need some help

FWIW, I have 2 paid anti-malware programs (a-squared and MBAM) I could use, but I always keep returning to Defender as the one to run in real-time. Things just seem to run a bit "smoother" with WD, and experts I trust recommend its use, even over other paid products. (This is on an XP system, mind you).

If you choose WD over SS, I advise you to join  the Microsoft SpyNet in WD (under Tools) to take advantage of the web-based database of malware accumulated by millions of other WD (and other MS security programs) users.

Also be sure that Windows Automatic Updates is enabled to ensure your WD definitions keep up-to-date.

I really can't say that WD is "better" than other commercial products, just that it works very well for me with XP, and has never let me down.

To be honest, I can't recall any recent head-to-head tests of WD against its commercial competitors (at least not from a source I would trust, which would exclude most magazines' tests).

You might be interested to read the following opinion from an expert I trust, on the value of WD:
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?p=199980#p199980

His bottom line is:
"Windows Defender is free, offers many advanced features, provides fast scans, is light on system resources, and includes two free technical support calls. It does not conflict with your antivirus software or other anti-malware utilties. Leave it enabled under Vista. Install it under Windows XP."

If you are going to use Windows Defender for your anti-spyware protection, what are you going to use for your anti-virus?

well i already uninstalled the Trend Micro using the link you gave me and I installed the Webroot i bought. I have the Webroot running currently. my questions about the Windows Defender came about when i noticed i would boot my pc and it was running with the Webroot , so it was then that i asked about it and if it was running in 'real-time' and if i should enable just one in 'real-time' the Webroot or Windwos Defender. The Webroot version I bought is 'Webroot Spy Sweeper with Anti-Virus protection' so I would have to either go with that for now or use one of the free ones you've mentioned in the questions you've answered for me. what would you suggest?

thanks!

I had forgotten that you purchased the Webroot suite, and not just Spy Sweeper (anti-spyware). My comments on Defender really only applied to comparing it with stand-alone anti-spyware programs, not to suites. My apologies.

I looked at the Webroot User Guide for your product, and it does not appear you can selectively disable its real-time anti-spyware. So if you want to keep it for its AV (and numerous other features), then I would advise disabling Defender's real-time protection to avoid any conflicts.You can still use Defender for occasional on-demand scans with no worry of any conflict.

Webroot is a reputable vendor, and I see no reason for you to waste the money you spent on the suite you have now installed. Suites do offer the simplicity of an all-in-one solution, with guaranteed compatability between the components. (And there's alot to be said for that).

So I would stick with it for now, and see how it goes. There really is no "best" (anti-spyware, anti-virus, firewall, etc). In the final analysis, you have to try them out to see what works best for you. If it turns out you don't like the suite, feel free to ask again about other options, both paid and free.

thanks joe. i diabled the Defender and am using my Webroot.

i need help! my other laptop i gave to my boys to use and twice now its showed strange pages that i don't recognise. its an hp with vista and still has Norton and when i turned it on then opened firefox it automatically went to some page that said that my computer was infected, that it had several trojans and worms and that i needed to do what the online scan said, i didn't do anything that was in any of the windows that would pop up, i ran a scan with malwarebytes and it said that everything was ok and nothing was found then i ran defender and an error code poped up then i ran Norton Virus and Spyware scan and it said nothing found everything was ok, is my pc infected?

i took pictures of my screen cause it poped up so fast then went away, but i wasn't thinking when i took the pics and i used my cell phone. if i used my camera i could've showed you what my screen said, i think i have a cord for my phone with a usb on it can i upload pics to my pc that way?

It sounds as if you are infected, but we can't tell until we see some logs. Usually, we send folks to the Malware Removal Forum but the helpers there have been swamped lately. Just so you do not have to wait longer, I suggest posting a HijackThis log at SpywareHammer.There are instructions HERE for posting at SpywareHammer. The site has many Microsoft MVP's on staff and helpers there may be able to assist you sooner than we can here.

