Jump to content

What do you think of Peer Gaurdian


ozzyfudd13

Recommended Posts

  • 3 weeks later...

Preventing is always better than trying to cure. Trying to cure is always better than ignoring the issue. By using PG to "block" spyware/adware, you're essentially ignoring the issue. You should be trying to rid your computer of it instead ("curing"). Better yet, don't install suspicious applications, so you don't catch the spyware/adware at all (preventing).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Peer Guardian 2 is redundant at best, snake oil at worst.

It cannot prevent p2p monitoring spies from "getting" your ip if you're connected to trackers, even if you can totally prevent them from connecting directly to you.

The ip blocklists are questionable, often "updated" by people whose agenda is to block websites like...THIS ONE...because they have an axe to grind with the maker's policy towards making money.

(Note: Some/most of that issue is already sorted out, however they may decide to pull something crazy like that again.)

However the block lists are at least partially useable as ipfilter.dat filler...and just ditch the Peer Guardian 2 program altogether.

I have an equally huge HOSTS file to block questionable (to me) websites. Even so, I am only protected against past problems -- not future ones. But it sure speeds up surfing to websites that think they need to stuff 10 banner ads and 20 cookies down my throat!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because PG2 will block for the whole computer, its easier to set up, it will use less resources, and it will auto update.

During setup just use these lists: p2p, spyware, & ads. You only need to block gov IPs if you're in a communist country or into illegal porn. Don't block edu ranges because that will block college dorms with high speed lans.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree w/ Dark Shroud, its resource friendly and blocks Ads and Spys, maybe not as much as NoAdware or AdAware SE but I can scan whenever I want. With NOD32, PG2 and SBC's popup blocker I do just fine and when I do a scan I only find cookies.

P.S. If you don't have Webroots Window Washer you need to get it, Just be sure and chek the right boxes or it will erase high scores for games installed on your 'puter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And it's exactly that snakeoil-feeling it gives people that makes it so useless, and more harmful instead. Because people *think* they're safe, they download and install whatever they feel like without thinking of any consequences, and that just gives those malware-outputting people more reason to keep doing what they're doing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK fine, I checked the µtorrent ipfilter and it runs with µtorrent, awsome. They're list was 68K or so so I looked for others (emule - shareaza...) and built mine to 991K so far. I installed the µtorrent auto updater and edit the list manually after update.

If anyone knows how to get PG's list can could you post a link?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree w/ Dark Shroud, its resource friendly and blocks Ads and Spys, maybe not as much as NoAdware or AdAware SE but I can scan whenever I want. With NOD32, PG2 and SBC's popup blocker I do just fine and when I do a scan I only find cookies.

P.S. If you don't have Webroots Window Washer you need to get it, Just be sure and chek the right boxes or it will erase high scores for games installed on your 'puter.

Comparing PG2 to AdAware SE and the like is a fundamental flaw in your understanding of what this software does. PG2 blocks IP addresses, ostensibly so that when you attempt to download spyware, it'll be from a blocked IP address and so the spyware won't make its way onto your computer. It's very much 'reactive' in the sense that, as mentioned above, the blocklists are manually maintained by people who have shown themselves to be less than reliable at times. Spyware IPs won't be blocked until someone discovers that spyware is being sent by that IP. PG2 is closer to a firewall in functionality than an anti-virus/spyware app (in fact, most firewalls provide the main function of PG2 - blocking IPs).

In contrast, AdAware works like a typical anti-virus application: it scans the files that you're downloading (or have downloaded) to see if they contain known spyware. In that sense, it's also a reactive method of detecting spyware, but it works independent of the IP address the spyware came from. That is to say, if some spyware site changes servers but still serves the same infected content, AdAware will block it, but PG2 won't.

And once again.. the best way to protect yourself from spyware and viruses is common sense.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

When you install PG2, ensure that you read the bloody manual, if console states "http is blocked", guess what? many of your web sites will be blocked and then you'll need to go through your logs and "allow" (basically creating a white-list) which web-sites you want access...

I've been using it for years and have had no problems... PG2 has a forum section as well and your questions about (what I call) the who, what, where, when and why's can be answered there...

cya

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...