SpySweeper alternative?

[beejay1947]

SpySweeper seems to encroach on other software on my PC's.

It needs to have its email attachments shield disabled if I want to use OE6. It nees to have IE Security Shiled disabled to allow swift enabling of protection for SpywareBlaster.

Have you any recommended anti-malware equivalent to SS that does not conflict with other software?

[huangker]

Superantispyware. On demand scanner is free. Paid version has a resident scanner.

Also most AV will have spyware and adware protection built in.

[Someone]

Hi

I think if you are willing to pay, Counterspy and SUPERAntiSpyware Pro (both $20) are the best choices between small resource usage and good protection.

What are the other security programs you use? It also depends on that.

[Escalader]

{QUOTE-> SpySweeper seems to encroach on other software on my PC's.

It needs to have its email attachments shield disabled if I want to use OE6. It nees to have IE Security Shiled disabled to allow swift enabling of protection for SpywareBlaster.

Have you any recommended anti-malware equivalent to SS that does not conflict with other software? <-QUOTE}


Many months ago I dropped SS when it became more and more bloated and intrusive.

I have SuperAntiSpyware on 15 day trial and am considering purchasing a license. It plays well with my other tools and has a real time guard function.
Daily updates as well.

BTW, ALL security SW have settings for you to worry about.

1) Disable overlapping functions like double scanning outgoing email
2) Set all Security SW exclusions to exclude each other! NB
3) Insert the ip addresses for their updaters directly into you FW rules to minimize DNS spoofing.

It is true that the mainline AV's also scan for spyware as the line between virus and trojan is blurry.

You have a lot of security stuff maybe too much?

All IMH users need is:

1) FW
2) HIPS
3) AV and ASW
4) Image backups
5) Hardened browser

[beejay1947]

I already also have SuperAntiSpyware so maybe I have (more than) enough without paying for SpySweeper?

[chris2busy]

SAS with both thumbs up

[Someone]

Hi

So is your signature your security setup?

If I were you, I would get a free av, 1 or 2 of SAS/MBAM/Counterspy/A-squared, a behavioural blocker and a sandbox.

And the latest version of Firefox.

[beejay1947]

Yep - my signature shows my security set up, which has several of the items you suggest. No idea what a sandbox is though!

[Someone]

Hi

A sandbox either virtualises a file/partition/computer or restricts files (called policy restrictions).

Some examples are Sandboxie and SafeSpace (application sandboxes), Returnil (virtualises partition) and full virtual computers like VmWare and VirtualBox. DefenseWall and GesWall are the two most well known policy sandboxes.

Basically, if you run a program under Sandboxie, it makes the program think it is really running, but it is actually running in a separate environment. So when you finish with the program, you empty the sandbox and everything is gone - even if you downloaded malware or something.

[Someone]

Hi

Is EZ av by CA? Maybe you should consider switching to AntiVir free, AVG free or Avast! free.

And if you decide to use a sandbox, I would ditch SpywareBlaster.

[Mongol]

Give a look at Sandboxie. Several recent posts in this forum on it's use and setup. It is a very secure tool for web browsing. Back on topic, from me another thumbs up to SAS...8)

[HURST]

They are many security option available, if you're willing to try (hips, sandboxes, etc)
but if you just want to replace SpySweeper, go with SuperAntiSpyware.
Great real life detection and removal. Very light on resources.
Free version is only on-demand. Paid version (20US$ lifetime) offers real-time protection.
Also complement it with MBAM free on demand.

[Fly]

{QUOTE-> They are many security option available, if you're willing to try (hips, sandboxes, etc)
but if you just want to replace SpySweeper, go with SuperAntiSpyware.
Great real life detection and removal. Very light on resources.
Free version is only on-demand. Paid version (20US$ lifetime) offers real-time protection.
Also complement it with MBAM free on demand. <-QUOTE}

'lifetime'

Sometimes that's very short.

Call me biased, but I'm not going to install ANY security program that has the word 'super' in it. Maybe Americans have a more positive view of 'super' ?

[EliteKiller]

{QUOTE-> 'lifetime'

Sometimes that's very short.

Call me biased, but I'm not going to install ANY security program that has the word 'super' in it. Maybe Americans have a more positive view of 'super' ? <-QUOTE}
Even if the "lifetime" of an anti-malware app is only 3 years, in the case of SAS or MBAM it means I am paying $6-$8 per year for the use of the program. I'm also privy to some of the best anti-malware support in the industry. That's a far cry less than $20-$40 for yearly subscription (some offer upfront discounts forextending the years in the subscription) programs such as Spy Sweeper and Spyware Doctor which have lackluster service and support.

To think that some people refuse to use a program based on a name.... ::)

[SoCalReviews]

In the past few years I also had been looking for a good anti-spyware program to use on multiple systems to replace Spy Sweeper 5.x which had become increasingly bloated and problematic. After testing several different ASW programs and reading the advice in several security forums including this one I finally ended up purchasing several SuperAntispyware (SAS) Pro subscriptions.

I am using SAS Pro for real time anti-spyware protection along with a FW, and AV and a few other security programs. Many people use the free version of SAS but after my positive experience I would not hesitate at subscribing to the SAS Pro version which keeps you auto updated and provides real time protection. (BTW...as someone mentioned in an earlier post... the lifetime subscription is a great offer while it is available).

So far SAS Pro has shown to be very effective against malware/spyware/adware when many other programs have failed. Take a look at the following thread for a recent success story I had using SAS...

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=211123

As others have stated in this thread... it is best to have a multiple layered approach with your security software: AV, FW, ASW, HIPS. You can run multiple ASW (anti-spyware) programs if you want but SAS Pro should work effectively as a major part of your system's ASW security software. As you may already know there are many other paid and free security software programs that can be effectively used along with SAS. When possible use their setup options to exclude these programs from needlessly scanning each other to improve compatibility.