Advice for free(or cheap) anti-spyware program, please.

I recently had to rebuild my windows box. On this rebuild, I want to run free software if possible or at least, very cheap software (i.e. one low lifetime license payment). Currently, I have reinstalled avast and BOClean and I will download Comodo again when the new version comes out (I am also behind a router)

Before the system failure my old box had: the two apps. from Javacool (I can't remember their names: Spyware blaster and something) and I also ran spybot's real time block list (not the tea timer, though) as well as Microsoft's real-time antispyware application (the one with the castle icon that they upgraded to after the MSAS/Giant version. I had ewido, A2, spybot, adaware to do on-demand scans. These in addition to the avast, BOClean and Comodo mentioned above.

Well... I am reinstalling and rebuilding now. I am wondering how much of my old set-up for security that I should restore ? Basically, I want a pretty tight system built around BOClean, avast!, Comodo and router. I am not going to pay for anything but BOCLean unless, I can find a good app. with a cheap lifetime license (which I think that SAS has for a limited time?).

1. What real-time anti-spyware would you recommend?
2. any on-demand antispyware, antitrojan, and A-V that you would recommend in place of or in addition to what I had before?

Thanks,

B.

Windows XP Home SP2 up-to-date. Sometimes an IE based browser sometimes firefox.

 

If I were to use any (free) third party on demand anti-spyware/anti-trojan software, it would be ewido and superantispyware. My antivirus of choice would be AVG (free).

 

i would just get rid of ur previous antispyware tools (adaware, spybot, spywareblaster, etc) and just use the free superantispyware for on-demand scans.

boclean and avast should provide good resident protection.

 

I don't have any real-time montoring from my antispyware programs so I cannot tell you which are better at blocking intrusions into a computer. As for on demand scanning, the free versions of Super Antispyware and Ewido are very good, in my opinion. I also use Spybot S&D and Ad-aware, but not sure if they are that good since they could not get rid of a trojan infection that I had. Each program has different capabilities and you sometimes need to experiment with several to see which ones work better on your system.

 

1. Spyware Terminator
2. AS - Spybot AT - A2 AntiMalware AV - Avira AntiVir PE Classic

 

You can install the Spyware Terminator to use it Realtime Shield...
SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition and ewido anti-spyware to on-demand scan...

 

AVs:

AOL Active Virus Scan free=KAV
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2161910/aol-active-virus-shield

AS:

Spyware Terminator.

www.spywareterminator.com

 

Firefox with Noscript,Adblock plus and G filterset updater extensions run through Sandboxie should keep you safe from most if not all inet borne malware.

SuperAntispyware as on demand.

http://www.sandboxie.com/

http://www.superantispyware.com/

 

Thanks. This is literally the best forum of any kind that I have found.

Basically, I can get away with using multiple on-demand spyware scanners instead of running one real-time, right? I just read some HUGE posts about SAS and other anti-spyware apps here and at BBR and Spyware Warrior. Nick from SAS seems to be everywhere, he answers and replies to posts. A good thing.

I think that I will not install Windows defender. (Do you disagree?) I think that I will keep BOClean and avast! running real-time. I will probably install the kitchen sink: Spybot, adaware, ewido, A2, SAS for on-demand scanning. As I read the other posts I found that testers had spyware removed by Spybot and Adaware , which are maligned as ineffective these days, that were not removed by the "better" apps.

So, again, do you use / think that average Joe (not a Porn surfer) needs a real-time antispyware?

 

My view is that if someone is a safe surfer and wise as well( not installing untrusted software), he infact does not need a real time antispyware. Avast and BOClean might be just more than enough with safe surfing and wise instllations.

 

I would concur with VaMPiRiC_CRoW

Install the Spyware Terminator to use it Realtime Shield...and then use SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition for your on-demand scan (although Spyware Terminator does have an on demand scanner but SuprAntiSpyware's is viewed by many as better).

and like Aigle posted, if you have a decent AV, and are a relatively safe surfer, ie, you don't go looking for trouble, then that should be sufficient when coupled with regular antispyware on demand scans.