SpyBot versus Ad-Aware

[George L]

I have hade a helluva time with something I picked up on 31 Oct (yeah,
Halloween)...I tried everything and read a thread about SpyBot over
Ad-Aware....well SpyBot found 21 things Ad-Aware DIDN'T find and I
fixed the problems by dumping the problems found by SpyBot. What
happened to Ad-Aware?...they used to be tops? --George

 

[René]

What happened to Ad-Aware?...they used to be tops?

The Better is the archnemesis of the Good.

 

[anonymous]

I visit 100+ different sites weekly and delete cookies
and internet temp files daily. also run ad-aware and
spybot daily and have never seen one problem in either.
Hint: delete cookies before running ad/spy programs.

 

[Sharon F]

I have hade a helluva time with something I picked up on 31 Oct (yeah,
Halloween)...I tried everything and read a thread about SpyBot over
Ad-Aware....well SpyBot found 21 things Ad-Aware DIDN'T find and I
fixed the problems by dumping the problems found by SpyBot. What
happened to Ad-Aware?...they used to be tops? --George

Most folks that I know use both since each will find troubles that the
other one doesn't.

 

[Wesley VogelX]

George;
Which one did you run first?

 

[~ Free Spirit ~]

Please tell me how you got Spy-bot to work on W-XP Home. All it did on my
PC was briefly flash on the monitor. That was it! Spy-Bot is better than
Ad-Aware any day.

FS...........

 

[Alan P. Biddle]

I find myself cleaning out spyware on many public access computers.
To do the job, I run both Ad-ware and Spybot. Often the total count
of items removed is 100-200. It does not matter which program I run
first. The other program always finds some the first missed. I
alternate, just to be certain.

Alan

 

[mamabear]

-----Original Message-----
I have hade a helluva time with something I picked up on 31 Oct (yeah,
Halloween)...I tried everything and read a thread about SpyBot over
Ad-Aware....well SpyBot found 21 things Ad-Aware DIDN'T find and I
fixed the problems by dumping the problems found by SpyBot. What
happened to Ad-Aware?...they used to be tops? --George
.
If you have run across something that AAW didn't pick up,

you could submit it so that it can be included in a future
ref file. http://www.lavahelp.com/submit/index.html

 

[anonymous]

-----Original Message-----
I have hade a helluva time with something I picked up on 31 Oct (yeah,
Halloween)...I tried everything and read a thread about SpyBot over
Ad-Aware....well SpyBot found 21 things Ad-Aware DIDN'T find and I
fixed the problems by dumping the problems found by SpyBot. What
happened to Ad-Aware?...they used to be tops? --George
.

Always make sure that you are running the latest build of
Ad-aware, with the latest reference file. And it's true
that both programs complement each other.

 

[Papa]

They are both very good programs. I use Ad-Aware version 6.0, which has done
the job for me so far. Eventually I'll probably start using Spybot if I
encounter something Ad-Aware cannot handle, but so far it has not been
needed. Spybot, from what I have read, is the more powerful of the two.

 

[Mike P]

-----Original Message-----
I have hade a helluva time with something I picked up on 31 Oct (yeah,
Halloween)...I tried everything and read a thread about SpyBot over
Ad-Aware....well SpyBot found 21 things Ad-Aware DIDN'T find and I
fixed the problems by dumping the problems found by SpyBot. What
happened to Ad-Aware?...they used to be tops? --George
.
Spybot will detect MRU's were ad-aware will not, were the

items found highlighted in red or black? If they were
black they were just MRU's and not "technically spyware"
it is best to use both programs

 

[Eli Aran]

ad aware goes over the files in the machine and compares it to the updated
list it has,
while spybot goes over the updated list and checks to see if any of them are
in the files in the machine.
1. the two methods of search are opposite.
2. the 2 programs get updates on different occasions.
3 I'm not sure that the update database is identical...
many users say the two progs complement each other and suggest you use both
together. it is true that they do not detect the same malware at the same
time of search. this does not imply that one is better than the other.
imagine an army base with 2 soldiers guarding it. one is standing in the
main gate while the other does the patrol around the gate. the next hour
they switch positions and take each the other soldier's previous guarding
task.
i can add that a program called spywareblaster is recommended to keep the
adware and spyware from entering the machine in the first place.
personally i use all three.
(i also have a popup window blocker and a cookie filter)
good luck,
Eli

 

[Eli Aran]

if ad aware does not detect something, how will you know you need to check
again with spybot?
why not ALWAYS run the two progs?
it only takes about 1-2 minutes each.

 

[Wesley VogelX]

I use both Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D. Plus SpywareBlaster. I never have any
problems.
I keep all three up to date. I also use DiskCleaner, EasyCleaner, Empty Temp
Folders, HijackThis and Clean Disk Security.
If I run every thing else first, Ad-Aware never finds anything.

