On Demand Antispyware

Can anyone recommend an on demand antispyware app? I currently use superantispyware pro for real time protection and i wanted something on demand that would catch whatever SAS missed.

Im thinking of using spy sweeper. Anyone got any other recommendations?

 

I'm happy to recommend Asquared,
AVG AS, and last but not least Spybot (1.5)
Asquared and Spybot have particularly good forums. Long time since I used AVG forum, but I don't recall it being especially good. Hell of a lot better than Lavasofts, though.
I have all three scanners, +SAS on demand, using SpywareTerminator resident.
All work flawlessly. AVG and A2 install a service. AVG has the fastest scan, A2 about the same speed as SAS. Spybot somewhere in between.
A2 has a reputation for a slightly higher incidence of FPs. (I've had 2...no big deal.)
I haven't had to test any of their abilities to detect and clean malware recently..nor chosen to. But a couple of years ago A2 and Spybot between them castrated a trojan downloader (SpywareQuake related) for me.

 

1. Counter Spy
2. AVGAS
3. a-squared

• SB 1.5's detection rates pale in comparision to the apps listed above.
• SS's detection rates have declined over the past year, and there is no freeware version available.

Don't forget about quality online virus/malware scanners such as F-Secure, ESET, and Bitdefender.

 

A-Squared has been a good on-demand scanner for me.
AVG-AS is another good choice.

 

Price isnt an issue for me. My spy sweeper subscription has just expired. So what should i use for on demand? Its between a squared, counterspy and spyware doctor right now.

 

I don't see much difference in those three programs.They are all good choices IMO.My preference is A-Squared.

 

Seeing as you already have SAS and don't mind buying another, your best option would be Counterspy realtime and SAS for demand. CS will give much better protection realtime than SAS in cases where new malware is involved because of its execution protection and Registry protection features which can act even where the signatures fail to spot a baddy. SAS cannot stop an unknown baddy from executing, nor can it stop Reg changes where it doesn't recognise the danger (that is why SAS fails all the tests like Spycar). In the unlikely event you needed it, you could still use SAS to clean on demand.

If you wanted a free one for demand only then AVG-AS would be the obvious choice for a second opinion.

 

Ive heard counterspy, like spyware doctor and spy sweeper is bloated and uses loads of system resources. Thats why i prefer SAS pro as real-time. So what would be best for on demand: AVG, spy sweeper, spyware doctor, counterspy or a squared?

Thanks in advance.

 

I have used A-squared, and spysweeper as an on demand scanner and found them to run fine. I didn't have any serious infections on the PC so I could not say which is better.

 

SUPERAntiSpyware doesn't "fail" the tests - we simply have made the choice to focus on actual spyware, not "tests" or "simulators" based upon theory and technique, not an actual infection.

Here is a blog/write up I did regarding theoretical tests and simulators:
http://forums.superantispyware.com/viewtopic.php?t=779

 

In other words, you CHOSE to fail the tests. Hmmm

Meanwhile, back on the topic -- For an on-demand antispyware, I heartily recommend *A-squared Free*. It updates fast, often, & reliably. It has a very good GUI & engine. Full scans are rather slow, but not unbearably so. Also it has an Explorer-context click spot (for checking individual files) which some of its competitors do not provide in their free/on-demand versions.

 

Ever since i can remember, A2Squared and now A-squared always was slow during scanning but that is no real consequence since it carefully sorts thru ALL programs/files looking for a match or even traces, somewhat similar to an authentic AV scan.

Only drawback i suffer from with it is it's Huge installer, but then some softwares just can't make the grade or be as useful as expected from users without the fullness of what the installer contains.

 

AVG-AS, or SAS. Both are great programs.

 

I'm not any sort of an expert but some depend on me; praise me. haha. For me, the single most effective program is SAS free. It works well for me and mine.

SAS is very straightforward. I used to collect Scanners but have stopped because many now need services running when they are not protecting anything. That is a very disappointing behavior.

Thanks

 

I think you don't understand those tests and how they actually execute. In real life situations spyware/malware doesn't act like those tests. You could design a test to take down anything but real life examples are different.

 

Im going to stick with SAS Pro. I also just wanted to know which antispyware program has the best engine? Resource usage etc doesnt matter, just wanted to know which one will currentley fine the most spyware.

 

Oh really! Then how do they execute?

In real life situations malware does seek to change the Registry and if SAS doesn't recognise the malware, 'cos it is something new, it will not be able to offer the same level of protection as certain other software that does prevent execution of unknown files and does protect the Registry from change by such files should they be allowed to execute. This type of software, incidently, also passes the tests that SAS fails.

 

If you want software that passes simulators and tests, then use something else, if you want software that is updated daily to keep pace with zero-day threats then consider SUPERAntiSpyware which can often "see" items other products won't even see. I am not saying we are the "best", but we offer an valuable layer of protection other products may not be able to offer in the same way - using multiple products in layers is the key to true protection......or just don't surf porn sites, watch adult movies that require codec downloads, and don't visit warez/keygen sites, and the likley hood of getting infected is very low.

 

CS,SS and SD are overrated when it comes to realtime protection. It doesnt do as well as those mags claim.

However if i would want 2 as progs id use sas as realtime and cs ondemand.

 

Is there a free version of counterspy now?

 

Not that I'm aware of which is why I use the opposite of GES/POR and have CS in real time and SAS on demand. CS were running a competitive upgrade so got mine for $10

 

Actually i do the same but i dont always recommend my setup. CS has a free trial wich cleans and can get installed over and over. My version is paid.

 

Perhaps he didn't mean it that way but it sounds to me that he is saying (in effect): "Our software rejects all tests & declares itself untestable."

If so, it is tantamount to saying, "You just gotta take my word as gospel as to how really really good we are."

Some folks might accept that. NOT me. I prefer at least SOME objective data -- as opposed to only relying on advertising hype and anecdotal comments.

 

Again to clarify - what I am saying is that we don't put effort into passing tests that don't really test the abilities of the software to detect and remove threats. If you (or anyone) want some other opinions on whether our software works, do a simple Google search or search Wilders, CastleCops, SpywareWarrior, etc. and you will see many instances where we clean up systems where others don't - again not saying we are the "best" because no software in the anti-spyware or anti-virus arena can catch everything on a given day.

It does not sound like SUPERAntiSpyware is for you, and that is fine - we have millions of users and are growing by tens of thousands daily, so it must be working for "someone" out there.

 

Hi bellgamin

Maybe he means if you want HIBS/IDS software then his software is not that nor has he ever claimed it to be that.

On the flipside i have yet to run a simulator that empties your bank account or serves up annoying ads whilst slowing down your PC to a crawl

With that you can break down to semantic's about the Pro's/Cons of blacklist based solutions,HIBS/IDS and even hybrids of the 2 approach's.

But for the sake of staying ontopic(on demand antispyware) then really it boils down to nothing to do with realtime capabilities against simulators.It should boil down to scanning engine capabilities,current target database and speed of updating target database to include new threats

HTH