Which anti-spyware programs should I install?

[spider_darth]

How many anti-spyware programs should I install in my PC? 2 to 3?

And, which should I install?

I've researched and these are my findings. Are there other better programs out there?

1. Spyware Terminater (has Real-Time Protection)
2. SpywareBlaster
3. Ad-Aware SE Personal
4. Spybot – Search & Destroy
5. SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
6. Advanced Spyware Remover
7. A-Squared Free
8. Windows Defender (has real-time protection)
9. Hitman Pro
10. CyberHawk (has real-time malware detection)

For the above programs, I'm referring to the freeware version.

Also, is it necessary to have Windows Defender? Can I uninstall it after I install other anti-spyware programs?

[benny bronx]

Hi spider_darth:

Since I switched my browser to K-meleon, I have not had one (known) instance of spyware. Hence, I only use on demand scanners once in a blue moon. I also found that the real-time progs I used in the past put a hurting on my comps performance, especially cyberhawk. Probably has more to do with my piece of crap computer than the programs. Now use just a-squared and SAS (free versions) on demand. Although I rarely use IE, I still have Spywareblaster installed. Runs in the background and uses no system resources, so I think there is no reason not to have it.

[Bio-Hazard]

{QUOTE-> How many anti-spyware programs should I install in my PC? 2 to 3?

And, which should I install?

I've researched and these are my findings. Are there other better programs out there?

1. Spyware Terminater (has Real-Time Protection)
2. SpywareBlaster
3. Ad-Aware SE Personal
4. Spybot – Search & Destroy
5. SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
6. Advanced Spyware Remover
7. A-Squared Free
8. Windows Defender (has real-time protection)
9. Hitman Pro
10. CyberHawk (has real-time malware detection)

For the above programs, I'm referring to the freeware version.

Also, is it necessary to have Windows Defender? Can I uninstall it after I install other anti-spyware programs? <-QUOTE}

This is just my humble opinion. I personally use and would recommend: On-Demand:SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition and A-Squared Free. Realtime:Spyware Terminator, SpywareBlaster. I am sure that you are going to get lot answers. I would also say that try and see if the program is for you or not!

Kristian

[spider_darth]

Is Windows Defender needed?

Is it safe to uninstall it?

[LoneWolf]

BOClean,SAS,AVG AS or A Sqared.All of these are very good.I personaly would stay away from 1,3,4,6,8 + 9 in your list.

[Rico]

Hi,

Yes! You can uninstall 'Windows Defender.'

Take Care
Rico

[nicM]

In your list, I would go with SAS too, it's efficiency is proven. Didn't test A-Squared for a long time.

Since SpywareBlaster works differently, it could be an useful complement, too.

nicM

[spider_darth]

{QUOTE-> BOClean,SAS,AVG AS or A Sqared.All of these are very good.I personaly would stay away from 1,3,4,6,8 + 9 in your list. <-QUOTE}

Can u explain why u decided against 1, 3, 4, 9?

1. Spyware Terminater (has Real-Time Protection)
3. Ad-Aware SE Personal
4. Spybot – Search & Destroy
9. Hitman Pro

Thanks.

[LoneWolf]

Well (1) has had a shady past as well as this warning from linkscanner pro
As for (3+4) I used to use both but believe they are outdated and of not much use(there are better app's out there)
I have read not so good things about (9),that it installs what it wants not what you want.

[acr1965]

{QUOTE-> How many anti-spyware programs should I install in my PC? 2 to 3?

And, which should I install?

I've researched and these are my findings. Are there other better programs out there?

1. Spyware Terminater (has Real-Time Protection)
2. SpywareBlaster
3. Ad-Aware SE Personal
4. Spybot – Search & Destroy
5. SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
6. Advanced Spyware Remover
7. A-Squared Free
8. Windows Defender (has real-time protection)
9. Hitman Pro
10. CyberHawk (has real-time malware detection)

For the above programs, I'm referring to the freeware version.

Also, is it necessary to have Windows Defender? Can I uninstall it after I install other anti-spyware programs? <-QUOTE}

Which browser do you most often use? IE6/7, Firefox, Opera, other? Also, which other security programs do you have running- firewall and anti-virus?

