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I've experienced a DRASTIC increase in spyware since switching to Firefox

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I like the speed of Firefox, BUT since switching from IE7, I've seen an amazing number of spyware incidents. I use Windows XP and the free version of SuperAntiSpyWare. I used to see 6-10 incidents EACH DAY and now I have over 100 multiple times a day. Has anyone else experienced (and fixed) this?

I like the speed of Firefox, BUT since switching from IE7, I've seen an amazing number of spyware incidents. I use Windows XP and the free version of SuperAntiSpyWare. I used to see 6-10 incidents EACH DAY and now I have over 100 multiple times a day. Has anyone else experienced (and fixed) this?

All Replies (6)

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Can you identify the location and/or nature of the "spyware"? For example:

  • browser cache (equivalent of IE's Temporary Internet Files)
  • downloads folder, or other download locations
  • cookies

Knowing more about the incidents will lead toward one approach or another.

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Also note that superantispyware detects cookies as spyware (though most arent).

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You can try to disable third-party cookies or use the "From visited" setting if this is about (tracking) cookies.

To see all History and Cookie settings, choose:

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"

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See: https://www.superantispyware.com/supportfaqdisplay.html?faq=26

"Are cookies really spyware and are they dangerous?

This subject has been the debate of many newsgroups and online forums. Cookies are simply text files stored on your hard drive and cannot themselves harm your computer in any way. Typically cookies are used to remember logins and keep track of user settings on web-sites.

Cookies can be used to track your movement on the Internet ONLY if a site is aware of the cookies and is designed to use the specific cookies. Because of their use in tracking, many feel that this constitutes spyware.

We do not consider cookies to be threats of anywhere near the same level of severity as actual malware threats that can steal real personal information, serve ads, or render a computer unusable.

SUPERAntiSpyware will detect tracking cookies as Adware.Tracking Cookies and you can choose to remove them or leave them on your system. You may turn off this feature in the Preferences -> Scanning Control tab of SUPERAntiSpyware should you not wish cookies to be scanned, detected and removed."

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Thanks for the info - I'm sure they were just cookies. Firefox is just different to me than IE. Appreciate the quick response!

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Thanks for the help.