Comments on: Trend Micro fails the spyware test

By: Karlo

Karlo — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:10:44 +0000

You hit it right on the dot. TrendMicro offers excellent antivirus protection but sucks big time when it comes spyware detection. TrendMicro lags behind when it comes spyware detection that’s why they acquired InterMute in the first place. They repackaged its SpySubstract product into what we know as Trend Anti-Spyware component. Fortunately, there’s Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal which is a free anti spyware application I use to accurately mark the persistent spywares that managed to creep into my system.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 22:43:22 +0000

PC-cillin is a fraud.
The default configuration options do not provide good protection. Three requests to tech support were ignored totally. And so much more. See http://www.computergripes.com/pc.cillin.html

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 00:11:36 +0000

So everyone has had problems with this spy ware or many others, what are we to do to eliminate these things? I am so
fed up with all the Idiots out there that insist on ruining my computer enjoyment. I’d kill everyone of them, because they are viscous and malicious. They are equal to a Child Molester.
Can someone outwit these nitwits?

By: Camille

Camille — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 20:11:06 +0000

Have you had a chance to try out Trend’s new Stand Alone Anti-Spyware software?

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 17:45:04 +0000

From what I can tell, PC-Cillin / Trend Micro seems to think a component of most bit torrent progs is the ADW_BADBITOR.A adware program.

As with all the above – it wouldnt show with any other anti-virus/adware removal software except PC-Cillin, and I was getting worried about it.

This website has confirmed my suspicions.

By: David

David — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 15:47:04 +0000

Thank you so much. ADW_BADBITOR.A showed up when i did the Trend Micro Housecall at approximately 11:30 at night and i’ve spent the last 9 hours trying to figure out the problem. I ran microsoft spyware, norton antivirus, and a different Trend Micro product all with the same result of no ADW_BADBITOR.A present. Needless to say, I was freaking out. I decided to try and google a solution to my problem and your report was the answer to my prayers. Thank you so much.

By: michael horowitz

michael horowitz — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Great piece. For BHO detection and opinions on the safety of each BHO program, let me suggest the free BHODemon program from Definitive Solutions at http://www.definitivesolutions.com

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Ed, I am really looking forward to getting your new Windows Security book when it comes out.

Regarding your post, I also have Trend Micro 2005, but I use it solely for the standalone virus program (I didn’t install the firewall, antispam, etc.). Although this program includes a limited antispyware capability, I don’t use it. Instead, I use the Microsoft beta program, which I first learned about here several months ago. Of all the “real time scanning” antispyware programs I’ve tried, it is the only one I like. To date, I haven’t yet had a single false positive or other problem using the MS program.

I read somewhere that Symantec is soon coming out with its own antispyware program. Eventually I suspect that all the third party antivirus programs and security suites will include comprehensive antispyware scanning as part of their basic package. Unfortunately, we can expect these programs, when they appear, to be similarly over-aggressive (as Trend Micro was in your example). The reason is that a key to successfully marketing such software is convincing consumers, rightly or (often) wrongly, that they have a problem to begin with — which only the third party software can solve.

This is one area where — leaving aside the antitrust implications — I would prefer Microsoft software over third party software. My XP has always run best when run the way it was originally designed to run, not when modified by third party utility and security suites.

Ken

By: prideaux

prideaux — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Ed, thanks for your article, it puts my at ease a little. I also found ADW_BADBITOR after i installed shareaza and ran PC-Cillin 2005 but now it is looking more like a false positive.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks for that article i too have had the same problem with ADW_BADBITOR but i am also running microsoft antispyware which did not detect anything so this has helped put my mind at rest

By: Gwyneth

Gwyneth — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Thank you so much for this report. I have just installed the new pc-cillin and it detected ADW_BADBITOR.A.

I had no idea what to do about it and Trend was no help at all.

Luckily, a quick Google brought up your report.

My computer and I thank you .

By: winifred

winifred — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks for this concise explanation of the ADW_BADBITOR.A thing. When I first ran the Trend product, it found this, and even though spybot and adaware hadn’t found anything, I let Trend do the voodoo it does to delete the files associated with the name.

Later, I clicked on a torrent link from Blizzard’s updater and my system had no idea what to do with a torrent file, and I had to reassociate my torrent program with the file extension, which concerned me, because I couldn’t figure out how I was losing file type associations.

Then this morning, I ran the Trend scan again, and low and behold, it found ADW_BADBITOR.A again. Before allowing it to delete anything this time, I googled to see what this might be and came across your site.

Thanks so much for you help and clear explanation!

By: Debi

Debi — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I encountered Virtual Bouncer which had my computer down for two weeks. I THOUGHT I knew computers, but this really set my ego back a bit. I ran Trend’s online scan, Norton’s scan (I have Norton 2005 security that was supposedly auto protecting my computer.) I also ran Spybot, and AVG. I also ran Hijack This! The hard part was just figuring out WHAT IT WAS on my computer. It was compounded that files that were supposed to be on my computer because of malware weren’t on my computer – even in the registry. Virtual Bouncer also deleted my Google and Yahoo tool bars that I had loaded. Since that attack about a month ago, my computer (that was new in September) has never been the same.

I ended up abandoning IE and using Mozilla. I’m having security issues with my IP email claiming I’m not a valid subscriber, except that I can send from the website. When I abandoned IE, I had random links in the browser window which lead to an adult site which I cannot get rid of, so I switched away from IE. I checked today, and the links are still there.

I don’t know what to do next.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Hi i too have used Trend Micro, Housecall and it always tells me i have AWD_BADBITOR:A, also my computer is almost new and its a disaster, my internet would not work well kept crashing, and my computer kept getting popups and acting strange, i never felt in control.

I have used many Antispy programs now and i think im winning?. The latest which seemed to do something and found a lot of stuff was Spyware Nuker.

Anyway I think the Internet and Computers are Doomed, its all going to Crash Soon, its a House of Cards!

Good Luck to you all. P.S. TRUST NO ONE!

By: Arman

Arman — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Looks like Trend Micro wants to give us an impression that its software is superior by reporting bogus threats. I ran the scan and cleaned up my pc several times and every time ADW_BADBITOR.A was found. They are clearly trying to deceive their users.