New Tool Gives the Scoop on Snoops

PCWorld ^ | March 01, 2005 | Andrew Brandt

[holymoly]

RootkitRevealer can detect the presence of several common rootkits for Windows computers running NT, 2000, or XP -- but not 95, 98, or Windows Me.

Bummer.

[RadioAstronomer]

bttt for later

[martin_fierro]

FREE PC PROTECTION: (Not an exhaustive list. Your results may vary. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. No wagering, please. Whattayawantfernuthin'.) (Thanks, but "Buy a Mac" doesn't qualify as "FREE PC protection")

Free Alternative browsers: Mozilla FireFox Opera Free Antiviral protection: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition Free Firewalls: ZoneAlarm Sygate Personal Firewall (thanx KoRn) Test your firewall from without with: ShieldsUP! DSL Reports Port Scan Test your firewall from within with LeakTest Free General Anti-Malware tools: Prevx Intrusion Detection (thanx TomGuy) WinPatrol (thanx TomGuy) Free Popup ad killers: Bayden Systems Popup Popper: Blocks popup ads well in MSIE Shoot the Messenger: Close that friggin' Messenger in Windows XP Free Spyware removers: Spybot S&D AdAware Free System Diagnostics: Everest Home Edition (thanx TomGuy) Free Windows Update: Windows Update LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Explore Linux as an alternative OS, without installing it on your hard drive, via a free bootable CD-ROM! Download Knoppix (or one of these other Linux distributions), burn the ISO file onto a CD-ROM, and reboot with the CD-ROM in its drive. If you later want to install Knoppix on your hard drive, here are some tips.

[MineralMan]

"The tool is still in its infancy, and may have bugs, so Russinovich recommends that, if you're not sure whether a file is associated with a rootkit, you should search the Web and/or Usenet to do some research before taking the drastic step of blowing away your operating system and data."

Say, there...could you let us know when this "tool" is ready to use, documented, and practical? Until then, it's essentially useless except to geeks. Until then, it's not really a tool for users, but for geeks. Sorry, but no thanks.

[newgeezer]

Interesting.

I'll be more interested when it's deemed ready for primetime.

[BigSkyFreeper]

This is too bad. My folks have Windows 98, and this would be perfect for them to use. They're always worried someone or something is doing bad things to their computer. I'm on my laptop with Windows XP, so there's no problem there. I've also got a desktop with Windows 98.

[pageonetoo]

http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/spotlight.html

[7mmMag@LeftCoast]

'noted' BUMP

[holymoly]

Just between you and me, if your parents are running Mozilla, Firefox or Opera (and don't install a lot of freeware/shareware - at least w.out reading the EULA) they don't have much to worry about.

If they're running MSIE, Spybot S&Ds' full time protection (TeaTimer, Immunize) is, IMO, a must.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'm aware of that. Problem is, Dad would love to change, Mom is resisting to change. Mom gets the final say in their household, and she drops the hammer if either my father or I are muckin' around on their computer.

[NoCmpromiz]

bump to me...

[alwaysontheright]

Tech Ping

[TomGuy]

Put down the mouse, back away slowly,

Outta my cold, dead fingers!!!!!!

[Junior]

Bump for later installation.

[pt17]

Bump for later.

[TomGuy]

Some others to add to your list:

Freeware

Secretmaker
http://www.secretmaker.com/

Delete Doctor (to try to get rid of a file that Explorer won't let you delete)
http://www.diskcleaners.com

[Jimbaugh]

Works great!

[martin_fierro]

Thanks -- I was looking for a good free anti-SPAM tool to recommend since Mailwasher went for-pay.

[HassanBenSobar]

bump

[OneLoyalAmerican]

bump