or Kazaalite.tk
Blue Berry, I do that often.
What is Cydoor?
(Hmm...I wonder what I should wear at my cousin's funeral.)
It's another piece of spyware. If Ad-Aware wants to get rid of it, let it do so.
www.kazaalite.com
I downloaded Kazaa a while back, got some music... and then Ad-Aware removed it. Thankfully, my files were still intact.
I downloaded Kazaalite, and it's the exact same as Kazaa (except no ads or spyware).
I love it. 5.9GB of my hard drive and climbing...
Okay. I have another question now :
I just got a ad pop-up window. But it was different from others : I didn't open any webpages at the time. I wasn't doing anything except read messages on another message board.
And it stayed on top of everything until I cliked on "okay" AND the title on the top of the add was "Messenger Service".
Anyone know how this happens?
Do you have KaZaa installed? It also installs Gator, which generates pop-up ads even when websites don't have them. Gator is very nasty spyware.
I highly recommend you go to http://www.lavasoftusa.com and download Ad-Aware.
I already did that before, remember?
Ad-aware detects nothing this time.
Hmm...apparently this is a part of Windows :
Doing a search with yahoo.com lead to this. Note the first resuts. Unfortunately, you'd have to pay to get the article, but the part shown reads, "...A function within Windows called the Windows Messenger Service can be used by system administrators to send custom messages to computers connected to a network.... "
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=%22Messenger+Service%22&hc=1&hs=1
Not necessarily. Some pop-up ads look like messenger windows as well. Does the other board that you were reading have ads?
Rene, you're probably running XP or 2000. Try to go to the System Management, "Services" section and look for the Windows Messaging Service (or something like this.). There you can stop and disable it forever - if you don't need it elsewhere.
The WMS has been used for spam alot during the last few weeks. Those @$%& send their #¾µß to whole IP ranges.
Where is that system management thing?
Nevermind. I found the way to shut off the messenger thing.
Funny thing is I had to dig around before I found it.
Something I find ironic. I was trying to help someone to get Kazaa lite only to find out that the Kazaa lite site blocks you if you block it's popups.
Make sure to update your signature file from Ad-Aware often. I ran it, cleared a few. Then remembered to check for an update (I never let anything access the internet automatically), ran it again, and it found 7 more evil components.