Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Regarding anti-spyware programs

Thanks!

I would NEVER use a program that has EVER been on the list. Just because it is delisted does NOT give it a recommendation. As I also said before, there are a lot of other reputable programs to bother using one that is suspect. Your choice.

Hello everyone.

Thanks for your valuable post roddy. I agree what you said I would NEVER use a program that has EVER been on the list. Just because it is delisted does NOT give it a recommendation.

Certainly delisting of any application just states its not bad anymore but it does not say its as good as it should be.

As Roddy told us, he wont trust any application ever listed on that board and suggests us to use one the ones which are reputable.

Here I see when I moved Eric Hoves list. He has rcommended some finest Anti-Spyware tools out there.

Check this out

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#trustworthy

Cheers.
Mike

I have 2 college students of my own and they will appreciate the links you and roddy submitted to me as well! I want them to be safe and not bombarded with software that is not necessary.

Hey Tom..thanks for link...and your comments helps greatly. Now I do know that the thumb of rule is only ONE antivirus..seeing the listed software virus and security softwares u r using definitely puts me at ease. thanks once again!

Don't you think that the use of anti-virus are protective but 2 i think it is more super protective enought to defend your computer from invade of viruses. Protection VS Virus... Kinda great ^_^
Keep It Up!

thanks

Would you like to eleborate as to why you no longer use Spybot.

Maybe you can convince me as to why I have been leaning towards uninstalling.

Ray

usded to use spybot, but found it did not get anywhere near the spies that some others do. for one adware personal, works great, and is free, has updates all the time

I chose not to purchase full paid AVG AS 7.5 (Ewido). I have kept the free scanner, but had I purchased full version with it "background guard" I would then keep Spybot and disable the Tea Timer portion as coverage would be equal or better than TT and would avoid possible conflicts (of 2 background guards). My faith in the trust worthiness of Patrick & Team is greater than with any other product.

For example: When pressured by numerous rogues claiming defamation and demanding to be removed from scan until convicted in court (decades away?) most programs just quietly drop them from scan list (usually with no warning to users).

Spybot , in contrast, puts a check mark in user accessible box in the "ignore products" list, where the user can remove the check mark to return the rogue to the scan for removal . This is & should be the users right since it's his /her machine (You listening, MS??).
This is CLEARLY indicative of Spybots "Our users protection, first & foremost" corporate mentality. Wish I could say same of all.
Admittedly, with such limited resources (compared to Symantec, McAfee, AVG etc.) Spybots' scans list is by necessity more limited/ selective. You don't see them spending their limited funds, on multiple corporate take-overs to limit/remove the competition.
As I said, in my books, they are trustworthy to the MAX. JMHO.

Yes, given the group of other guards you have, I believe you are plenty covered w/ or without Spybot.
Yes, a host file is something to have (there are several other well known ones) but most important is to "lock" it as "read only" so it can't be invaded and used against you. I also like S&Ds lock down of your Home & Search pages to stop browser hijackings as well as the ease of removing the numerous re-directs that came w/ XP OS (approximately 6 of each).
I also like & use S&Ds start-up programs service to select what runs at boot up. I find it easier than MSConfig.
Note that these type of features tend to be offered mostly in the "Advanced Mode" which many don't know exists until told of them.

Another factor (which I just got hit with by AVG AS) is the frequency of false positives. I made the mistake of accepting at face value, without further checking, and proceeded to have it remove several things I shouldn't have. It seems the more sophisticated the program, the more frequent the FPs. Kaspersky & several others have been known for this.
You mention others finding something S&D scans for but S&D didn't find.....that is when I'd suspect a FP as possible.

I mentioned how many ,if not most, other programs tend to cave and leave you exposed to malware they don't want to fight with ($$$). This has to be considered also.

I recall getting hit with one of the Virtu Monde group (Spy Sheriff etc) and although Spybot Tea Timer didn't completely prevent attack, it prevented so many reg changes in a few seconds, that I was able to clean it up with my normal method, without having to go through the program downloads etc. that most have to. I cleaned it, while off-line, in 1+ hours simply 'cause it couldn't get rooted properly (Thanks TT).

Since then I do use TT as it's my only reg protection despite occasional annoyances. Mind you, ALL my protections are Free as I won't expose my Credit Cards to the Web.

Choice is yours as always & to be truthful, I've had basically way fewer problems since getting a hardwired router which may do more good than I know. Thanks for posting your points Ray!!

my comments. I said "they are "trustworthy" to the MAX.".

I did not say I have stopped using it (S&D). I still use it including Tea Timer. My point was AVG AS (EWIDO) background guard was equally as good or better (?)(more coverage?) and to avoid possible conflicts between the two, I would choose one: TT or AS paid background. I would still keep & use the rest of Spybot even with Paid Full AVG AS.

Sorry for any lack of clearness on my part. I tend to post in the fuzzy hours past 3am local as that's the only time I have available & brain may get fuzzy then!!

I don't recommend CCleaner, the latest version can mess your system up real bad, it has did it 3 times to my system, and I won't use it again, I use Nod32, it is a Antivirus and Adware program in one, it does the job for me.

most unusual to see. It is possible (to my cautious mind) to be too aggressive with the settings (MRUs etc)& use of some features such as cleaning registry
"Issues" but I find that possible with any program that cleans registry items.
I tend to use CCleaner mostly as a temp file (IE/Mozilla/Java & history cleaner.Daily. I suggest not using the toolbar version (use "Slim" version instead). See my recent post on settings I use:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=236150&messageID=2417291#2417291

Beyond that, as a general thought, that I'm coming more to follow as MS puts out more OS versions (later than mine: MCE,Vista IE7 etc.), which these program providers have to accommodate by re-working their current offerings to be compatible with, it seems they are often degrading the compatibility with my system as each new version appears.
I'm coming to believe if I have a good working version of something, without any bugs that affect me, I tend to keep & use it as is. CCleaner is a possible case in point. I just stopped getting new versions back at version 134 which showed none of the bugs mentioned as being fixed in newer versions. I've used it since back in the low 120 versions. I won't be going to IE7 (as I don't use IE and don't need new bugs). Just call me stick-in-the-mud!!