Spam,Malware and Cookies

[ayabrea38]

The recent IE scare got me wondering-never a good thing-I only know a little about computers,and I thought I was fairly safe.I am runing windows 7 with Norton Internet security 2010 and windows defender,but have noticed a few abnormalities since the other day.Nothing much(in another thread I mentioned a site I went on and now my homepage has ads for this site,and Adobe flash player keeps grumbling)but can anyone advise me of anything else I should be doing.
Also,is there a difference between sypware and malware?
I mainly use the pc for internet,with the odd download of a free programe for example for graphics or trying to clean up the hard drive(But to be honest I dont understand them that well)
Sorry to sound dim but please have patience! Aya

[mattfox]

You should be fine if you keep your Norton up to date and run a scan at regular intervals.

Spyware generally looks at what you're doing and might send it back to some unscupulous marketing data gatherer type organisation whereas malware does some sort of damage, either logging what you type or deleting files.

Also be aware of phishing emails (they try to get you to put your password in to a fake site - if you get an email that asks you to re-enter your details, hover the mouse over the link and check the address at the bottom of the page. Just because the link title says "Click here for HSBC", the link might redirect to "www.I-Steal-Passwords.com"

And pop up adverts that say you've won something or "click 5 times to win an iPod" are almost always not what they say they are!

[looobylooo]

hi mattfox and aya,
sorry to interrupt,
mattfox, can you give me any advice on a question i have with spyware please?
i have the free version of avg that does a scan every night at 9pm ok, and an hour later the results appear and all are ok, apart from it saying 'spyware 0/6' this has been on for a few months now, well it was 0/5 and since last weekish its now 0/6
is this anything to worry about??
thank you ever so much if youre able to help or comment..?

[benny3008]

looobyloo, long timeth no see, where ya beeneth?

[looobylooo]

benneth lol, ive been hereth.. not fareth from youeth! how are youeth?

[benny3008]

Im good ta, same as ever, its getting closer to easter, u stocked up on cream eggs yet? id get in there quick before they become kraft cream eggs!

[looobylooo]

well no, ive not stocked up cus i was relying on you to supply me them! lol

anyway, we'd better not hijack ayas thread any longer had we?

glad youre ok and keeping well, and i trust your dads still doing well. tell him loooby sends her regards :o)

[benny3008]

Thank you, i will tell him in the morning, hes back at work now, still getting over the pneumonia but he is back to is normal self again which is good. I shall get some cream eggs in the post for ya. sorry we 'hijacked' ur thread ayabrea, my bad. Hope you are well too loooby, speak soon. x

[mattfox]

I think a result of 0/0 means nothing was found. 0/5 might mean that there are 5 items of spyware identified.

Is there an option to clean or remove those files? Just to be on the safe side try running Trend HouseCall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/) which is a free online scanner. It doesn't replace anti-virus software, just runs alongside it. That should confirm whether or not AVG is telling porky pies!

[looobylooo]

ok, i will try that then marfox, thank you.

im not aware if theres anything on avg to get rid of them...?