A Free Anti-Spyware app?

[twl845]

I need a free anti-spyware for my daughters computer. Can any one recommend one that runs live and provides definition updates? Thanks in advance. :)

[Tarq57]

I think your choices in resident freeware are limited to SpywareTerminator, which I use, and recommend, and WindowsDefender, which I haven't used, but have read less than enthusiastic reports about.
You don't provide much info, so I'm going to assume that your daughter maybe isn't that computer savvy? If so try installing SpywareTerminator in ""beginner" mode (rather than advanced or expert...I think the default is advanced) and this will result in fewer popups. Much fewer. If she's OK with reading file names and having a go at working out what might initiate them and what they belong to, install it in "advanced" run a full scan, then enable the HIPS feature. This provides pretty solid protection.
The program updates definitions about every day, and the program is relatively young and updates evey 2-4 weeks, in the time I've had it.
It's got plenty of configuration and protection options, and I can report that it plays well with Comodo firewall, Avast AV (home) and I have also run it with demand spyware scanners like SAS (which is excellent for demand scanning, along with AVG and Asquared), spybot, winpatrol, some issues with some users using Zonealarm.
I think it doesn't work in Vista yet, version 2, in about 2-3 weeks, will (32bit only.)
It's main strength is realtime protection, definitions are increasing by the day, but would advise also having a demand scanner. That said, none of my demand scanners have found anything nasty since I installed ST.

[innerpeace]

The only 2 I know of is Windows Defender and Spyware Terminator. Pick your poison. Defender does have some IDS capabilities and I ran it for a while. Don't trust it's on-demand scanner solely. I trust that you provided her with on-demand scanners and instructed her to use them regularly. BOCLean 4.24 could also be used and Winpatrols' Hips (Free version) is a different alternative.

I really wish there were more options for free real-time AS/AMs. There was a free McAfee AV/suite a posted a while ago. Here's the link http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=174289&highlight=free+mcafee+suite

I hope this helps, innerpeace

[twl845]

OK, thanks for the info! I'll Check out ST.:)

[HAN]

If you are going for Spyware Terminator, I'd recommend downloading it without the Web Shield (Toolbar). On the download link, it's about halfway down the page...
http://www.spywareterminator.com/dnl/landing.aspx

[acr1965]

Not that I recommend PC Tools but many people on this site seems to use their products. Now there is a Pc Tools "starter edition" anti-spyware with Google pack. Link below-

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/product_info.html?sd

That combined with Acelogix "start-up guard" would be a nice combo. Maybe a HIPS of some sort would be worth considering down the road.

http://www.acelogix.com/freeware.html

Personally, I think the Realtime Shield of Spyware Terminator would be sufficient. But the ST HIPS features are fairly weak compared to other HIPS programs (SSM, DSA, Prosecurity, etc). And ST has plenty of false positives. But the Realtime Shield is as good as what most paid programs provide.

However you slice it I would definitely download SuperAntiSpyware free edition to run on demand once a week or so.

[twl845]

-{ Quote: "I think your choices in resident freeware are limited to SpywareTerminator, which I use, and recommend, and WindowsDefender, which I haven't used, but have read less than enthusiastic reports about.
You don't provide much info, so I'm going to assume that your daughter maybe isn't that computer savvy? If so try installing SpywareTerminator in ""beginner" mode (rather than advanced or expert...I think the default is advanced) and this will result in fewer popups. Much fewer. If she's OK with reading file names and having a go at working out what might initiate them and what they belong to, install it in "advanced" run a full scan, then enable the HIPS feature. This provides pretty solid protection.
The program updates definitions about every day, and the program is relatively young and updates evey 2-4 weeks, in the time I've had it.
It's got plenty of configuration and protection options, and I can report that it plays well with Comodo firewall, Avast AV (home) and I have also run it with demand spyware scanners like SAS (which is excellent for demand scanning, along with AVG and Asquared), spybot, winpatrol, some issues with some users using Zonealarm.
I think it doesn't work in Vista yet, version 2, in about 2-3 weeks, will (32bit only.)
It's main strength is realtime protection, definitions are increasing by the day, but would advise also having a demand scanner. That said, none of my demand scanners have found anything nasty since I installed ST." }-

I installed ST on my daughters computer and I don't know what you mean by beginner mode. I assume I'll have to eliminate the hips, because she ran into alerts that won't go away even after you click allow. Can you give my more info? I'm not hip on HIPS myself.:)

[rdsu]

You can install ST, but use only its realtime shield without the HIPS feature, and if you want to only be alerted for a possible threat, choose for all the items the Permission level to "Stop Threats access only"... ;)

[Tarq57]

-{ Quote: "
I installed ST on my daughters computer and I don't know what you mean by beginner mode. I assume I'll have to eliminate the hips, because she ran into alerts that won't go away even after you click allow. Can you give my more info? I'm not hip on HIPS myself" }-

You're probably best to do without the HIPS then...it basically creates an "allow/deny" alert every time an .exe or .ini (and maybe some others) file attempts to execute, that the application doesn't know about. (Goes nuts when installing new software! That's what the "install mode" is for, BTW)

To set it to "beginner mode" open the program, click "real time protection" and a tab will be visible "restore from profile" near the bottom left of the window. Click on that, and select beginner. This means that only known harmful stuff will be blocked, automatically, the user won't be asked.

