Brief poll, your preferred spyware?

G

George

Could I ask a few pro's about which package(s) you prefer to use, and
reasoning behind this.

I'm using WinXP pro and would like to install anti-spyware. It's widely
known that AdAware and Spybot are the current big two...and sure there are
some up and comers and other good ones. Also, McAfee now has one.

Most people say to install more than one package, but it seems to me that
"loading up" with multipe packages creates a lot a lot to install, manage,
and keep updated, for diminishing returns. AdAware is the most downloaded
and seems to get rave reviews. Spybot also gets great reviews and has great
extras like a file-shredder and start-up manager, but screenshot I saw
looked 1990's.

I'm thinking about installing only two... Ad-aware and McAfee AntiSpyware,
since it would seem certain McAfee would keep getting better and have a
rapidly growing base of definition files with the McAfee empire of resources
behind it.

-What do you think about this plan and pro's/con's of...

-Ad-aware SE Personal-

-Spybot Search & Destroy-

-McAfee Anti-Spyware-


Thanks,
George
 
V

Vagabond Software

I use Lavoasoft's Ad-Aware and only Ad-Aware and have never had a problem that it could with spyware that it could not detect and handle.

So, I would recommend you use Ad-Aware and also that you dump the McAffee. I have no experience with their Spyware product, but I have just had too many recent problems with their Anti-spam package... and I mean stupid, bone-head, dumb "must fix before selling even one more unit" kinds of problems. So, take my McAffee advice with a grain of salt.

Seriously, if you are the only user and you don't download any web-games or download managers, then you will be fine with Ad-Aware.

carl
 
C

CWatters

-What do you think about this plan and pro's/con's of...

-Ad-aware SE Personal-

-Spybot Search & Destroy-

-McAfee Anti-Spyware-

No anti-spyware program is perfect. There will be times when you need all of
the above and some.

I recommend installing SpywareGuard and SpywareBlaster from here...

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

also..

It's important to keep Windows upto date as I'm sure some nasties get in
through published security defects and exploits.

You also need a firewall.
 
G

George

I use Lavoasoft's Ad-Aware and only Ad-Aware and have never had a problem
that it could with spyware that it could not detect and handle.

So, I would recommend you use Ad-Aware and also that you dump the McAffee.
I have no experience with their Spyware product, but I have just had too
many recent problems with their Anti-spam package... and I mean stupid,
bone-head, dumb "must fix before selling even one more unit" kinds of
problems. So, take my McAffee advice with a grain of salt.

Seriously, if you are the only user and you don't download any web-games or
download managers, then you will be fine with Ad-Aware.

carl

I have recieved a free installation of mcafee with my new cmoputer, its a
three month trial version, and I'm not bothering even to use it. Seems the
learning curve is just not worth it. When something like AVG is just as good
 
L

Leythos

Could I ask a few pro's about which package(s) you prefer to use, and
reasoning behind this.

I'm using WinXP pro and would like to install anti-spyware. It's widely
known that AdAware and Spybot are the current big two...and sure there are
some up and comers and other good ones. Also, McAfee now has one.

When it comes to anti-spyware I use AdAwareSE and SBS&D 1.3 and carry a
free AV product also. I would never trust ANY computer to McAfee for any
reason.
 
R

R. McCarty

Dittos on McAfee and Symantec (and whatever they buy this week)
as well.

AdAware
SpyBot
HiJackThis (New Version 1.99.0)
BHO Demon
Giant Anti-Spyware
-On-Line Stuff-
PestPatrol (Watch out for False Positives)
Zone Alarm SpyWare scanner
Zone Alarm Cookie Scanner
Panda On-Line Virus Scan ( Every two weeks or so)
 
Y

Yves Leclerc

A lot of people I talked with "swear" on CA's PestPatrol. They say it
catches everything, but it is not free.

A complete list a anti-spyware utilities:

AD Aware SE 1.05 ( and do the updates)
Spybot: Search and Destroy 1.3 (do the updates!)
CWShredder (always check for updates)
Zone Alarm Free firewall (much better than SP2's firewall)
A good anti-virus system. Avast and Avg offer a free version WITHOUT
Technical support. You can still get the updates.

HiJackThis (the ultimate spyware removal tool. Not easy to use but you can
post to free web forums and others would suggest what to remove with this
program).

Also, as much as possible, always do Microsoft's Windows Updates, so as to
get all the latest fixes for XP weaknesses.



BTW: It was suggested that anyone who does not use Microsoft's Internet
Explorer, or any other browsers, will not get spyware. I have yet to see
any confirmation about this!
 