[namdog]

A free and light firewall,
a free and light anti-spyware/virus
and a software like PowerShadow.


{QUOTE-> How many anti-spyware programs should I install in my PC? 2 to 3?

And, which should I install

Also, is it necessary to have Windows Defender? Can I uninstall it after I install other anti-spyware programs? <-QUOTE}

[benny bronx]

Any mention of PowerShadow should be in the PowerShadow thread. It's up to something like #750 and I'd like to see it break the 800 mark.

[Rico]

Hi spider_darth,

How risky are you when you compute? Also passive defense will, help keep you safe: SpywareBlaster, IE-SpyAd etc. Have you looked into SandBoxie? Not free but very good Prevx1.

Take Care
Rico

[pettyracing]

I don't know if this would be a consideration for you, but I recently installed Kaspersky Internet Security Suite 6.0 on a box. I have another box with an excellent anti-virus program, plus fine firewall and anti-spy.

This is the lightest suite program I have ever used. Plus, I don't have to mess with updating three different programs. It updates every hour throughout the day, (or you set the update time in hours, etc.) and their support is excellent. Best money I've spent.

No computer slowdowns, no browser slowdowns. You should try the trial at their site. Plus you get free upgrades as long as you are paid up. They are in beta 7 now. BTW, nothing at all against my other programs. They are all great. But I've gone from about 70-80 total megs of memory to around 15, at least on my machine.

[aigle]

{QUOTE-> How many anti-spyware programs should I install in my PC? 2 to 3?

And, which should I install?

I've researched and these are my findings. Are there other better programs out there?

1. Spyware Terminater (has Real-Time Protection)
2. SpywareBlaster
3. Ad-Aware SE Personal
4. Spybot – Search & Destroy
5. SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
6. Advanced Spyware Remover
7. A-Squared Free
8. Windows Defender (has real-time protection)
9. Hitman Pro
10. CyberHawk (has real-time malware detection)

For the above programs, I'm referring to the freeware version.

Also, is it necessary to have Windows Defender? Can I uninstall it after I install other anti-spyware programs? <-QUOTE}
Freeware, ok
Real time-- Ur Antivirus( whatever it is) plus BOClean free
On-demand-- AVG AS free and/ or SAS free

Nothing else( real time or on-demand). Don,t fill ur PC with a pile of scanners.
I ditched Spyware blaster, spyware guard, Windows Defender, Spybot and Adaware a long ago.
CyberHawk is not an AS, it is a behavioral blocker. U can add it for real time protection if u like( better than a real time antispyware in my opinion but was a bit resource hog on my machine but can be different on others).

I assume u don,t install every thing from here and there and don,t peep into every dark corner of web. If u do, then no AS can protect u.

[ErikAlbert]

Regarding Hitman Pro : I thought that Hitman Pro was a collection of existing anti-malware applications, but Hitman Pro itself, isn't a security software.
It's goal was to run a bunch of popular scanners in one hit to save time.

[EASTER.2010]

{QUOTE-> Any mention of PowerShadow should be in the PowerShadow thread. It's up to something like #750 and I'd like to see it break the 800 mark. <-QUOTE}

Not to worry, Power Shadow is spreading around the internet waves like wildfire. Newcomers quickly discover how beneficial it is but most of all safe plus stable, and what more could you ask from it? (Exit shadow-mode also without reboot) .....which it's developers already have hinted at is in the workings.

FirstDefense + Power Shadow + System Safety Monitor + Snoopfree + Keri0 2.15 Firewall is what i've trimmed down to for now. FD firmly woke me up from security app overkill.

[Seishin]

{QUOTE-> Well (1) has had a shady past as well as this warning from linkscanner pro
As for (3+4) I used to use both but believe they are outdated and of not much use(there are better app's out there)
I have read not so good things about (9),that it installs what it wants not what you want. <-QUOTE}

I got different readings in here:

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7206/68309933zd4.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3693/20505646jm9.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2716/37249719fe0.png (http://imageshack.us)

I publicly criticized this product here at Wilders and over at BBR security forum because of the questionable EULA. I decided to check the EULA again recently and found out that the developing company, Crawler, (maybe someone of that company came across those threads) has got rid of those negative points. Therefore, I decided to install the program for a spin. I can say that it looks very reliable and indeed offers a lot for free, so I will keep it and recommend it from now on.

