Best Anti-Spyware

Question

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best anti-spyware program to use?  I currently have Spyware Doctor 4.1   I tried updating to 5 but it caused a lot of problems.   Thanks !  :smileytongue:

ky331 · Answer

Your choice of Spyware Doctor is reasonable.

The subject is hotly debated, and much is a matter of personal preference/opinion.

in terms of FREE programs (i do not use, nor recommend, paid programs):

i believe that SuperAntiSpyware offers the best on-demand scanner.

and Windows Defender offers reasonable resident protection

[there aren't many candidates for free resident anti-spyware protection].

EDIT: (post updated to include supported operating systems, and program links)

SuperAntiSpyware [ Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Vista, 2003 and XP Home/Pro]

http://www.superantispyware.com/

Windows Defender [Windows XP Service Pack 2, or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1;

and I believe it's automatically included as part of Vista]

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Message Edited by ky331 on 07-26-2007 02:38 PM

tydymom · Answer

Would it be advisable to run both simultaneously?

ky331 · Answer

'both':   do you mean Spyware Doctor, along with SuperAntiSpyware?   and/or with windows defender??   I'm not familiar-enough with the workings of Spyware Doctor (since I don't used paid products)... but I can offer the following generic advice:   you should be running ONLY ONE resident anti-malware (anti-spyware) program.   by resident, i mean a program running continually, in real-time, that offers preventive protection.   in contrast, feel free to run as many ON-DEMAND scanners as you wish... in fact, it's strongly recommended that you run at least two. on-demand scanners do not prevent infection.... rather, they locate and remove it, after the fact.   I use Windows Defender as my resident anti-malware protection.   I trust SuperAntiSpyware as my primary anti-malware on-demand scanner.   And I use Windows Defender's on-demand scanner as my secondary anti-malware scanner.   [I use other scanners as well, but since you asked for 'the best', i limited my response to one in each category.]   So now you have to determine what Spyware Doctor offers you.   You can certainly run SuperAntiSpyware [Free version for home users] as an on-demand scanner, even if Spyware Doctor offers you its own on-demand scanner.   If Spyware Doctor offers you resident protection, it's possible that Windows Defender may conflict with [or duplicate] that.   Hope this gives you enough information to make your decision.   P.S.   I trust that you're also running a resident anti- VIRUS program (in addition to any anti-malware programs.) Message Edited by ky331 on 07-26-2007 03:00 PM

tydymom · Answer

Yes I run Symantec Anti-Virus.  Thanks for all of your help.

rick000 · Answer

Hey is this one any good http://www.spywareterminator.com/

ky331 · Answer

Spyware Terminator  used to be  cited on Eric Howes Rogue Program list.   On that basis, even though it has been delisted, many forum members still consider it 'tainted' and do not advocate it.     In particular, see the following recent thread where Spyware  Terminator was 'guilty' of a major false positive, which resulted in machines becoming UNbootable! :smileymad:   http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&thread.id=62173

rick000 · Answer

Hey thanks for the info. I never did install Spyware Terminator. And don't think i ever will now that you told me this.

dacohenz · Answer

I have Spyware Terminator loaded on my 4 personal home computers, my business computer, and at least 30 of my clients computers, and have not had one problem yet.  Windows Defender on the other hand, has caused numerous issues although minor on my clients computers, and I have removed it from all of them.  On the negative side of Terminator, there have been more Allow/Block popups which can be annoying, but you can get rid of those by learning how to configure the software.   Dave  :robottongue:

zbestwun2001 · Answer

Dave,
Like Ky331 said that program is on the rogue list.

I would have a HTJ log run and checked. Here are the instructions if you wish to.

Please post a log on the HJT Forum where someone can review it and help you.

Installing HijackThis:

Please download HJT Installer from Here to your desktop.
If not available use this alternate link: Here

Click the Download button. When the Trend Micro HJT install box appears, double click on the HJTInstall.exe. Click on Install.
It will be installed by default here: C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis.
A shortcut to the application will also be placed on your Desktop.
The program will open automatically after installation.
You can double-click the icon that was placed on the Desktop to run subsequent HijackThis scans or you can use the icon inside the folder. The folder HijackThis is where you will find the HJT logs that you save. When you use the application to remove anything, you will also find the backup copies made by HJT inside this folder.
The first time you open HijackThis, check the Main Menu button at the bottom center. When the main menu appears check the box "Show this window when I start HijackThis".
Click on "Do a system scan and save logfile." When the log pops up in Notepad, copy and paste that file back here as a New Message in this forum.
DO NOT have HijackThis fix anything yet. Most of what it finds will be harmless or even required.
Before closing HJT, please click on the AnalyzeThis button. "Analyze This" is for use by TrendMicro, and DOES NOT mean "Analyze My Log". You will need to post your log on the Hijackthis Board.
Close the web page that appears and then close the program.
Posting Your Log As A New Message:
Click the New Message button on the HijackThis Board to start your own thread requesting assistance.
In the Message Body window that opens, simply Right-Click and select Paste.
Please add text to describe your symptoms.
Include in the message subject line a description of your problem. For example, "Popups warning of infection".
Make certain you post the entire log by clicking the Preview Post link at the bottom of the window and comparing it to the log from your scan before you click Submit Post.
* Before submitting your post, if you see the "Automatically convert carriage returns to HTML line breaks" box on the lower left under your Message Body, make sure that is checked or your log may not format correctly.

