how do I make sure I don't have spyware on my computer?

I read the other day that this hacking tool called spyeye that's basically the holy grail of all hacking tools are now being sold at dirt cheap prices compared to the amount it was selling before. This means more computers will be infected in the coming months, right? Even legit websites could be bugged. I don't even know what I'm talking about, I'm just transcribing.

Anyhow, is MSE good enough to protect my pc against these threats?

 

All antivirus software is updated as new threats are found. This means it is not a perfect situation. I use MSE and Malwarebytes. This does not mean that someone will not get through with spyware or viruses. I recommend you do some reading in the Security and Antivirus Software section of this forum.

 

malware doesn't float through the air waiting to get sucked into computers.

Most (all??) malware requires a clueless user to do something that pulls the malware into a machine.

Clueless user actions includes things like using downlevel web browsers, habitually surfing dodgy web sites, downloading programs from dodgy web sites, skipping OS updates, shutting down the built-in windows OS protections, or opening email from people you really don't know.

Educate yourself.

 

No antivirus that uses purely heuristics and blacklisting can provide 100% security and the closer you get the more false positives you see.

If you want real security you need to move to linux. Otherwise I suggest you use a secure browser (That means Chrome or IE9, not Firefox, Opera, or IE7-) and keep everything up to date.

Check for windows updates often, see if you can find our common programs on ninite.com and download the installer - you can simply rerun the installer to check those programs for updates.

 

Scan with Malwarebytes anti-malware on a regular basis, Glary Utilities, and CCleaner find that crap and ditch it.

 

one way that works great is Eset's online scanner/remover.

go to eset.com and lok for the online scanner button. install and run it. unlike every other online scanner this one does not force you to buy it before it will remove something it finds but will happily clean your system anyways, yes they offer to sell you NOD 32/ security suite but its not mandadory.

as for permanant security I prefer MSE or NOD myself.

agreed 100%

 

Use SuperAntiSpyware , it's the best, and it's free.

Why is it the best? Read here and you will know SUPERAntiSpyware Review - Is SUPERAntiSpyware a Scam? Shocking Review!

 

Lol no. 98% of malware is distributed through EXPLOITS. That means that user interaction is not what causes it. Socially engineered malware makes up an incredibly tiny portition of overall malware.

Source: http://static.googleusercontent.com...ogle.com/en/us/archive/papers/rajab-2011a.pdf

And in fact worms are "floating through the air" (networks) waiting to find a computer to "suck them up."

 

Run linux.

 

nah run DOS variants, ive seen spyware for OSX, Linux and AIX.

 

If you want security it's best to use something like Linux, which allows for security software to be compiled straight into the kernel allowing for a higher level of protection.

Unfortunately you have to grow a beard and deal with linux.

 

I run a customized ubuntu live distro with a secure thumb drive (write protect switch), with firefox, noscript and ad block plus. If I ever did get infected I need only reboot since everything is loaded into RAM (I have no hdd installed in this machine). For my web browsing/email/video needs, it's all *I* need (not saying at all that that solution would meet others needs).

 

OK, that IS nice and secure, Hubby does the same thing with a USB drive and a CD

 

auto-run (by whatever name you want to call them) exploits are few and far between these days on properly patched systems.

I'm not talking about social engineering. just individual users doing dumb things.

 

Do a clean install.

 

Few and far between? Is that what you call 98%?

Another report by (I believe Sophos or Semantic, I can't remember) mentioned that 80% of sites distributing malware were also legitimate sites that had simply been hacked.

EDIT: I see "properly patched" now. That's a fair point. The majority of exploits that are taken advantage of are old.

 

Once someone gets a shell up on a website, they are virtually undetectable and the site is pretty much at the mercy of the hacker. That's why security is paramount, keeping systems up-to-date and patched, and using common sense when coding.

 

Visit a spyware doctor. He/She will make sure there is no spyware crawling around in your computer.