I wouldn't install either Windows Defender or Spybot S & D.

SpywareBlaster is another one to keep.

Regards.

[flinchlock]

{QUOTE-> FirstDefense + Power Shadow + System Safety Monitor + Snoopfree + Keri0 2.15 Firewall is what i've trimmed down to for now. FD firmly woke me up from security app overkill. <-QUOTE}Did hell freeze over? ::)

I thought you were using/running all that stuff in your signature! :wacko:

So, your signature is programs you recommend?

I would find your signature more helpful if you listed the stuff you actually use.

Mike

[BuzzStone]

You will be well protected with one of the "brand" name free AV's, the Windows FW (or Comodo), Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware SE, and Spywareblaster. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Windows Defender (it's just MS bashing). You can run one (or both) of the Spyware programs daily if you wish as they are quite fast. With a setup like that you should be able to surf where you feel like without problems.

[spider_darth]

Using Firefox as my main browser. And, IE7 for installing Windows Update, ActiveX Control and viewing Java apps. Cuz my Firefox can't seem to view Java though I tried installing it many times.

AV: AVAST! free
FW: Comodo Firewall Pro

A few qns to ask..

Sandboxie

1. Can i use it to download and install trial softwares to test them? So, even if the software has spyware in it, i can just delete away the sandboxie session.. and the software along with its installer and spyware will be all gone?

2. What can Sandboxie be used for other than trialing softwares?

3. Is sandboxie a sandbox? If it is, what's the difference between Sandboxie and GeSWall Freeware?

[Tarq57]

Very happily using SpywareTerminator and Boclean realtime, Spywareblaster and mvps hosts file for immunising, and a handfull of scanners for demand, including SAS, Asquared, and AVG AS. No conflictions/slowdowns/issues.
If space isn't an issue, you can install all you want, just don't configure more than you need to run at startup. But 2 or 3 should be more than enough.
I also have AVG antirootkit, and rootkit revealer.
Space isn't an issue for me, so I'd rather be prepared for a bad day. This is quite likely unnecessary, the only times I was dumb enough to get something bad (pre SpywareTerminator days...nothing since!) the stuff I had couldn't remove it anyway.
I'm sure my Avast AV has something to do with staying clean, too.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
spider, why do you want to install an anti-spyware program?
Do you think you need to have one?
Mrk

[spider_darth]

{QUOTE-> Hello,
spider, why do you want to install an anti-spyware program?
Do you think you need to have one?
Mrk <-QUOTE}

for protection ???

cuz i frequently install software just to test them out.

and the funny thing is that SAS says that my PC is free of spywares. but, when i scan it later with ad-aware and spybot s&d i detected tracking cookies and spywares.

well... why do people install anti-spyware programs then?

or, do they install other security programs which i've no idea about and should install?

please advise.

thanks.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,

Testing software should never done on a work / production machine.
You should use dedicated machine / with shadow / imaging software.
You should use virtualization.

Your questions make me think you need to reevaluate your entire perspective on the matter. First thing, a lot of reading to get to know how things work, regarding software, installations and security.

Anti-spywares apps are just tools.

Mrk

[ErikAlbert]

I don't use scanners anymore, I'm one of these newbies, who would remove false/positives also and damage my own system.
I also don't believe a scanner, when it tells me "You are clean."
And how many scanners do I need ? One, three, five, eight, fifteen ? Pffft.

[spider_darth]

{QUOTE-> Regarding Hitman Pro : I thought that Hitman Pro was a collection of existing anti-malware applications, but Hitman Pro itself, isn't a security software.
It's goal was to run a bunch of popular scanners in one hit to save time. <-QUOTE}

But it's useful to run multiple scanners without user intervention, am i right?

However, does it install and uninstall the scanners from the PC after scanning?

[spider_darth]

{QUOTE-> Hello,

Testing software should never done on a work / production machine.
You should use dedicated machine / with shadow / imaging software.
You should use virtualization.

