Is There An Alternative For Pest Patrol

Discussion in 'other anti-malware software' started by chris18, Dec 1, 2005.

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  1. chris18

    chris18 Registered Member

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    I'm currently using Pest Patrol v4 on my old PC.

    I'm commissioning a new PC and wondered if there was an alternative, preferably FREEWARE,to Pest Patrol. I particularly want the KeyPatrol protection that Pest Patrol v4 has to protect against keyboard loggers whilst online.

    I've looked at version 5 but it doesn't see from the write up to have that facility.

    Whilst writing can I ask what most people consider the minimum security software I should have installed. I already have NOD32 anti-virus and Outpost firewall and in the past I've run things such as Spybot-SpywareBlaster-SpywareGuard-PcBugDoctor-Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal. I'm also running behind a router.

    Some of the above software seem to have duplicate functions and I'd like to limit the software of this type I have installed, especially those that start with Windows, not only to reduce drain on resources but also to avoid clutter on my desktop.

    Thanks
     
  2. Mongol

    Mongol Registered Member

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    This will probably be moved to the Privacy area since it is not AV related but anyhoo...I know of no freeware program that would ofer all that you are looking for. I recommend Online Armor as an ideal way to really bolt down your computer. It offers many if not all the protections of any current spyware program including blocking keyloggers and is a continuing work in progress. Tech support is outstanding. It is 40 bucks but 10 dollars off if you present any current security program key or receipt. Check it out including the 15 day demo at: http://www.tallemu.com/index.php?area=home....:D. With online armor you could probably eliminate a number of the other programs like Spybot and Spyware blaster since Online Armor is proactive in its defenses. I keep adaware free around just for occasional scans and to clean up the mru's, hope this helps...
     
  3. dread

    dread Registered Member

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  4. I have Pest Patrol v4 and when you reinstall it, now that Computer Associates bought them, it no longer removes Key Patrol as a separate function. It did remove it, or absorb it into the main program at first, but now it no longer does anymore, if you reinstall Pest Patrol. At least that's my experience with reinstalling.

    Though be aware Key Patrol is a very poor anti-keylogger anyhow, there are many much better AKs around these days. I would never rely on just Key Patrol to detect keyloggers on my system because it is sooooo poor at catching them. But I still like Pest Patrol, I just don't rely on its Key Patrol to find keyloggers.

    If you want a free AK to find hook based keyloggers, go with Snoopfree. It's not bad at all for a freebie. Then you could add Unahckme or RootkitRevealer to that and you'll be able to find kernel based keyloggers as well.

    Online Armor's real time protection will only currently detect hook based keyloggers, not kernel based by the way.

    The rest of your security programs look good. Nod and Outpost are very good. Not sure about PcBugDoctor. Spybot's Tea Timer and Ad-aware's real time protection Ad-Watch are similar. I would probably choose Ad-Watch over Tea Timer though if you have the payware version of Ad-aware.

    If you don't have Ad-aware pay version that shouldn't start with Windows. Nor will SpywareBlaster. But if you are running Ad-Watch, shut down Tea Timer, so that's one less program. You could also disable SpywareGuard from start up too, and only run it when you go online if you wanted to.

    Best of luck.
     
  5. Notok

    Notok Registered Member

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    This is true, however it's due to change very soon :)
     
  6. chris18

    chris18 Registered Member

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    Thanks for all the replies.

    Not all the progs I mentioned start with Windows as mentioned.

    Over time I've tried various progs as a result of reading forums like this and as a consequence I've got progs installed all over the place, many of which are either not used at all or at best only in isolated cases.

    With the new PC I was hoping to reduce these and stick to progs that are both effective and that I will use.

    The trouble when the big boys such as CA buy out a prog is that it gradually becomes a clone of their existing softare. I think Sygate has now been taken over by Symantec so there are no more updates and I suspect it wll become a clone of Norton over time.

    I'll have a look at the progs mentioned. In the meantime if anyone has links to any of them they can post that would be great.
     
  7. muf

    muf Registered Member

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    Security Task Manager i would say is one of the best for idenifying hook based keyloggers. Maybe currently the best?
    http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/

    For those nasty Kernel level keyloggers, i reckon Unhackme does the trick.

    STM doesn't run resident. It's a scanner only.
    Unhackme runs resident and has a scan function as well.

    If you run those two and also a HIPS type application to STOP keyloggers getting on your system then there will be very little chance of you becoming the victim of a keylogger.

    Nothing is perfect, but the above setup seems to do well.

    muf
     
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