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Some Users May Like Adware&#63

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HardOCP News

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New data released by Microsoft shows that not all malicious software is removed by users when detected during a security scan. Those figures are somewhat disturbing aren’t they? It makes you wonder why people wouldn’t remove all spyware / adware after its found.

Those programs can include advertising software and other dodgy security programs that claim a computer is in poor health, among others. But Microsoft's data has a surprise: Of 129.5 million potentially unwanted programs detected by the MSRT, only 71.7 million were removed by users.
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Sounds like too many people are just too stupid/ignorant/lazy to get rid of the stuff. Sad :rolleyes:
 
It's ignorance. They target people who believe the ads and decide to download these programs that claim they will fix your computer. Alot of people believe that they just got a deal on free software.

I've seen it a hundred times while fixing people's computers. They have software on there that they thought was good and don't realize that it was actually harming their computer. It is also hard to explain to these people that the software is malicious because they don't understand why.

It sucks that people are so naive to this crap.
 
DeadlyAura said:
It's ignorance. They target people who believe the ads and decide to download these programs that claim they will fix your computer. Alot of people believe that they just got a deal on free software.

I've seen it a hundred times while fixing people's computers. They have software on there that they thought was good and don't realize that it was actually harming their computer. It is also hard to explain to these people that the software is malicious because they don't understand why.

It sucks that people are so naive to this crap.
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+1

The first year I started working as a tech in my town, 90% of my work was dealing with virus/spyware/adware issues. It's amazing, computer users immediately learn how to download music and software illegally, find any kind porn they want, quickly discover myspace but they are totally clueless about virus/spyware/adware and software to protect themselves and it's the crap they learn to do first that puts them at risk in the first place.
 
Perhaps they didn't get rid of them because they couldn't figure out how. Not everyone can go through a registry without screwing shit up.

Case in point, my gf sister got a laptop and it was running retardedly slow, she went out bought some spyware removal stuff, thought it got rid of everything. I come in and the thing had so much garbage I spent about 4 hours getting rid of it all.
 
firefox, Spybot, and Clamwin can make a huge difference.

Inlaws know nothing about computers and about 6 months ago I removed a ton of crap from both their computers and hooked them up with the firewinbot and went over there last weekend and both computers are clean as ..... well clean as they were when I left.
 
The most common one that I get is Comet Cursor. People want to keep those custom cursor things and don't care if the spyware scanner freaks out on it.
 
"If it works, then I'm not going to try fixing my computer myself or else risk breaking things further. Even if it works badly and full of malware."

I'm sure that's how a lot of people think.
 
Hell, Spybot came with two items on the exception list. It's pretty safe to say that the malware not removed wasn't kept on purpose.
 
Has anyone actually seen a report from MSRT? I have never so much as seen a popup from it reporting anything was found. I have WSUS auto approve it for install but wasn't aware it was suppose to be giving a report. I just assumed it ran in the background that one time and removed anything it found by itself.
 
tazzmissionx said:
+1

The first year I started working as a tech in my town, 90% of my work was dealing with virus/spyware/adware issues. It's amazing, computer users immediately learn how to download music and software illegally, find any kind porn they want, quickly discover myspace but they are totally clueless about virus/spyware/adware and software to protect themselves and it's the crap they learn to do first that puts them at risk in the first place.
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+2
I work in a professional environment, and things arnt too bad there...
much more than 90% of the 'problems' that family, friends and co-workers approach me with is malware related.

Its really quite sad and is starting to get old/annoying.
 
I can't tell you the number of times I have removed the stupid coupon bar from my mothers machine...
 
The rest that don't remove the propgrams either do not know what it is so they leave it or they think the scan is wrong because their...."games" etc..can't be spyware....
 
I think that the MS is flagging programs that are not spyware as spyware. I have two cases of this, one is the MMO game Vanguard, according to Windows Defender it is spyware, the second is the ASUS overclocking utility that comes with ASUS MB's, again Defender calls it bad.