Your questions make me think you need to reevaluate your entire perspective on the matter. First thing, a lot of reading to get to know how things work, regarding software, installations and security.

Anti-spywares apps are just tools.

Mrk <-QUOTE}

Thanks! Guess I'll have to read up more on security to decide.

But for now, could u explain what u mean by imaging software? I only know of software like Acronis which image your HDD partitions so u can revert back to them should your HDD become corrupted. Is this an example of the imaging software you're talking about?

Any recommendation for an imaging or virtualization software? Are they the same?

And, could u recommend some websites which are not too technical for me to understand how things work etc.

Thanks once again!

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,

Yes, Acronis is a good example.

Not to brag, but you could try my site, I have a bit of interesting information regarding virtualization, installation of operating systems, dual boot etc.

Wikipedia is your friend too.

Start by basic concepts, what is an operating system, how it works, how commands are executed.

Windows wise, what is/are: registry, startup, services, file attributes, file permissions, how one can get infected, how one can prevent infection, how one can diagnose an infection.

Web wise, what are different protocols, what is html, what is javascript, drive-by-download etc.

This site is a very good source of information. Just hang in here and ask questions aplenty. CastleCops is also ok.

Mrk

[ErikAlbert]

{QUOTE-> But it's useful to run multiple scanners without user intervention, am i right?

However, does it install and uninstall the scanners from the PC after scanning? <-QUOTE}
I don't remember the details of Hitman anymore. It's too long ago. After trying it, I ditched it.
I only wanted to tell, that Hitman Pro is just a tool to run several scanners after one another, but Hitman Pro itself is not a scanner.
If you want to know, if it is practical in usage, then you have to try it yourself.
In those days, it was a donation software, developped by one person in the Netherlands, but I could be wrong.
I try to live without scanners of any kind. They take too much of my freetime to run daily.
As you can see, my signature has no scanner.

[Perman]

Hi, folks: Multiple scanners app such as Hitman will certainly give you cheerful findings, often a lot and conflicting one another. Then the ball will be in your court, which ones to delete, all of them? seems impossible. how about roll a dice? too risky! Then you are going to have sleepless nights worrying some nasties are deep in your box, and you can't do anything about it. IMO, steer away from this seems-to-be mighty application.

[EASTER.2010]

{QUOTE-> So, your signature is programs you recommend?

I would find your signature more helpful if you listed the stuff you actually use.

Mike <-QUOTE}

Yes they all are programs i have extensively proven on my XP Pro as stable and most if not all are completely compatible with each other or piled together like i thrill at doing. No conflicts here but very beneficial and useful depending on the user's interest. I been replied at many times with thanks by members here who said they have turned to some of these programs i listed and am satisfied they did, so glad to help a little here and there.

As for apps i actually use i only do that in postings like i did. No sense in giving away my PERSONAL config on a public forum that also includes audience from malwares writers/developers. I can also offer via PM if you need to know more but one of the best defenses i found over the years against targetted surprises is to keep potential villians off-balance and make them work at it, not offer them a bullseye.

[Mrkvonic]

Hello,
Easter, what does it matter what you write in your sig?
How can someone relate between your nick and your computer?
And even if someone did know your IP (if it's not dynamic), what does it really matter?
Mrk

[EASTER.2010]

Hello Mrkvonic

It's not that big a concern and yes i can simply pull the plug and replug and Presto! new IP but the range stays the same.

I lined out my siggy for anyone who wants to explore some good safe security programs they might find satisfactory.

I am going to make some changes to my sig soon because some new ones have been added but i'm a bit lazy lately. LoL

[Perman]

Hi, Easter: Just adding some flavour to your posting. I do admire your defense lineups, very thorough and impressive. But I can not help thinking this: I may have all the colours in rainbow's spectrum, yes all seven wonderful colours, but the resulting mix colour is BLACK, is not? Just some weid feeling. Have a nice one.

[flinchlock]

{QUOTE-> As for apps i actually use <snip> not offer them a bullseye. <-QUOTE}
OK, thank you very much! :-X

Mike

[EASTER.2010]

{QUOTE-> OK, thank you very much! :-X

Mike <-QUOTE}

Well flinchlock, that does make it kind of interesting for the curious now doesn't it. LoL ;D