Best Anti-Spyware/Malware Real-Time Protection?

I have AVG Anti-Spyware as my Spyware shield at the moment and I've had it like this for a few days now. But I've noticed that it lets quite a lot of spyware in and I only get rid of them after I've scanned for them. This, in my eyes, doesn't seem to be the greatest program for real-time protection. So, any advice on what's the best program to get?

Just in case it's needed, my setup is:
NOD32,
Windows Firewall, but I have an 'industrial strength' firewall on my router,
Mozilla Firefox.

I've already tried Outpost Pro but it caused a few problems for my system (though it didn't let any spyware in), but I had to get rid of it.

Anyway, all help is greatly appreciated.

 

superantispyware!
or you could get a HIPS instead if you think you can handle the popups.
or get programs like online armor from here www.tallemu.com
or prevx from here http://www.prevx.com/
but if you are a high risk surfer and it seems you are since you saying it misses alot of spyware you should eiether getting more protection or stop being a high risk surfer.
for high risk surfer kaspersky 6.0 might be better.
lodore

 

I wouldn't classify myself as that high-risk, then again I do oggle at the odd porn now and then. But I tend to avoid sites that might try and infect me, and I tend to rely on McAfee SiteAdvisor to see if a site is safe or not. Anyway, I'll try out Kaspersky and Prevx. Cheers.

 

np problem
i have nothing against nod32 because i like it but i think the extra detection rate of kaspersky would be better for you.
i would advise getting superantispyware free version here
http://www.superantispyware.com/
its an on demand scanner
so if your defenses miss anything it can clean them up since nothing is percent.
people that get spyware alot say its the best way of getting rid of spyware and get get rid of the most deadly infections easy.
im generally a safe surfer so i havent tryed out its abilitys thou.

if you have any problems or just wanna ask genaral questions about kaspersky ask here
http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showforum=4
lodore

 

Long ago, there was a very long thread that inquired if anybody’s AS has stopped malware in real time.

That was a very pertinent question.

In my experience, quite often, if your AV does not catch it, it does not get caught.

I’ve had all sorts of malware cruise past PestPatrol (CA AS), Ewido (AVG AS), WinPatrol Plus, Ad-Aware Plus and others. They find it later on the scan, but never going in.

My current line of thought is that you need the most powerful AV you can get, and then behind that, something more active than the traditional AS. It seems to me that the primary value of AS programs is as scanners only (thus you can just get the free versions).

The approaches to malware that I like right now:

DefenseWall: Seems to be great. Does well in every test I’ve read.
CyberHawk: Sounds very interesting, and it’s free.
Prevx1: Love the theory of this one. For some reason, I can’t install it on my system – uugghhh.

 

Awesome. I have SUPERAntispyware actually, and I think it's scan is fantastic but never bothered with it's on-demand scanner which I shall tryout now. Thanks very much lodore!

EDIT: That's sounds like quality advice Frank cheers, and I too just had trouble installing Prevx1 on my system.

 

really its a case of best av which imo is kaspersky.
free on demand scanners like superantispyware.
and some hips like prevx1 online armor or something like ssm.
there are others to.
lodore

 

No problem Dr. Lucien Sanchez.
are you gonna try kaspersky?
lodore

 

Definitley. I've read reviews of it before and your advice makes me want to get it even more, I'm just waiting for the torrent to finish downloading, I know I'm scum, but I'm as skint as a very, very skint person.

 

(no comment)=d
just if you get enough money to buy it buy it.
i know its expensive but its worth it and im sure you will understand that its worth the money.
lodore

 

Oh yeah definitley. I just literally have no money.

 

Spysweeper or counterspy probably have the most comprehensive protection but are heavy on the resources as a result. You could also try a-squared antimalware who have a 30% off special at the moment.

 

Avira, in reference to the question.

 

If the problem is spyware that gets through by simply browsing, get Sandboxie. It will be hard to see anything. Even cookies.
Downloading and saving, that's where an AS will be useful.

 

lodore, isn't the spyware protection/detection in Kaspersky AV (and AOL AVS)suppose to be pretty good? I saw the results of an independent test done on a website called Donna's Calender of Updates, where KAV (AVS) and Avast did very good at detecting malware other than just Viruses.

 

just read the PUP test at av comparitives it done very well there.
lodore

 

I have used several AS applications and none of them seem to be worth a hoot at stopping malware from entering your system. However, after a lot of trial and error, I have found a combination that hasn't even allowed a tracking cookie on my system for a long, long time. I'll try to give you a quick rundown on what I use:

AV - NOD32. I have used Kaspersky and think it is a fine product, but don't like the drag it caused on my system, not to mention that it was always BSOD Central when meshed with other programs. Also, my personal opinion is that NOD32's heuristics and anti-stealth, anti-rootkit technology makes it the best you can get. Kaspersky fans will disagree, but that's OK. NOD32 is a heck of a lot cheaper, and I feel you get more for your money!

FW - Make sure and use a firewall where you can add rules and block bad IP ranges. That will take care of a lot of crapware. I personally use Sunbelt Kerio 4.x. I know it has some deficiencies, but it is a good firewall and very easy to develop rules, block IP's etc. Plus, the free version will do everything you need a firewall to do.

I don't use a resident AS. Is a waste of time and resources. I used to run CounterSpy (before that, Microsoft AS), but it never caught a thing. Neither did any other AS I used. Yea, it would find it on scan, but not before.

One of the best things I ever did was installing a HOSTS file manager and use my HOSTS file to block malicious sites, ads, spyware etc. Read the information on this website that tells you how to set it up.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

After I started using this method, the crapware stopped. Another thing that works great is using a little program with your hosts file that filters bad IP's, advertisements, etc. It is called eDexter, and is available from the following site:

http://www.pyrenean.com/edexter.php

This program filters websites without having to use a proxy (like Proxomitron and others), which is nice. Also speeds up websurfing if you are using a large hosts file. It uses a PAC file to filter content, and which you can edit to ad any website or adserver to the blocklist. Also, from time to time I use Peerguardian2. Many say that it should only be used if using P2P, but I have found it useful for everyday use, as it blocks literally millions of malicious sites.

Also, one of the best HIPS programs I have used (and I've tried most of the HIPS software) is Dynamic Security Agent, available from this site:

http://www.privacyware.com/dynamic_security_agent.html

This program covers a wide area: processes, network control, app control, HOSTS file, registry & email monitoring, etc. It pretty much stays in the background and isn't nearly as pesty and most of the other HIPS programs. Also, it takes very little memory to run, so saves on system resources.

Also, be careful what browser you use and pay close attention to your browser settings. I would not personally run IE with ActiveX enabled. If I do run IE, I run IE7 with limited user account (using DropMyRights). Right now I am running Firefox with NoScript and CookieSafe. A lot of your malware is installed through scripts, so blocking those with Firefox cuts down on most of the garbage. Another alternative is the Opera browser, which I also use frequently. When I run Opera I have javascript and cookies disabled except for trusted sites. There are a lot of other factors and other tweaks that I could mention, but I feel these are some major factors.

 

That's some fantastic advice KDNeese as well as everyone else. I've downloaded DSA and I love it, I tried to download eDexter but the page seems to be having some trouble at the moment. I installed Kaspersky, but it uninstalled NOD32 plus the key I got was blacklisted, that'll serve me right for downloading illegal software.