matewatcher issue

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jazzie_123

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How is it possible for someone's laptop to get infected with spyware called "Matewatcher"??
My husband is convinced I installed it on his laptop. I did not.
He apparently found it when he installed the Yahoo toolbar update - and then he deleted Matewatcher. I did not even see this horrible program in action.
I sent him emails from several forums explaining it was most likely a "false positive" but he does not believe me.
How is it possible for Matewatcher to be installed if neither of us put it on his laptop?
 
If you're not running a firewall, or are surfing questionable (doesn't have to be porn) sites, or download something without checking it out, then yes.

It's amazing just how many bugs you can pick up if you aren't protected... and you can still get some if you are and aren't impeccable in your computer housekeeping.

Get a firewall (there are plenty of great free ones), a decent anti-virus, and some good anti-spyware scanners. I'm at work, so I can't give you links right now.
 
Thanx, Trotter - um, isn't the windoze firewall good enough? My husband has about 10 types of anti-spyware killing programs on his laptop and maybe the Windows firewall.

When you have a minute, Id love a recommendation of a good firewall that I can suggest to him?? Thank you so very much. I really appreciate your thoughts as I don't know much about which s/ware is good & which is not.

This Matewatcher has caused us a lot of grief. I almost wish he had not deleted it so we could trace its origins, but that's the benefit of hindsight eh.
 
Here's a few to consider. Only go with one, though. and you can kill the Windows firewall... it's about as effective as toilet paper.

ZoneAlarm Free
http://www.majorgeeks.com/ZoneAlarm_Free_d388.html
Great firewall, but some people have had system conflicts. Try it and see. Be sure to go through the tutorial;.

Sygate Personal Firewall Free
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Sygate_Personal_Firewall_Free_d3356.html

Outpost Firewall Free
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Outpost_Firewall_Free_d1056.html

Jetico Personal Firewall
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Jetico_Personal_Firewall_d4480.html

As for Matewatcher, here's a page you might find interesting:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453097323
Basically, you/he got Matewatcher by agreeing to a EULA for something else. This is one of the dangers of downloading much crap online... free smileys, free cursors, and such. There are plenty of legit sites that have truckloads of them that people have made and submitted, and they are all free (and don't have the spyware tagging along).
 
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