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Go.com & Spyware, worm or virus?

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by dicklaw

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My computer slowed to a crawl and failed to connect to the internet. The app "Spysweeper" reported (and cleared) a problem with "go.com". Google told me about "spyware" being associated with go.com - subsequent searching found and removed it. I then restarted my dls converter and router, everything now seems normal.
(A) Question, Why didn't Norton Pro stop this infection? I do not want to pay Symantic $30 to help them and there seems to be no other way to notify them! They did not answer my email (because it is about a virus?).
(B) How much is known about this problem? I had not previously never heard of it.
mailto:DickLaw@juno.com

4 replies

by generalist

Adware and Spyware are items that you 'voluntarily' add to your system so technically they don't qualify as viruses or worms.

Of course, you may not know that said things are being added when you use the program or the web site. Some of the EULAs do a very good job of hiding their 'piggybacked' programs in the legalese.

And in some instances you may actually want what gets added. For example, some adware/spyware cleanup programs consider Windows Media Player to be adware/spyware.

by dicklaw

The comment by Generalist is a partial answer. Further research regarding Spyware seems to indicate it is a sometimes cookie. As such, it is delivered through a "voluntary" connection to something which may or not be intentional. Several references report it first appeared in December 2003. In view of all this, seems the whole subject is subject to further publicity.
*How about it "TechNet" and others?

by generalist

The Spyware and Adware problem has been around for several years. For example, SpyBot Search and Destroy, a removal tool, has a copyright of 2000 to 2003. The last definition update from the group is December 2003.

by supern0t

The reason spyware/malware is not detected by Av software is that although I consider it very annoying, it is installed proactivly by the user. The user may not know it ... but if they read the fine print they would. One of many good sources info on the subject is http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/

I also reccomend two programs to help combat the problem. SPYBOY search & destroy and AD-AWARE. Use both because one may miss something the other catches.

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