CapMac Forums

[Kathleen]

Ad-aware
Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility for the pc that scans memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware and scumware components and lets you remove them safely. It is updated frequently.

Is there an equivalent for the Mac?

[Mark Millard]

Spyware is a relatively new security issue for the Mac, thank goodness.

Some people like Aladdin Systems' "Spring Cleaning"
http://www.aladdinsys.com/springcleaning/ , but I'm not sure how effective it is.

General info on spyware is available at:
http://www.macintouch.com/spyware.html

Anyone else have advice?



--

[Mike Whitney]

What about ad-blockers for your browsers?

I'm using AdSubtract on my Windows machine, but the company says they're not going to port to the Mac (hmph!).
_________________
Mike

[Glenn Chase]

I am using Chimera, which is an "aquafied" version of the Mozilla browser. One of its greatest features is the ability to block popup windows which you have not requested to open. Chimera is very fast in Mac OS X, and the only incompatibility I have come across is that it sometimes doesn't recognize the javascripts which a few sites use for navigation.

Another feature I love is Chimera's "tabbed browsing" which lets you open a new site view in a tabbed window - this lets you switch back and forth among the sites you are browsing by using tabs at the top to switch the content of your window. Once you've done it you'll wonder how you ever got along without it!

If you want to try it out you can download it from VersionTracker:
http://www.versiontracker.com/moreinfo.fcgi?id=14326&db=mac

Glenn

[Glenn Chase]

As Mark said earlier, "spyware" really has not been an issue for Mac users to date. I have read of a few instances where people have noticed unexpected network activity from their Mac and traced it to a commercial application "phoning home" to a remote server to verify that it was not activated with a pirated serial number.

That's not to say that the sort of trojan horses and viruses which have been written for Windows machines can't be made to affect the Mac, but one "benefit" of having less than ten percent of the market is that authors of those types of applications are far more likely to spend their efforts targeting Windows machines.

A Microsoft exec advised last week that it is impossible to fix all of the security vulnerabilities in any version of Windows before XP. I think the best defense for a Mac or Windows user connected to the internet via broadband is a good firewall (preferably hardware so your computer doesn't have to battle all of the incoming port scans) that prevents both incoming and outgoing unauthorized network traffic.

A useful Mac related security site is http://www.securemac.com.

Glenn

[Glenn Chase]

securemac.com has a new program called MacScan which claims to locate spyware installed on a Mac. It runs in both Mac OS 9 and X. You can find more info and download it here: http://macscan.securemac.com/

From their Read Me:

Programs currently detected by MacScan:
TakeDown Suite
TextTrap
SuperSave
Peeping Tom
Mac Life Insurance
Invisible Oasis
Last Resort
KeyStroke
Keystroke Recorder
TypeSaver
TypeRecorder
Monitorer X

[Mike Whitney]

On my PC, there's spyware every darn time I scanned it. My Mac...nothing.

It's GOOD to be a Mac owner!
_________________
Mike

[OhSerena]