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Spyware, viruses, & security : What is the the best free anti-spyware program?
Ad-aware Se, Spybot and Spyware blaster
by techweenie - 2/2/07 5:33 PM In reply to: RE:Best Spyware by crobertI use Ad-aware Se, Spybot and Spyware blaster on my computer. Ad-aware and spybot are both pretty effective and when one misses something, the other one seems to find it. I use Spyware Blaster to Supplement Spybots activeX and spyware protection.
Defender is a solid free real-time/nightly anti-spyware app
by Sith840 - 2/2/07 8:16 AM In reply to: Best Spyware by inmyopinionI have been using Windows Defender (free) on my machines for a few years (used to be under another name before Microsoft bought the company, and MS 1st called it MS Anti-spyware). I have found it works well for both nightly and realtime support. I originally installed it because some nasty malware had killed AdAware and had replaced enough system files that I could not get rid of it cleanly.
The thing I like about Defender is that it has few false alarms on the realtime side.
However, that said, it is not as fast at updating when a new threat is in progress. But, I have not actually found that to be a problem. Note that Defender does *not* install search bars, keyword linkers, or other junk, unlike many of the "free" products out there. Be sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
'Be sure you know what you are getting yourself into'
by Grif Thomas
- 2/5/07 4:36 PM
In reply to: Defender is a solid free real-time/nightly anti-spyware app by Sith840
I use Windows Defender also, but only as a backup. Hopefully you saw the recent article about Defender's problems. It missed 84% of the spyware thrown at it.:
Windows Defender lets spyware onto Vista
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/3FDDD25390A00C13CC257276000D6125
Hope this helps.
Grif
SpyBot S&D/Ad-Aware SE
by MWagz - 2/2/07 7:12 AM In reply to: What is the the best free anti-spyware program? by ifihadonechanceI'll echo the comment about using both SpyBot S&D and Ad-Aware SE. I use both on all of our PCs/Laptops at home. It seems that if one of the products misses something, the other finds it. For freeware utilities, you can't beat 'em. SpyBot does occasionally get a bit 'glitchy' when downloading updates, but I can usually remedy the problem by restarting the update download.
A solution...
by Mailman - 2/2/07 7:21 AM In reply to: SpyBot S&D/Ad-Aware SE by MWagz...to the problem of update quirkiness of SpyBot updates is to select one of the mirror sites before you begin the download. I always use "Safer networking #1 (Europe)", and have never had a problem since. I think this is actually in the help file.
~Dave
Wise to use more than one antispyware
by den65 - 2/2/07 9:08 AM In reply to: What is the the best free anti-spyware program? by ifihadonechanceYup, it's definitely no best single antispyware app. Just to share with you, I use Ad-Aware(one of the best around), Spybot S&D(it has really improved alot recently) and Spyware Blaster, which works by blocking spyware from getting into your system. With this combination, I don't even get tracking cookies from my Internet Browsers, whenever I scan my first two spyware apps. Hope this helps.
Go for Hitman-pro
by sissidekroon - 2/2/07 2:34 PM In reply to: What is the the best free anti-spyware program? by ifihadonechanceI am using <a href="http://www.hitmanpro.nl/hitmanpro/>Hitman pro</a> for several years now. It combines several anti-spyware software like Ad-Aware, Spybot SD, Spysweeper and several others under one controlling program.
It's easy to use and free. Nothing got threw the net so fare. So I'm very pleased with it.