***************************

zb1

ky331 · Answer

dacohenz,   We all have our 'favorites' among anti-virus and anti-spyware products... for you [or others] who have been using Spyware Terminator, if you believe you're getting good protection from it, if it's 'proven' itself to your satisfaction, that's certainly your personal call to make and pursue.   In terms of Windows defender, which you noted ' has caused [your clients] numerous issues, although minor', please note that I carefully worded my recommendation of Defender as offering reasonable (but by no means 'perfect' ) resident anti-malware protection for a free product.  In fact, there aren't many  FREE  anti-malware programs that offer  resident   protection... [I'm in the process of testing TeaTimer, but am  not  currently recommending it (in general), because version 1.4 has a significant defect in its display, and version 1.5 is currently only in BETA release.]   In contrast, note where I said I 'trust' SuperAntiSpyware as my primary, on-demand anti-malware scanner. Message Edited by ky331 on 07-31-2007 08:34 PM

joe53 · Answer

I've been using Spybot 1.5 beta for some time now, minus its resident protection/TeaTimer.   It hasn't caused any problems, nor detected any false positives. Nor has it found any malware.   In terms of other free anti-malware that offers resident protection, there is Prevx 2.0. It offers a full free trial program, including resident protection, that remains free forever- until malware is detected. At this point, a 30 day countdown of the full program starts, after which it relapses into a demand scanner only, unless you purchase it.   I mention Prevx because it uses decidedly different techniques, and comes highly recommended from reputable sources. That said, I am still evaluating it, and will post a review shortly. As of now, I have several reservations.   Windows Defender remains my resident anti-malware of choice.

ky331 · Answer

Looking at the PrevX site http://www.prevx.com/homeproducts.asp   they offer individual licenses [1 computer]: $24.95 for 12 mo ($9.95 for 3 mo, or $4.95 for 1 mo)   as well as 'family' licenses [good for up to 4 PCs]: $64 per year   As Joe already noted, but using the wording from the PrevX site: ' At the end of the 30 day count-down, if you haven't chosen to buy the product, Prevx 2.0 switches into detection mode. This gives you the same visibility of what's happening on your machine and will tell you if you've been infected, allowing you to clean up an infection either by paying for Prevx 2.0 at that point, or by using another product or a manual clean-up method'.   Joe, perhaps you or others can clarify what exactly happens after the 30 day period has elapsed (assuming the user has not opted for the paid version):   are they saying that resident 'monitoring'/notification [but not actual preventive protection] will continue??  or is it the on-demand 'scanner'-only, which will merely detect [but not remove] malware?? either way, you're 'stuck' unless you decide to pay up.

joe53 · Answer

This is really all I can say so far, since my count-down has not expired:

"With Free Trial Plus, you can download and use Prevx 2.0 (and it's the full product, not some cut down version) for free. If you're never affected by malware, the product is free for ever.

However, if Prevx 2.0 detects, and protects you against, a malicious file, then a count-down begins. This count-down gives you another 30 days of the full product for free. At any point you can then choose to pay for the product, (and by the way Prevx 2.0 is significantly less expensive than other anti-malware products and can be bought by the month, the quarter or the year to give you maximum flexibility).

At the end of the 30 day count-down, if you haven't chosen to buy the product, Prevx 2.0 switches into detection mode. This gives you the same visibility of what's happening on your machine and will tell you if you've been infected, allowing you to clean up an infection either by paying for Prevx 2.0 at that point, or by using another product or a manual clean-up method."

http://info.prevx.com/downloadprevx2.asp

To me this sounds like you will be left with an on-demand scanner with no disinfecting capabilities. I can also say that I have had problems that I am in the process of trying to sort out. I am not yet able to recommend this product. I can't even recommend the trial, based on my experience.

Message Edited by joe53 on 08-01-2007 08:32 PM

ky331 · Answer

Things are pretty much the same for me:

SuperAntiSpyware is still my primary on-demand anti-malware scanner.

Windows Defender as my secondary on-demand anti-malware scanner, as well as for resident anti-malware protection.

However, at this point, I am also a big fan of SpyBot's TeaTimer, in addition to Windows Defender, for resident anti-malware protection:

I've done some semi-extensive testing, using both Windows Defender and SpyBot's TeaTimer on XP systems, even though these are both resident anti-spyware programs. According to SpyBot's website, " Spybot - Search & Destroy's Resident protection [TeaTimer] is designed such that there should not be any compatibility issues." My own testing seems to confirm they are not only compatible, but they in fact nicely complement each other: quite often, one would pick-up on, and advise me about, something that the other one either "overlooked", or "knew"/"assumed" to be safe. It certainly gave me an extra feeling of protection (be it real or imagined on my part). Granted, there were several duplications in warning messages --- which some people might consider a nuisance --- but I'm willing to put up with it, if it provides me with extra layer of protection.

I furthermore advocate use of WinPatrol, which offers "pseudo-resident" protection, and is additionally a great Startup Manager.

You can also get some great preventive protection, at no slowdown, by using both SpywareBlaster and SpyBot's Immunization. Again, my work is under XP, and I believe I've recently seen some articles questioning the use of SpywareBlaster under Vista...

Let me also state that I use SpyBot's IE bad-download blocker (SDHelper). However, I know that Joe53 has experienced problems with this aspect, so I mention this as a disclaimer. Joe also does not run TeaTimer, as he does not like getting the duplicated messages.

And to conclude, since I've mentioned what I consider to be 3 positive aspects of SpyBot (TeaTimer, Immunization, SDHelper), let me say that I also run SpyBot as a scanner, but it's rarely found anything for me.

Message Edited by ky331 on 12-27-2007 04:29 PM

zbestwun2001 · Answer

I believe he still feels that way. Take care, zb1

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