B

Bob P

The idea of "loading up" may seem like an overkill but just wait until
your system goes down. You may pay someone a couple of hundred dollars
to get you backup but most likely you'll just lose everything and
spend a day or two cleaning out the boot record. And that's the east
part! Don't forget, the main trouble is identity theft, put a value on
that, will you. Once loaded, there is little work involved with the
applications listed here by Yves Leclerc. As many people have found
not one program catches everything. I would add one more to the list,
IE-SPYAD, this is a list added to the restricted sites zone. Since
adding IE-SPYAD to ADware & spyBot I've not seen any cookies or
spyware. I guess it just depends on how important it is to keep one's
system up and running................These are good applications, free
to anyone at no cost. Except CA's Pest Control. And for antivirus
don't overlook CA's eTrust, it's not free but worth every penny of the
cost.....
 
K

Ken Blake

In
Yves Leclerc said:
A lot of people I talked with "swear" on CA's PestPatrol. They
say it
catches everything, but it is not free.


*No* anti-spyware product catches everything--not even close.

See http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-features.htm which states "No
one program will be useful, convenient, effective, and
appropriate for every user. Moreover, as testing with these
anti-spyware applications has demonstrated, no single
anti-spyware application will remove everything. Therefore, users
are advised to install and use at least two anti-spyware
applications. "

A complete list a anti-spyware utilities:

AD Aware SE 1.05 ( and do the updates)
Spybot: Search and Destroy 1.3 (do the updates!)
CWShredder (always check for updates)
Zone Alarm Free firewall (much better than SP2's firewall)
A good anti-virus system. Avast and Avg offer a free version
WITHOUT
Technical support. You can still get the updates.


No, that's not even close to a complete list. There are over 150
such programs; see the link cited above.

HiJackThis (the ultimate spyware removal tool. Not easy to use
but
you can post to free web forums and others would suggest what
to
remove with this program).

Also, as much as possible, always do Microsoft's Windows
Updates, so
as to get all the latest fixes for XP weaknesses.



BTW: It was suggested that anyone who does not use Microsoft's
Internet Explorer, or any other browsers, will not get spyware.
I
have yet to see any confirmation about this!


You've seen no confirmation because the statement is nonsense.
 
K

Ken Blake

In
George said:
Could I ask a few pro's about which package(s) you prefer to
use, and
reasoning behind this.

I'm using WinXP pro and would like to install anti-spyware.
It's
widely known that AdAware and Spybot are the current big
two...and
sure there are some up and comers and other good ones. Also,
McAfee
now has one.
Most people say to install more than one package, but it seems
to me
that "loading up" with multipe packages creates a lot a lot to
install, manage, and keep updated,


True. The more such programs the use, the more you have to
maintain.

for diminishing returns.


It's even true that the returns are diminishing. Nevertheless
it's necessary if you want to provide reasonable protection. See
http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-features.htm which states "No
one program will be useful, convenient, effective, and
appropriate for every user. Moreover, as testing with these
anti-spyware applications has demonstrated, no single
anti-spyware application will remove everything. Therefore, users
are advised to install and use at least two anti-spyware
applications. "


AdAware
is the most downloaded and seems to get rave reviews. Spybot
also
gets great reviews and has great extras like a file-shredder
and
start-up manager, but screenshot I saw looked 1990's.

I'm thinking about installing only two... Ad-aware and McAfee
AntiSpyware, since it would seem certain McAfee would keep
getting
better and have a rapidly growing base of definition files with
the
McAfee empire of resources behind it.

-What do you think about this plan and pro's/con's of...

-Ad-aware SE Personal-

-Spybot Search & Destroy-

-McAfee Anti-Spyware-


I know nothing about the MacAfee product, but I use the other
two. I also recommend Spyware Blaster, which stops spyware from
being installed. You don't have to run, just update its
definitions.
 
D

Doug Main

I've cleaned 2 totally invaded computers (I bought 'em both 2nd hand)
using free stuff I've found on the web.

Lava Soft CWShredded and Spybot S&D downloads for identifying ad/mal and
spy stuff

Panda and Houscall free online scans for viri

AVG and/or avast! for ongoing protection.

Once cleaned and protected, I've had months of trouble free computing
despite considerable NG and other downloads.


Cheers
 
F

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP

George said:
Could I ask a few pro's about which package(s) you prefer to use, and
reasoning behind this.

I'm using WinXP pro and would like to install anti-spyware. It's
widely known that AdAware and Spybot are the current big two...and
sure there are some up and comers and other good ones. Also, McAfee
now has one.