AVG Anti-Spyware Free Edition
by Robert K - 2/2/07 4:14 PM In reply to: What is the the best free anti-spyware program? by ifihadonechanceI have been using it for about a month and so far, I like it.
free antivirus spyware
by Eddiesmamabear - 2/2/07 6:42 PM In reply to: AVG Anti-Spyware Free Edition by Robert Ki've been using the AVG free for about 5 years and it's been very useful. a friend wanted some good virus protection and we told him about AVG too. we helped him download it and it found a load of trojans on his laptop that he had no idea were there! so it was a big help to him!
which AVG?
by santuccie - 2/2/07 6:55 PM In reply to: free antivirus spyware by EddiesmamabearThe only AVG that would be five years old is AVG Antivirus. AVG Anti-Spyware, formerly Ewido, isn't quite five years old yet. I would assume AVGAS is the one you're referring to, as it has in fact the very highest detection rate of any Trojan scanner still available. Trojan Hunter has slumped as of late, which doesn't surprise me as they try to use only rulesets in place of black-and-white signatures, and TDS-3 left the market in 2005.
Good apps..
by nevi - 2/2/07 7:20 PM In reply to: which AVG? by santuccieBoth Adaware and Spybot S%D is good antispyware apps.
But to realtime protection they cannot beat Spyware Terminator because of the simple fact that ST have a HIPS built in and they have not.Okay the on demand scan is maybe better with Adaware and Spybot(Im not sure),but as realtime protection nothing beat ST.IMO its even better than Spysweeper.
To on demand scans,I prefer the free vers.of Superantispyware.Its at least as good as Adaware and Spybot,but not so known yet.
Just my 2 cent.
now i have to say something
by santuccie - 2/2/07 8:25 PM In reply to: Good apps.. by neviI was going to keep my mouth shut, as Ad-Aware and Spybot are definitely good for more than nothing, but now there are too many people pointing in the wrong direction.
Ad-Aware and Spybot are old veterans with loyal followings, which at one time provided all the protection you really needed against grayware (non-destructive, profit-driven parasites). In fact, Ad-Aware is the oldest antispyware in existence, with a following of about the same size as the total U.S. population (over 200 million users worldwide). Nevertheless, threats have evolved so fast over the past year that these two classics are no longer anywhere near up to the task.
Spyware Terminator is good, and its HIPS is definitely worth your attention, but it is in fact considerably less effective than industry-leading Webroot Spy Sweeper in terms of detection rate. And while there is no match for Spy Sweeper's resident shields, Spyware Doctor is actually slightly better when it comes to post-mortem, on-demand scanning.
I'm sorry to say, but most of these posters are simply going by what they've read on the Web. Your sources are out of date, folks!
Thanks
by nevi - 2/2/07 8:36 PM In reply to: now i have to say something by santuccieIt was nice to see your post,and I was glad to be corrected re SS and ST.I was not sure..;)
I use KIS 6,and MVPS hostfile,and I am in doubt whether I should use (and what)something in addition ,to spot mal/spy crap.
Its good to see at least some keep up with the new apps.
Thanks.
different users, different needs
by wakedaddy335 - 2/7/07 7:53 AM In reply to: now i have to say something by santucciesantuccie, in the computer business, it's more of a popularity contest with using freeware than anything else. The more attention a specific program receives, the more the manufacturer is likely to make it a better program. I think that's a known fact. You say "Ad-Aware is the oldest antispyware in existence," and that the user base is "about the same size as the total U.S. population (over 200 million users worldwide)." Doesn't that tell you something? That means it's a good program. Computer security is an ever-changing issue and the fact that these programs have "withstood the test of time," so-to-speak, means that they'll be around for a while. At least I hope so.
Also, keep in mind that each user has different security needs. Most internet users visit the same sites everyday, barely straying from a "set routine." For these users, robust security programs are not a necessity. It would worthwhile for them to use programs that are "tried and true."
I have been using Ad-Aware and Spybot since I got my first computer about six (6) years ago. I've been using AVG Anti-Virus Free for about the past four (4) years. Granted I'm a computer geek and have reformatted my computer a number of times in attempts to discover the perfect setup <B>for me</B>, these programs do very well for me and I am more than just an "average internet user," if ya know what I mean. lol
Yes, we get our information from posts and blogs on the Web; but these days, where else do we turn? Personal experience. And that's what I'm using. I'm not saying the three (3) programs I use and the ultimate best, but they are sufficient and efficient.
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