Should you (or her) elect to keep the HIPS enabled, when clicking "allow" (this is of course for applications you know are safe) make sure the check box "remember this decision" is ticked. That should eliminate repeat popups.

The program is very configurable, there are many options, so, unless in beginner mode it does take a bit of experimentation to learn them all.
Hope that helps, don't hesitate to ask for more advice. The forums are pretty active, too.

[Lasse88]

-{ Quote: "You're probably best to do without the HIPS then...it basically creates an "allow/deny" alert every time an .exe or .ini (and maybe some others) file attempts to execute." }-

also theese files..

.QTX .SYS .DLL .ASI .API .DAN .TSP .IME .IEC .CPL .APL

[twl845]

-{ Quote: "You're probably best to do without the HIPS then...it basically creates an "allow/deny" alert every time an .exe or .ini (and maybe some others) file attempts to execute, that the application doesn't know about. (Goes nuts when installing new software! That's what the "install mode" is for, BTW)

To set it to "beginner mode" open the program, click "real time protection" and a tab will be visible "restore from profile" near the bottom left of the window. Click on that, and select beginner. This means that only known harmful stuff will be blocked, automatically, the user won't be asked.

Should you (or her) elect to keep the HIPS enabled, when clicking "allow" (this is of course for applications you know are safe) make sure the check box "remember this decision" is ticked. That should eliminate repeat popups.

The program is very configurable, there are many options, so, unless in beginner mode it does take a bit of experimentation to learn them all.
Hope that helps, don't hesitate to ask for more advice. The forums are pretty active, too." }-

Tarq57, Thanks for the instructions! I will take the HIPS off for my daughter. The way her and my Grand Daughters "surf the web" they only need minimal protection. I really didn't have a chance to really look at ST when I installed it. I had just finished spending the afternoon recovering their system back to it's original configuration. They had it all buggered up. LOL

[argus tuft]

-{ Quote: "also theese files..

.QTX .SYS .DLL .ASI .API .DAN .TSP .IME .IEC .CPL .APL" }-

...and .BAT too :)

[Graphic Equaliser]

What about Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html)? It still updates, and finds anything bad on my PCs. It is on-demand scanning, rather than real-time, but I prefer that. It also works on Vista.

[cheater87]

Spybot is pretty outdated and the tea timer has part of it cut off so its hard to read.

[fce]

anyone used KIS7 with AVG Anti spyware?

also, i read there's problem in AVG AS updating....can somebody confirm if this is over.

thanks!

[Carver]

-{ Quote: "Spybot is pretty outdated and the tea timer has part of it cut off so its hard to read." }-
Yea, Spybot 1.4 is pretty outdated. I would wait till 1.5 comes out of bata.

[Eldar]

-{ Quote: "anyone used KIS7 with AVG Anti spyware?" }-I am, together with SUPERAntispyware. They work really well on my Vista. :)
-{ Quote: "also, i read there's problem in AVG AS updating....can somebody confirm if this is over." }-Haven't experienced any problems yet when updating, besides it automatically updates.
Still waiting for SAS to update without having to confirm it every time. ;D
Maybe it's fixed in the latest version, but I haven't had the time yet to install it.

[SUPERAntiSpy]

-{ Quote: "I am, together with SUPERAntispyware. They work really well on my Vista. :)
Haven't experienced any problems yet when updating, besides it automatically updates.
Still waiting for SAS to update without having to confirm it every time. ;D
Maybe it's fixed in the latest version, but I haven't had the time yet to install it." }-

We are working on a new updater for Vista so it won't prompt you :) It only prompts for program updates, not definition updates, just FYI.

[Eldar]

-{ Quote: "We are working on a new updater for Vista so it won't prompt you :) It only prompts for program updates, not definition updates, just FYI." }-Thanks Nick for the update and additional information. :D
Looking forward to it.
Keep up the good work. :thumb: ;)

[Tarq57]

FCE,
I had periodic slow or no updates with AVG AS for a time. Fairly frequent "server is not ready to update.." messages.
Appears to be largely resolved, now, updates usually no problem.

[Longboard]

No one mentioned Comodo BOClean as option:
free, auto updates, covers more than spyware.
Lean mean and fast.
Excluder
etc
etc
etc
:)

[LoneWolf]

-{ Quote: "No one mentioned Comodo BOClean as option
" }-
Post #3 did.
But BOClean is a good choice.:thumb:

[ramoncin]

Hi,
I am also interested in a free AntiSpyware solution and was wondering:
1- how does BoClean spyware protection compare to SpywareTerminator's
2- is CyberHawk a better HIPS than SpywareTerminator?
Thanks