Keeping it clean- computer security

oldwiring

I have Avast AV, Zone Alarm (free). Spyware Blaster, Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot, Spyware Guard, Ewido (free) and A-squared (free) and do fairly regular scans.

ISTM that although I have been quite safe from real nasties, things like trackers, the same ones appeared time and time again. I wonder if I am doing something wrong in my clean up operations. How can I rid my self of the pests permanently, or do these programs just clean for the time being?

Rex_Mundi

There's nothing wrong with that list of security software.

I presume you are talking about tracking cookies. You pick these up from websites. If you are getting the same ones all the time, probably one of your regular sites uses it (Google uses one that has an expiry date of 38 yuears). They may keep a record of where you surf, but they aren't malicious by making changes to your computer.

You can change the way your browser deals with cookies.

IE............ Tools>Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced.

Firefox..........Tools>Options>Privacy>Cookies.

Thing is, If you use a site that sets a tracking cookie, it will download to your browser. I use CCleaner several times a day to clear out all temp files, history, and cookies.

albertross_2

Rex missed out the end bit..

IE............ Tools>Internet Options>Privacy>Advanced, block third part cookies should stop most getting on your PC in the first place.

Tracking cookies aren't particularly nasty, more nosey, a lot of antispyware software overstates their importance to make their software look like it's saving your life, malware is much nastier.

you might also want to add these to your arsenal.

https://europe.f-secure.com/blacklight/try.shtml

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/RootkitRevealer.html

oldwiring

Of the ones I have, other than AV and ZA, how do you rate them in orfer of effectiveness?