I would get something besides ZA. That thing is so pumped with spyware its not even funny, hence the fact it is free. I even upgraded to the ZA Plus (or whatever the paid option is called) and it too is full of spyware. If you're really concerned, go with NAV 2K3. Hands down the best firewall utility I've ever used. But if you're on dialup, I think others around here have the right idea about someone you know messing with you.
since when?? When i used it a year or so back, it had no spyware. Did they just add it recently, or are you just guessing?
I stopped using it 6 months ago b/c off all the spyware it introduced to my machine. (Yes I used Ad-Aware to test) Plus I noticed it slowed down my broadband connection considerably, for no real apparent reason. Since I switched to NAV, I've had no spyware problems and my d/l times have been back to normal. I usually don't trust anything that is "free."
I think that the spyware you got came from something else, noone has ever claimed that ZA introduced spyware into their systems.. this is from dslreports.. I also perused several industry security websites to see if there was any mention of ZA being spyware...none. I think you are attributing the spyware you found to the wrong program, there are companies that provide a freeware solution without it being adware/spyware supported.
If the guy is able to manipulate your comp like that, you might have Netbus or some other Trojan virus/proggie hidden in your hard drive. Happened to me before - dude would make my cd drives open & close & type me evil message in Notepad. I almost crapped myself the first time it happened. Guy finally told me that I had Netbus & he just went arround messing w/ people's infected computers as a warning to them...
test for leaksany opened ports) https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 www.grc.com is a good source for internet security.
Adaware and there are a couple of others out there. again, Google it.."spyware removal" should do the job. dont worry about spyware and ZA...imPo, he is mistaken in his assertions that ZA is spyware.
Is Adaware or Spy Sweep better, was reading reviews of adaware from people that d-loaded it and it looked like more negatives then goods, and someone said something about spy sweeper, know which one might be best?
Seems like most spyware utilities seem to be crashing win98, which is what i have, have been reading the reviews of 4 or 5 spyware things and people say it crashes win98, what do you suggest? try d-loading one and see what goes down?
To my knowledge, ZoneAlarm has never been known to be "spyware"... either you're thinking of something else or thinking ZoneAlarm introduced spyware that something else actually did. BTW, for whomever is interested, it's probably best to run multiple spyware removal utilities since each finds stuff the others may not. I tend to use Spybot Search & Destroy most of the time and sometimes Adaware. Heck, they're free, so why not?
