Rob Cheng
Dave Methvin
Steve Hogan
Lyle Schuknecht
Bill ZahrenPC Pitstop Top 25 Spyware and Adware
Last Updated: February 25, 2008
PC Pitstop has long been a source of information about unwanted software and how it spreads. Now we're using our test results database to give you weekly updates about which programs are the most prolific. The prevalence numbers indicate the percent of PCs tested at PC Pitstop where we detected that file running. Our detection works by file name, so some products may be listed multiple times if they consist of two or more files. To check for spyware, adware, unneeded programs, and many other common PC problems, try PC Pitstop Exterminate or our full system scan. For more information on how this list is calculated, see the bottom of the page.
| This Week | Last Week | Prevalence | File Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1.988 | mwsoemon.exe | MyWebSearch toolbar |
| 2 | 2 | 0.277 | onestep.exe | One Step Search |
| 3 | 3 | 0.136 | flashget.exe | FlashGet |
| 4 | 6 | 0.118 | nnrun.exe | Adware-NDotNet [McAfee] |
| 5 | 4 | 0.098 | freezescreensaver.exe | FreezeScreenSaver |
| 6 | 7 | 0.064 | sbtv.exe | SBTV |
| 7 | 12 | 0.061 | save.exe | WhenU SaveNow |
| 8 | 9 | 0.058 | sbinst.exe | SpamBlocker |
| 9 | 10 | 0.055 | oeaddon.exe | Zango |
| 10 | 11 | 0.052 | zangosa.exe | Zango Search Assistant |
| 11 | 14 | 0.052 | perfs.exe | Malware not yet determined |
| 12 | 8 | 0.040 | cdproxyserv.exe | XCP.Sony.Rootkit |
| 13 | 21 | 0.032 | udcpas.exe | DriveCleaner |
| 14 | - | 0.032 | dcsm.exe | DriveCleaner |
| 15 | 13 | 0.032 | srv.exe | Zango |
| 16 | - | 0.029 | whagent.exe | Webhancer |
| 17 | 22 | 0.026 | udcsdr.exe | DriveCleaner |
| 18 | 18 | 0.026 | dssagent.exe | Broderbund DSSagent |
| 19 | 5 | 0.026 | rlvknlg.exe | Relevant Knowedge |
| 20 | 17 | 0.023 | tsadbot.exe | Conducent |
How the survey works
At the beginning of every week we analyze the last 50,000 computers to test at PC Pitstop. This usually represents about a week of computer tests. Our analysis examines all running programs and compares them to our database of known software, using the file name, install directory, and version information to make a positive identification. The scan does not include spyware that consists only of Browser Helper Objects (BHO's) or DLLs that may be attached to legitimate programs or run via RunDLL.exe.
Since the PC Pitstop tests detect unwanted software and recommend its removal, frequent visitors that test their PCs at the PC Pitstop site tend to have less spyware than the normal PC population. Therefore, our results are most likely to understate the prevalence of spyware and adware.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I had malware on my computer which stated I had security problems. Probably caused by the spyshredder program. This caused popups to show up on my desktop saying that windows could find no ativirus or antispyware programs, I am probably affected by Spyware.IEpass.XXX. Also popups saying to shut down my computer (or it would stop), and other poup windows. I ran PC Exterminate (full scan) and it deleted loads of malware and adware. I'm still getting those popup windows. I ran PC exterminate ag and I was clean but still gettin windows. Am I missing something ?