I am sure it also has to do with stupid users, basic computer tech should be part of primary education, we all use computers why not teach people a little about them? We have to learn stuff like math and sciences when most of the population do not actually use the information(granted not everyone, I use calculus damn near every day but then again not everyone is going to be an engineer).
 
the most common i see is that viewpoint media player. gosh i hate that thing
 
I friggin love spyware, adaware, and viruses!! people who hates them need to shutup!!:eek::eek:


lol just kidding! Yea some can't be removed by some programs kind of weird article, kyle please don't ban me hehe
 
I'll say nothing... this stuff provides job security for many ameircans :D notably many workers on this forum :D

Give me your funky browser toolbars, psudo-spyware detectors, windows sound themes, cursor themes, java games, free surveys, desktop themes, e-mail postcard programs with kittens in them, media players with built-in ads, animated windows toolbars with naked dancing women, and free e-mail and document templates with animal pictures that look like you've been looking at them after taking a hit of PCP!!

wooo
 
I agree that those people who do not choose to remove it, leave it there because they've fallen for the adware tactics hook, line, and sinker. "What? Why would I want to remove BonziBuddy? It's good; I put it here on purpose!" :rolleyes:
 
I was just going to mention Bonzi. That shit annoys me. My mother actually calls me to see if she can download games she finds now. I can't save the sister. :(
 
The Red said:
I'll say nothing... this stuff provides job security for many ameircans :D notably many workers on this forum :D

Give me your funky browser toolbars, psudo-spyware detectors, windows sound themes, cursor themes, java games, free surveys, desktop themes, e-mail postcard programs with kittens in them, media players with built-in ads, animated windows toolbars with naked dancing women, and free e-mail and document templates with animal pictures that look like you've been looking at them after taking a hit of PCP!!

wooo
Click to expand...

You got that right! Even though it's what I get paid to do... it irritates me that stuff such as this happens. And for some reason, it's always the people with the crummiest computers with the WORST infections... banging my head against the wall would be less painful!
 
You can't expect the average joe to know about adware and stuff. To most people computers are still very new and strange. This will change when more people have grown up with having PC's. Of course there will be something new instead that our generation won't understand, just as the people who we now laugh at because the know nothing about computers laughed at their parents for knowing nothing about turntables or later VCR's.
 
I haven't seen any ads for Bonzo Buddy or Gator lately, although I am sure they still pop up from time to time. The one I see the most of is Zwinky, so cute and appealing, how coould anyone not resist?

I think the computer illiteracy goes all the way from noobies to legislators. I think when hearing complaints of spam, they consider the purchase of a spam filter sufficient for their personal assistant. I wonder how much the legislators are in the pocket of bulk emailers or whether legislators are just unaware.
 
I had downloaded a real nasty one a few times through pron. Only way I could get rid of it was a reformat. What this bugger did was take away my ability to restore my PC using system restore. Then it would create system check points with the friken thing on my PC. Nothing I could do to get rid of this. Spybot couldn't nor could adaware. This thing was so bad even Norton couldn't handle it.
 
If you use Norton your as bad as those people who happily click on those ads, get a real scanner like NOD32.

Also it seems like the kids are the ones who get the most viruses and not older people with the music sharing, IM, and myspace.
 
IceDigger said:
If you use Norton your as bad as those people who happily click on those ads, get a real scanner like NOD32.

Also it seems like the kids are the ones who get the most viruses and not older people with the music sharing, IM, and myspace.
Click to expand...

I used Norton once and didn't like it. I personally use Trend Micro 2008and love it!
 
There are two main issues I've encountered while doing client repairs, maintenance and/or upgrades (which are going to mirror what's already been said): 1). they don't want to remove the ad/spyware because it will render a "free" download useless (the biggest offenders I've discovered aren't Bonzi or Comet Cursor but rather WildTangent games) or 2). they don't know how to uninstall the program due to a tricky and often cumbersome uninstall process.

The issue with #1 is especially prevalent with family computers where parents give administrative rights to their kids because "they know this stuff better than we do." What ends up happing is the parent is warned about a potentially malicious program or service and when they ask their kids, they are told that it's a necessary evil for their <<insert popular adware download here>>.

Issue #2 isn't so much being lazy as it is getting frustrated. Many spyware uninstalls involve a multi-tiered process, which for the average user can be daunting. The biggest offenders in my opinion are those uninstall processes which warn the user that uninstalling could damage the functionality of a "program or programs" on their computer (being vague to ensure the users panic). They then cancel the process and leave the program as is.

Either way, I do agree that it's unfortunately ignorance. That's why on every new client install, I instruct the purchaser of the system on the importance of administrative management and maintenance. Enabling the user to maintain and limit access to critical areas of their system not only saves the user headaches but also saves me the stress of long tech support calls and/or visits. Counter-intuitive to a business model, I know, but I'm of the firm belief that we can all benefit from an educated and empowered individual.

