How To: Avoid downloading spyware off limewire - Overclock.net

Emmanuel · 06-29-07

Most of us use Limewire, and most of us know that it isn't the safest place aswell because people can put whatever they want for download under any names. I have a few tips that I have been always using to avoid downloading spyware especially for programs. So, for instance, I want to download MSN Messenger off Limewire, what do I look at?
Look at the picture:

With a little of knowledge, I know that the latest version of MSN Messenger is 8 something, so I already see a "_9X". I can already forget about this one. Then, can I really expect the installer to fit in something as small as 0->978.8kb, I don't think so either, so I can forget about all these one. But ones that would be potentially safer are the one that I circled in green, because their title seems appropriate aswell as their size.

So what really are my tips:
#1-Be smart, look at the titles, anything that is weird, that gives fake information, do not download it.
#2-On Limewire, most things <1MB are spyware/virus.
#3-When you download something, you have an approximate idea on the size of the file, if the there is a big difference between your expectations and the size of the file, stay away from it.
#4-I recommend downloading zips instead of EXEs, because if your antivirus don't pick up an EXE threat on time, well, the EXE will have already enough time to do his job; and it's easier to analyze, scan and check the content of a ZIP, something you wouldn't be able to do with an EXE without decompiling it first.
#5-Softwares that are more likely to contain spyware and virus are softwares that aren't normally free, so simply pay for them or be careful...
#6-When you see many similiar files with approximatly the same size, there are more chance for them to be safe, EXCEPT for: reffer yourself to #2.
#7- When you search for something, if the search result is the same word for word (in any order) that what you searched for, all written in lower case and there are a few of them exactly alike, even if it's the appropriate format (MP3 for example), it could very likely be some kind of search bot that replicates a virus under the name of whatever you searched for. It happened to me once but it got blown off by Nod 32!
Hope it helps a little!

R@ZOR · 06-29-07

Yeah, That stuff is pretty obvious lol.

Emmanuel · 06-29-07

Not obvious for all, trust me.

Teh Evil Cupcake · 07-01-07

Ty so much! +rep!

lonnie5000 · 07-01-07

I have a better way..... just don't use limewire!

ChielScape · 07-01-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonnie5000

I have a better way..... just don't use limeware!

QFT limewire sucks.
get uTorrent. torrents rarely contain malware

TwIsTeDbOi · 07-01-07

I wish my sister read this.

She finds some song she likes. "578kb, what's that? Oh well" *download*.

Thanks for this regardless, some people aren't too smart to realize this.

ChielScape · 07-01-07

from the way you talk it would seem she doesnt have her own PC?

TwIsTeDbOi · 07-01-07

She uses the Dell I'm on right now(mine is awaiting my HD from RMA). I've had to fix this computer more times than my own computer.

ChielScape · 07-01-07

obviously, with a sister like that. and it being a dell on top of that... ouch.

07-01-07	#8 (permalink)
ChielScape Powerslide Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 8,897 Rep: 651 Unique Rep: 450 Trader Rating: 0	from the way you talk it would seem she doesnt have her own PC? __________________

07-01-07	#10 (permalink)
ChielScape Powerslide Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 8,897 Rep: 651 Unique Rep: 450 Trader Rating: 0	obviously, with a sister like that. and it being a dell on top of that... ouch. __________________

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How To: Avoid downloading spyware off limewire

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