Additional forums that offer malware removal can be found at this link in the recommended sites section on the left side of this page: http://hjt-data.trendmicro.com/hjt/analyzethis/index.php

Please post at only ONE so you do not tie up two or more helpers working on the same issue. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

thanks for helping! i will do the SpywareHammer and follow the instructions.I guess i'll have to try later today since it's very detailed and i don't want to start and not have time to finish and waste anyones time over there. you all are just amazing for the time you share with us and sharing your valuable information.

Sounds like a good plan. :emotion-1:  Let them know that you've already run MBAM so they can ask you to post your MBAM log if they need to review it as well.

Hey Bugbatter!

wow you were not kidding when you said they are busy at Spyhammer ! I finally had some time today to do the hijack log with the Trend-Micro link and post it over and they have pages of people needing help! so I am not sure how long it will take for someone to reply to my hijack log.

this is the location of my post if your interested

http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=3992.0

i really hope this works using the help i get from Spyhammer because the laptop i am trying to fix i am letting my boys use and if i can't get it working they are going to want to use my new DELL! and i LOVE MY DELL

I hope you get help soon, too. A helper will probably reply within 72 hours. Just don't install any programs or run any scans until somebody has a chance to look at the log. If you are going to let your boys use that computer, I suggest locking down the security pretty well. However, the best protection that you have is the person sitting behind the computer. Almost all the issues we see are from computers that are using one or more security programs. Malware is written to bypass security, so the user has to be very careful about where he surfs to and how he surfs.

Thanks for the tip on locking down the security if it does come to that. i hope not though because I really love my Dell, & if I can get the HP working for them they'll be fine with that.

you know I'm a bit worried about my post at SPYHAMMER because I didn't read the thread that said you must remove P2P programs before posting and my son had Limewire and bit torrent and am not sure if there are anymore P2P programs and I didn't remove them before doing the hijack log. have any suggestions of what i should do?

"Webroot is okay, but remember that there is no security that will protect you as well as the person sitting in the chair behind the computer. It's how you surf and where you surf to, and NO P2P (file sharing)

It's really nice to see a post like this, from a internet security pro. I have agreed with that advice for years.

I wouldn't recommend running naked, with NO anti-virus software, but for myself, I no longer use any of that. I simply surf safe and have no problems.

Using SpyBot Search and Destroy for malware and spyware, but nothing for virus'. The SSD takes very good care of the trojans and such.

I did try out several anti-virus utilities and found that none of them really did any good at all, as they all would miss the trojans, that actually caused me any problems. I found this rather silly, at the very least. The only thing Anti-virus ever did, was slow things down and make installations a pain. They never stopped the truly potential baddies. I got myself very familiar with the spyware and malware though and found all sorts of ways to manually kill their runnings. It was as if, I was in a minute by minute battle with the malware creators- The minute I found a way to kill them, they would develop a new way to stop me, a minute after that. I did this ntentionally for about 6 months, until the fight became futile and unbearable. That is when I finally broke down and installed SSD. WOW, what a difference SSD made! It does exactly what I needed it to do and takes very little upfront mem to run in background and guess what?,...it catches everything! I haven't seen baddies for years now.

Once I got to a Win2000ME OS, I just erased the anti-virus softwares, on all my new PC's and guess what? I have never gotten a virus in 10 years now. No, not a single one. If I ever do, it is no sweat either, as it is very simple to re-format and start fresh. There is nothing important on my rigs, that hasn't already been backed up elsewhere.

akamslaynestaley, your thread has a reply and is [In Progress]. You are in good hands. :emotion-1:

http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=3992.0

Thanks Bugbatter for the headsup that my thread had a reply in progress!

we're still working on it we were only able to complete the very first of 3 tasks i was asked to do because Malware is blocking me from accessing the Antirootkit and Combofix! But I have faith that we will get there. THANKS!:emotion-1: