Breaking the bond with Internet Explorer - advice requested

[seaglass]

I am having multiple problems with my laptop since installing MSN, starting with living in pop-up hell.

As I started trying to figure this out and clean up I discovered that I'm in a worse situation than I thought with all kinds of spyware, adware, malware etc. that won't go away.

I have since uninstalled MSN, downloaded and used Spybot S&D, Winpatrol and Ad-Aware but still have problems with DSO Exploit and People on Page. I am blaming this all on IE - fairly or not.

So, am I understanding correctly that if I switch to Mozilla and continue to use the anti-spy/ad programs I can clean up this stuff once and for all?

Should I just remove these things manually instead - by editing registry files, etc?

Any drawbacks to Mozilla or recommendations for other browsers?

[lil-petunia]

1. Piece o' cake

Sell your damned windoze machine. Buy a Mac with OSX panther, especially the 17 inch lap top - it SINGS with speed and ease of use. it NEVER crashes, even when i am forced to use MS software or even run virtual PC on it.

Plus, Safari is the best, hands down, browser I've ever played with. It resides perfectly with OSX, and is fast, smooth, safe, nifty.

[seaglass]

4. I was hoping for a less radical solution, I love my laptop.

I might keep this in mind for my next purchase though.

[Deja Q]

15. Install Linux

Costs $1000 less for a decent distribution (SuSE is now supported by some big names in America and is very popular in Europe) and is similar to the FreeBSD OS that Apple borrowed to make OS X with.

[phantom power]

2. I've been using Mozilla for browser and email

and it's been working well for me.

I can't comment on the spyware issue. I'm not sure if Mozilla itself provides any immunity from that or not.

[seaglass]

6. Thanks. If I switch to Mozilla I will probably want to do

it on my PC too. I need to check into it more before the switch though.

[ithacan]

3. I use Opera

and have had absolutely no problems. You can set it to delete all cookies on exit, to block popups or to have them popup in the background, to turn cookies on and off with one simple click.

And it's free (you get a small ad at the top that you can remove by buying the version, I think for about $30 or so). http://www.opera.com

I try to NEVER use IE because it really sucks...

I've also heard very good things about Mozilla, though not as familiar with it.

[seaglass]

7. Thanks, I've heard of Opera, not very familiar with it

though. I'll check it out.

[Nomad559]

14. OPERA Browser Address Bar Spoofing Vulnerability

http://secunia.com/advisories/11532/

[lcooksey]

18. Fixed in current version

As noted in the security advisory URL you posted, this problem is fixed in v7.50.

[reprehensor]

5. The latest version of netscape is OK.

It's a wee bit slower than Explorer, but you have EZ to set toggles to switch off POP-ups.

[seaglass]

8. Netscape was my first browser and I really liked it, I think

the only reason I switched to IE was because at the time it was easier to upload files. I'll have to check it out.

[LSdemocrat]

9. IE may not be entirely to blame for your spyware issues

File sharing programs (such as Kazaa), as well as other shareware software, commonly also install spyware. So I would also check out any programs you may have downloaded before you noticed problems.

[seaglass]

23. I don't normally download programs but my kids have in

the past - both Kazaa lite and Ares. I've uninstalled and deleted files where I can but I know some of them hide out.

I'm not really blaming it on IE - that's why I said it was unfair, but I did notice all of these problems after I installed MSN, so I'm po'd at Microsoft. Plus I have heard repeatedly that Miscrosoft has security holes in IE and though I do keep up with their patches, if there is a better browser that is more secure then why not switch.

[jpgray]

10. Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird are the best I've seen (nt)

[Snoggera]

19. I've used them all at one time or another

and the two you mentioned are by far the best.

Fast, and easy to configure to your liking. Don't want cookies? Don't allow them. If you need cookies for a particular site (DU), type in the url as an exception. Don't want pop-ups? Check a box, and you'll never see another one. If you need a window to pop up, enter that page as an exception.

There is nothing so simple as using Firefox. Why use Opera and have to see a banner ad? Opera used to periodically crash on me as well, while Firefox never has.

Use Firefox for a browser. Set it up to keep all the ugly crap off your screen.

Also, use Ad-aware, spybot and spywareblaster.

You will feel as though you and your machine have just taken a nice shower.

enjoy.

Also, every time I use IE, I immediately run Ad-aware and spybot, and wonder of wonders, they always find crap thrown on my computer. There is absolutely no reason to use IE unless you prefer a bloated, slow-moving browser that allows every possible problem to occur on your personal computer. The only reason I can see that people use IE is familiarity. It's a total piece of garbage.

[Doctor Smith]

11. Go with Mozilla

[ET Awful]

12. If the spyware/malware is already there. . . .

switching browsers won't make it go away.

What's causing it to keep coming back is DLL files that were modified by the spyware and hidden registry entries.

Most likely what you are seeing is a variant of "cool web search" which WILL keep installing itself and is a major bitch to remove.

Do a Google search for CWShredder.exe and try that. When you find it, the page will most likely have some other suggestions on how to get rid of the infestation.

Also, make sure your security updates are all installed and remove Microsofts Java Virtual Machine (instructions can be found at http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/howto-21.html )

Then go to Sun's website and isntall their java engine instead (most spyware currently out there is exploiting a hole in MS Java which MS is no longer updating because they no longer supply Java due to the court proceedings, etc.).

[Nomad559]

13. Spyware

Spyware of this type Is NOT Installed because of Internet Explorer, It's from you downloading It Into your system.

[wtmusic]

16. Netscape 7.1 with tabbed browsing rocks

many great features.

[trotsky]

17. Another vote for Mozilla

I've been using it for a few years now. There are a few sites that only display correctly with IE, so you'll still need to run it now and then, but Mozilla should be great for 99.9% of your browsing.

While I wouldn't ever want to declare a browser immune to spyware/adware, I haven't ever gotten "infected" with any of that while using Mozilla.

[Nomad559]

20. It's not the browser

And I and millions of other users have never gotten "infected" with any of this spyware crap with Internet Explorer.

Why Is that?

We Don't download spyware.

[billbuckhead]

21. Another vote for Firefox

It's just excellent far better than IE or Netscape.

[trotsky]

22. Hey, it's not that easy for everyone.

My IE never got spyware either. But for your average user, it's very hard to tell the difference between an innocuous program that lets you interface with a website better and an adware hijacker. IE makes it easy to surf, but it also makes it easy to download less-than-friendly stuff.

[Nomad559]

24. I.E. makes it easy to download less-than-friendly stuff

How does Internet Explorer make It easier to download "less-than-friendly stuff" than any other browser?

It's the users choice to download any innocuous program.

[JCMach1]

25. or keep IE and get a google toolbar

it kills popups dead...

Even with mozilla, you will still need to run adaware every once and awhile...