 

[Wesley VogelX]

FAQ #023
{What can I do if Spybot-S&D already starts scanning, and exits immediately
afterwards?

This could happen if you enable all of the Program automation settings (to
auto-close the program after scan on program start will be removed in the next
bugfix).

And due to a bug not reproducable but happening, during some installs random
instead of the default settings are applied. In that case, all Automation
options could be enabled, forcing the program to scan and exit automatically
afterwards. As this will not even allow you to enter the program, you need to
reset the settings. There are two ways to do this:

1. You can delete the configuration file (which is named Configuration.ini).
Where it is located depends on your Windows version...
For Windows 95/98, the file is located in C:\Windows\Application Data\Spybot -
Search & Destroy\.
For Windows ME, the file is located in C:\Windows\All Users\Application
Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\.
For Windows NT/2000/XP, you will find it in C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\.
Either delete that file, or edit it (for example in notepad), and set all the
Automation values in it to zero.

2. You can download a small tool that will do those changes for you
http://spybot.eon.net.au/files/resetsettings.zip }

 

[mamabear]

-----Original Message-----
ad aware goes over the files in the machine and compares it to the updated
list it has,
while spybot goes over the updated list and checks to see if any of them are
in the files in the machine.
1. the two methods of search are opposite.
2. the 2 programs get updates on different occasions.
3 I'm not sure that the update database is identical...
many users say the two progs complement each other and suggest you use both
together. it is true that they do not detect the same malware at the same
time of search. this does not imply that one is better than the other.
imagine an army base with 2 soldiers guarding it. one is standing in the
main gate while the other does the patrol around the gate. the next hour
they switch positions and take each the other soldier's previous guarding
task.
i can add that a program called spywareblaster is recommended to keep the
adware and spyware from entering the machine in the first place.
personally i use all three.
(i also have a popup window blocker and a cookie filter)
good luck,
Eli




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.536 / Virus Database: 331 - Release Date: 03/11/2003


.
Here's an explanation from a LavaXpert:

"Both applications have the same objective in mind, but
they approach the problem in two very different ways. One
could argue that, in fact, SpyBot doesn't "find" anything
since it hasn't any scanning logic. SB looks to see if the
key "xyz" exists ... if yes, it puts it into
the "detected" list. Ad-Aware builds dynamic (black)lists
of keys to catch, also their references, and scans the
references files, etc. So, the two applications aren't
really comparable IMO, hence the reason you see many
people here suggest you run both.

SB searches for files that it knows to be spyware. If the
spyware file isn't in the database, it will just slip
right on through.

Ad-Aware works in a manner similar to an anti-virus
program. Each piece of spyware is written with
certain "characteristics". Ad-Aware (when configured for a
thorough custom scan) looks for these characteristics in
every file within your computer, as well as the registry.
This is a very thorough and complete way to look for
spyware.

You can see why it is imperative that you always search
for updates before you use either program, and also reboot
in-between using them."

Ad-aware does not detect things such as MRU's because they
are of no threat to one's system on their own and have no
capabilities of doing anything malicious or sending info
etc. Many people like the convenience of having them on
their computer and there are programs that will remove
them easily if desired
(http://www.wilderssecurity.net/mrublaster.html).

 

[Ian Smythe]

I have hade a helluva time with something I picked up on 31 Oct (yeah,
Halloween)...I tried everything and read a thread about SpyBot over
Ad-Aware....well SpyBot found 21 things Ad-Aware DIDN'T find and I
fixed the problems by dumping the problems found by SpyBot. What
happened to Ad-Aware?...they used to be tops? --George

It is not what has happened to AdAware again it is between the
computer and the seat. In the past 10 days there has been two reference
updates to AdAware. You just don't install a program and forget about
it. AdAware is updated from time to time. You are just not up to date!:-(

 

[Papa]

Because, as I said, I've had no problems yet - and until I do I'd rather not
add another program.

 

[~ Free Spirit ~]

FAQ #023
{What can I do if Spybot-S&D already starts scanning, and exits immediately
afterwards?

==================
OK I'll try downloading it again and deleting this file. I don't know how
to use notepad to change files. I didn't know notepad was connected in any
way to the file system.

FS......

 

[~ Free Spirit ~]

if ad aware does not detect something, how will you know you need to check
again with spybot?
why not ALWAYS run the two progs?
it only takes about 1-2 minutes each.

==========================
You don't know. We have both on all our PCs with W98SE. We'd run Ad-Aware
first, then Spybot = there was always something one would miss and the other
caught. Spybot always found some that AA missed.

FS........