GamersHell download site and spyware

[Resisti]

I’m using Spybot (a spyware “search & destroy” tool) on my pc, and as soon as the Gamershell page opened a warning from Spybot popped out, too, stating that the page was trying to download on my computer the “Avenue A.Inc”, and this was a known threat. I obviously blocked the download of this stuff.

Avenue A. Inc” for what I know is trying to place a tracking cookie, on your system.

Matrix is paying for GamersHell’s bandwidth I think, and what happened it doesn’t look so fair, from GamersHell to do; thought you all wanted to know and pay attention.

[Toivo]

Uhm don't trust all sort of spyware and virus detectors too much. They tend to count as malicious files systemfiles, files of certain programs (even other antivirus/spyware removal software!) and overall make alot of panic.

In the other hand internet is full of viruses and spyware or popups nowadays, not to mention malicious scripts etc.

[m10bob]

NOPE!!!! Resisti is correct...Gamershell is full of spyware..I suspect they have to pay their bills somehow,and their website does have disclaimers (of not being responsible,etc),but I feel they should at least indicate the spyware they are propogating??[:(]

[plloyd]

The best defence against spyware is a browser and email client which will not auto install and run scripts. I use Mozilla, I hear Orera is pretty good too. It is also good to get rid of the popups and block cookies from sites you don't like (such as doubleclick.

[Paranormalix]

Downloaded from Gamershell with Mozilla Firefox and Getright. After 1st time reading this topic I checked my pc with Spybot and nothing was found. So I guess the problem might be IE...

[Silencer]

Spybot S&D is actually pretty well spot on normally.

And Plloyd, yes Mozilla/Firefox are good, but not all spyware works via your browser and email clients, nor are their blocks perfect especially since sometimes you're going to hit sites where you need to use IE, for example if you're going to keep your security updates upto date in MS Windows, you're going to have to open up IE to use the windows update website. And I know a few of my own site's PHP scripts (nothing I developed myself at least so far) don't work correctly under anything but IE either.

Personally I feel if you don't like the thought of your PC being used against you, or being damaged should take reasonable precautions.

Firewall (keep the signature files upto date), anyone who has a decent router for their broadband connection usually doesn't require a software firewall since the router usually performs the same function.
Anti Virus (as always keep upto date)
Maintaining upto date security patches (most of the new virii being talked about so frequently on the news require thestupidity of users not maintaining their machines properly)
Spyware blocking is sometimes iffy like Toivo said, but a good set of tools is spybot seek & destroy plus spyware blaster. Spybot S&D will (provided once again you've kept it upto date) remove spyware and annoying trackers, and Spyware Blaster will keep them off.
Use a browser and email client not produced by Microsoft. 1. They're security issues. 2. They really do suck in general (I personally hate Outlook and Outlook Express due to mail issues particularly messages going AWOL when the software is set not to purge out mail).