- James
 
James54321 said:
There are two main issues I've encountered while doing client repairs, maintenance and/or upgrades (which are going to mirror what's already been said): 1). they don't want to remove the ad/spyware because it will render a "free" download useless (the biggest offenders I've discovered aren't Bonzi or Comet Cursor but rather WildTangent games) or 2). they don't know how to uninstall the program due to a tricky and often cumbersome uninstall process.

The issue with #1 is especially prevalent with family computers where parents give administrative rights to their kids because "they know this stuff better than we do." What ends up happing is the parent is warned about a potentially malicious program or service and when they ask their kids, they are told that it's a necessary evil for their <<insert popular adware download here>>.

Issue #2 isn't so much being lazy as it is getting frustrated. Many spyware uninstalls involve a multi-tiered process, which for the average user can be daunting. The biggest offenders in my opinion are those uninstall processes which warn the user that uninstalling could damage the functionality of a "program or programs" on their computer (being vague to ensure the users panic). They then cancel the process and leave the program as is.

Either way, I do agree that it's unfortunately ignorance. That's why on every new client install, I instruct the purchaser of the system on the importance of administrative management and maintenance. Enabling the user to maintain and limit access to critical areas of their system not only saves the user headaches but also saves me the stress of long tech support calls and/or visits. Counter-intuitive to a business model, I know, but I'm of the firm belief that we can all benefit from an educated and empowered individual.

- James
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I'm probally going to be linched for even saying this but I found that restoring your PC to an earler time gets rid of most adware and spyware. I know this isn't the best way to rid your PC of stuff but it does in fact work....
 
You know.. People install Norton or the like and expect it to stop adware.. It simply does not..
Even the latest AV software still sucks ass on Adware removal..

If Adaware or Spybot built a Package with AV and sold it, or Norton would just buy up one of those companies and agressivly use their tech.. it would be a godsend.
 
People, we are talking about Microsoft's tool here. It gives false positives on a lot of legitimate software, and it's this legitimate software that is obviously skewing the numbers. I've had false positives on motherboard tools (temperature monitors etc.) right off the CD, video drivers, and so on. Anything it's not familiar with gives a false positive. Telling the software it's OK, is telling it to ignore it. The statisticians at Microsoft obviously do not take this into account simply because, under Microsoft's standard policy, their software can do no wrong. Besides, when you have an interest in Doubleclick, you've got to say something to legitimize them.
 
How is Microshaft getting this data? I never agreed to giving them personal information about my computer.
 
It's simple.

Microsoft's weak-ass tools don't have the balls to call the malware out. They are too worried about pissing off a corporate client in some way. And MS doesn't treat Adware with any sort of urgency.

IMHO, you can only trust independent utility companies like SuperAntiSpyware, PC Tools, etc...
 
Norton is completely useless for Adware/Spyware. What little it does find, it can never figure out how to remove.



TheBluePill said:
You know.. People install Norton or the like and expect it to stop adware.. It simply does not..
Even the latest AV software still sucks ass on Adware removal..

If Adaware or Spybot built a Package with AV and sold it, or Norton would just buy up one of those companies and agressivly use their tech.. it would be a godsend.
Click to expand...
 
LMAO, WTF is with old people and having to know the exact fucking temperature any given second of the day? I swear, if I have to remove another weather scan desktop program I'm gonna get my mosin nagant and start shooting their boxen. Open the window FFS!! Ughh I could go on. But, for the sake of my sanity, I desist.
 
I do like all the business this stuff brings in though.

Almost $2k in profit a week just from virus/spyware crap :D

Keep up the good work regular users.
 
The Red said:
I'll say nothing... this stuff provides job security for many ameircans :D notably many workers on this forum :D

Give me your funky browser toolbars, psudo-spyware detectors, windows sound themes, cursor themes, java games, free surveys, desktop themes, e-mail postcard programs with kittens in them, media players with built-in ads, animated windows toolbars with naked dancing women, and free e-mail and document templates with animal pictures that look like you've been looking at them after taking a hit of PCP!!

wooo
Click to expand...



Agreed.Half of the hours I logged at work last year was getting rid of this stuff off of clients computers,again,and again,and again.Many times it was the same folks bringing in thier comps to get it done all over again.Some never learn,but have the bucks to get small comp shops to do it for them. :D
 
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