SpySweeper Question

My license for SpySweeper is about to end soon. Are there any other programs that are as good or almost as good? The problem isn't renewing the license but my computer seems to have slowed down considerably since I installed SpySweeper. It seems to be a resource hog.

Thanks in advance

raiderfan47

System - Windows XP Service Pavk 2
AV - Avast Free
Anti Malware - AVG Antispyware 7.5
FW - Kerio Free
Win Patrol - Free
SpySweeper
Spybot Search & Destroy
Linksys Firewall Router (4 port VPN Endpoint)

 

I really like Spyware Doctor. All the same protections as Spysweeper with fewer system resources.

However, I hear GREAT things about Spyware Terminator. It has both active protections like Spysweeper and Spyware Doctor, plus it has HIPS, plus it is free.

So I would first try ST. See if you like it. Don't use its scanner though, continue using AVG scanner. Also, ST comes with the option to use Clam AV, don't use CLAM AV.

If you don't like ST, then I would try Spyware Doctor.

 

for a paid antispyware app theres SuperAntiSpyware Pro. there is also just a free on-demand scanner.

 

Yes, this is another good chouice as well. There are a number of good options out there.

 

i would surgest trying superantispyware.
or trend micro antispyware.
lodore

 

Raiderfan47 - Before you throw out the baby with the bath water, one question. What version are you using? If you're using ver 5.0 you might be right about resources. If you're using ver 5.2 I don't see how it's a resource hog. I personally haven't had a resource problem.

 

5.2 not only slowed down my system, but the auto-scan feature stopped working on this version. In order to shchedule a scan, you had to schedule it in both windows scheduler and inside Spysweeper. I decided to uninstall.

Great program, just too heavy for my system.

 

To TWL845 - I am using Version 5.23. The last time I scanned with SpySweeper it took over an hour. Is that typical? Should I try to scan in safe mode. Perhaps I have some other problems though I scan my system with everything I have and haven't gotten any positive hits.

Any suggestions

Thanks

raiderfan47

 

raiderfan47 - Speaking for my self, I have an 80GB hd and a full scan takes 35 minutes. The fact that you never find any spyware with any of your apps could mean that there isn't any. Try going on a few web sites that are a little wacky or are selling something and try to force a data miner.

 

Try doing the following to see if this speeds up your system. It might take a while, but this made a huge difference in my system.

1. Hit START....ALL PROGRAMS....ACCESSORIES...SYSTEM TOOLS...DISK CLEANUP....then cllick OK. After you have run the disk cleanup, then

2. Hit START...ALL PROGRAMS....ACCESSORIES...SYSTEM TOOLS...DISK DEFRAGMENT. Click on the C drive an have it anlayze to see if you need to defrag. If you do need to defrag, then do so. This could take quite some time.

3. If you have a good registry cleaner program, clean the registry. You can even do this with CCLEANER if you have CCleaner on your computer (it's a free program).

If the following doesn't significantly speed up your system and Spysweeper scan times, you might want to uninstall SS and try some fo the freebie programs like AVG free or SuperAntispyware. If you don't like either of those, you can always re-install SS.

 

To ejr.

I have jv16, Tuneup Utilities, CCleaner, ATF Cleaner, RegScrubXP, Regsitry Mechanicand Diskeeper on my system and run them consecutively over several evenings to try to keep my system running properly and keep out junk.

I ran SpySweeper in Safe with Networking Mode and the scan finished in under 15 minutes. However, I don't know if scanning in that mode provides the same effectiveness as a scan with the system running. Any thoughts on that subject?

Anyway, I'll run all my other software and your suggestions first (except Diskeeper which I will save for last) and compact the registry before running SpySweeper and let you know the results.

Thanks for the help

raiderfan47

 

So you have:

System - Windows XP Service Pavk 2
AV - Avast Free
Anti Malware - AVG Antispyware 7.5
FW - Kerio Free
Win Patrol - Free
SpySweeper
Spybot Search & Destroy
JV16
Tuneup Utilities
CCleaner
ATF Cleaner
RegScrubXP
Registry Mechanic and
Diskeeper

All on your machine? Maybe you simply have the system overloaded with software applications. There is also a possibility that you have software that conflicts with each other. You may try turning off Spysweepers active protection and see if your Sweeps take any less time. Or maybe untinstall AVG. I know that AVG seemed to significantly slow down my system when I also had Spy Speeper and Comodo Firewall.

I don't have experience on all the applications that you are runningm but it seems to me like you have duplication of function in many of them and could probably uninstall quite a bit to free up some resources.

 

I agree with ejr. Holy registry Batman! I think that with just JV16 you would have a good registry cleaner. As ejr, I don't keep SS running but use AVG anti-spyware to run real time because it's light on its feet. You don't need 6 anti-spywares either. Three, and SpyBlaster is plenty. I think all those apps running at once while SS is scanning, slows down the scan. Just for grins turn off all the Anti- spy apps and run your scan with SS.

 

You do have a lot of registry/cleanup programs.
I would consider keeping 2 and unloading the rest.

Resource usage can be an issue with some of the A/S programs.
Every system can have different resource usage with a particular program.

If you want to explore some other A/S programs SAS Pro would be a good one to trial.I would start there if it was me.

 

I certainly agree from reading other posts in this forum that I probably have too much coverage.

What I hoped to accomplish was to have active software that was designed primarily to defend against specific types of threats. For example Avast for virus protection, Kerio as a general firewall, AVG for trojans and other malware, Win Patrol for rootkits and SpySweeper for Spyware. Diskeeper for defragmentation (though I wish it was on demand)

I also thought software such as Spybot, JV16, TuneUpUtilities, CCleaner, Registry Mechanic, ATF Cleaner,and RegScrubXP were on-demand software and thus didn't effect system resources. Suprisingly, to me anyway,running each registry cleaner always found "problems" that the others didn't.

Obviously, I misunderstand the role and amount of overlap among the active software. Apparently, my understanding of on-demand software is incorrect as well. My system is rather old and I suspect having an old Socket A Athlon XP 1800 doesn't help.

Any other suggestions or help in upgrading my limited knowledge is and will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

raiderfan47

 

Here's the best advice can give you for now.

1. Use 1 AV, 1 FW, and 2 AS. I would choose 1 antispyware with active protection (like Spyware Terminator) and 1 for on demand (like Spybot or Superantispyware). If you are a safe surfer, this will really be enough protection. Spyware Terminator also has HIPS for an extra layer of protection. The HIPS and Active protection will be great at keeping your system clean. If it is clean already, then prevention really should be your focus.

2. JV16 is a great utility. It's Registry Cleaner will keep your registry clean enough. You can also use other functions in JV 16 to clean garbage files like CCleaner does. Though I like to use ccleaner for that function.

3. No need to pay for a utility to do what you can do for free with Windows Tools. Just regularly run the disk cleanup function and the disk defragment utility and you won't need diskeeper.

I would be very interested in seeing how your system runs with just the above programs installed.