Most people say to install more than one package, but it seems to me
that "loading up" with multipe packages creates a lot a lot to
install, manage, and keep updated, for diminishing returns. AdAware
is the most downloaded and seems to get rave reviews. Spybot also
gets great reviews and has great extras like a file-shredder and
start-up manager, but screenshot I saw looked 1990's.

I'm thinking about installing only two... Ad-aware and McAfee
AntiSpyware, since it would seem certain McAfee would keep getting
better and have a rapidly growing base of definition files with the
McAfee empire of resources behind it.

-What do you think about this plan and pro's/con's of...

-Ad-aware SE Personal-

-Spybot Search & Destroy-

-McAfee Anti-Spyware-


Thanks,
George

I don't allow anything from McAfee or Symantec into the building.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
 
D

D.Currie

George said:
Could I ask a few pro's about which package(s) you prefer to use, and
reasoning behind this.

I'm using WinXP pro and would like to install anti-spyware. It's widely
known that AdAware and Spybot are the current big two...and sure there are
some up and comers and other good ones. Also, McAfee now has one.

Most people say to install more than one package, but it seems to me that
"loading up" with multipe packages creates a lot a lot to install, manage,
and keep updated, for diminishing returns. AdAware is the most downloaded
and seems to get rave reviews. Spybot also gets great reviews and has
great extras like a file-shredder and start-up manager, but screenshot I
saw looked 1990's.

I'm thinking about installing only two... Ad-aware and McAfee AntiSpyware,
since it would seem certain McAfee would keep getting better and have a
rapidly growing base of definition files with the McAfee empire of
resources behind it.

-What do you think about this plan and pro's/con's of...

-Ad-aware SE Personal-

-Spybot Search & Destroy-

-McAfee Anti-Spyware-


Thanks,
George

Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D are a good combo platter. I'm not all that crazy
about McAfee, mostly because I think their updating process is annoying.

Spybot's advanced mode offers some extra features, and Ad-Aware has some
plugins that offer extra features. Whether they're useful or not, that's up
to you.

For a badly infested system, Hijack This is a great tool, but you have to
know what you're doing.

And of course, if you know what you're looking for, msconfig and regedit and
the delete key are really handy, too. In some cases, that's the only way to
remove nagging bits of spyware.

I spend a lot of time removing spyware for people, and since both Ad-Aware
and Spybot are free, I can install them, use them, and leave them on the
customer's system with some directions on how to maintain the computer using
those programs.
 
K

Kelly

1st. This is a trick question for: Vagabond Software
2nd. There isn't a need for a fee for any program to clean a system.
3rd. The tools we need are free.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com


I use Lavoasoft's Ad-Aware and only Ad-Aware and have never had a problem
that it could with spyware that it could not detect and handle.

So, I would recommend you use Ad-Aware and also that you dump the McAffee.
I have no experience with their Spyware product, but I have just had too
many recent problems with their Anti-spam package... and I mean stupid,
bone-head, dumb "must fix before selling even one more unit" kinds of
problems. So, take my McAffee advice with a grain of salt.

Seriously, if you are the only user and you don't download any web-games or
download managers, then you will be fine with Ad-Aware.

carl
 
N

Nick Goetz

1st. This is a trick question for: Vagabond Software
2nd. There isn't a need for a fee for any program to clean a
system. 3rd. The tools we need are free.

I regularly use the "free" tools (HijackThis, CWShredder, Adaware,
SpybotS&D etc.). Most of the time they are all that's needed...
But...

On a few badly infested systems, I had to resort to a "pay for" or a
trial version of one. Of the one's I've used (and that's been a lot
of 'em), the best so far has been "GiantAS" (now owned by Microsoft).

Nick Goetz
 
R

R. McCarty

Yep, GiantAS is good. Small footprint, removal and immunize
protection as well. Let's hope that tomorrow's Beta release is
available to the general public. I hope that MS will not bundle
it as part of their overall security package (A1?).
From screen shots I've seen it looks like a re-branded version
of Giant's product. I had Giant's trial version for testing. I'm
concerned that the Beta may detect the trial and refuse to install.
Maybe the developers at Giant took that into account and took
out the Trial detector.
 
B

Bob Davis

| Could I ask a few pro's about which package(s) you prefer to use, and
| reasoning behind this.

I use four methods to control spyware:

Adaware SE and Adwatch (not included in freeware version)
Spybot (w/Immunize enabled)
Modified HOSTS file (www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm)
SpywareBlaster (www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)

Spyware and adware is a thing of the past, and I rarely scan since Adwatch,
the modified HOSTS file, SpywareBlaster, and Immunize work so well as a
group.
 
K

Kelly

Interesting, Nick. I have never needed a pay item. Even for the badly
infested, the paths are there via the other cleaners. End the process,
rename, remove.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
 

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