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Protection has to be layered
What was stated in the article does happen when someone only does part of the work in protecting their system. Cleaning out the spyware is fine, but you also have to prevent it from re-installing and get rid of any scumware installer programs, like Kazza, or you'll get stuck in a cycle.

Here are the 6 basic prevention steps I recommend beyond having the basic anti-virus/firewall software:

(1) Set your Restricted zone where anything beyond plain HTML won't work and boost your security to medium-high on all zones (if you can)

(2) Run IESPYAD (http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm ) to put the scumware sites in to your restricted zone where they won't be able to do any harm.

(3) Install a HOSTS file that will prevent your computer from even connecting to scumware sites. (one such file is available here: http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k )

(4) Use Javacool's SpywareBlaster to block loading of known scumware 'browser helpers'. (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html )

(5) Stay updated on all anti-virus, firewall, and anti-spyware software.

(6) Never, ever, install or run any executable, including scripts and document macros, you are not completely sure about. Using a 'Pro' level firewall program that prevents unknown programs from executing can be helpful here.

And, my bonus tip would be to use Mozilla Firefox if you plan to surf into 'uncharted waters'. While there are a handful of rogue XPI's out there, you're less likely to get hit with something nasty using it. The only hitch with using it is that some pages won't render 'right' with it because those pages don't follow W3C standards.
Posted by: jfrankcarr   Posted on: 04/09/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Another reason to move  MkIIISupra | 04/08/04
Strange ...  Ardian Daka | 04/08/04
bogus suggestion...  DarbyOhara | 04/08/04
Feelings vs facts  Sunny Jalolly | 04/08/04
you didn't read...  DarbyOhara | 04/09/04
tell me about Linux  valrock | 04/09/04
Trying Linux  gafisher@... | 04/10/04
Here are some things for you  MkIIISupra | 04/10/04
it's ashame....  DarbyOhara | 04/08/04
Make an image...  Confused by religion | 04/08/04
It really is a shame...  Mack DaNife | 04/09/04
Why your real machine?  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
Solution number one  kennethsf | 04/08/04
Even simplier ...  Ardian Daka | 04/08/04
Don't trust it  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
That's why ...  Ardian Daka | 04/08/04
Except  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
There's a solution to getting the stuff off permanently.  Anton Philidor | 04/08/04
Also...  NemesisNL | 04/08/04
Hiding threats on Windows boxes  bbaston | 04/08/04
Removing the partitions prior to reformating will solve  DragonBRockin | 04/09/04
Not So Easy  niolonra | 04/08/04
Easier than you think  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
Not so hard either  Mack DaNife | 04/09/04
Oh but it is so easy  toadlife | 04/09/04
Protection has to be layered  jfrankcarr | 04/09/04
So, what were the products?  wpope | 04/09/04
Techies, You Are Missing the Point  ldelpizzo@... | 04/09/04
Missing which point?  gafisher@... | 04/10/04
This story is eerily familiar  mreilly19 | 04/09/04
Your going about it all wrong  toadlife | 04/09/04

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