I was thinking of buying a spyware program but I wanted to know if it's worth the money first.

1/24/2007 8:47:56 AM

You can get those for free quite easily.

1/24/2007 8:57:39 AM

I know I have the free version of AdAware but I just downloaded a trial of Unblue SpyEraser and it is finding threats that AdAware doesn't. I'm trying to figure out which one is better. The only way to have Unblue remove the threats it finds is to buy the version. So I want to know if it's worth buying.

1/24/2007 9:01:56 AM

download spybot search and destroy. It is free as well.

Did you update Adaware? Just like anti virus you need to keep the definitions up to date. If your adaware install is old, don't be surprised it missed stuff.

1/24/2007 9:04:34 AM

Yea I updated AdAware and it didn't catch as many problems as the Unblue Program.

What I'm trying to figure out is which Spyware program is the best.

1/24/2007 9:10:52 AM

its always best to use a few good ones. because, as you pointed out, there isnt really one that catches every thing.

i use CCleaner, Ad-Aware, and Avast (not so much spyware...)

those three keep my box in tip top.

1/24/2007 9:23:43 AM

Yeah, it's best to run multiple spyware programs, although sometimes they find each other as spyware.

When will antivirus software start incorporating spyware mitigation? Maybe it does already, but I haven't really used windows in a couple of years until a few days ago.

1/24/2007 9:39:57 AM

I've been recommending Microsoft's Windows Defender. It integrates easily with multiple versions of Windows now, and is based upon a very good product that Microsoft bought a couple of years ago.

^ Bobby, I agree with you conditionally. It's not a good idea to run multiple resident anti-spyware programs. Like antivirus programs, running more than one in the background at the same time can cause serious system errors and possible corruption. It's good to have more than one anti-spyware program installed, but only one should run in the background at all times. Let the second program be an on-demand scanner only.

1/24/2007 10:43:53 AM

don't own any/run any besides having ccleaner clean out all my temp shit on reboots.. that happen maybe once a month with windows updates

1/24/2007 10:47:02 AM

Quote :

"i use CCleaner, Ad-Aware, and Avast (not so much spyware...)"

avast is such a resource hog, i had to get rid of that shit

1/24/2007 11:32:43 AM

i used spysweeper for real time monitoring but found that it was a HUGE resource hog. don't get me wrong, it did a fine job on it's own and everything but was just too taxing on my computer. i recently switched to AVG AntiSpyware which also has real time monitoring and is much much better on system resources. it integrates well and plays nicely with other programs. but if you are smart, you don't actually have to own any of these programs if you don't want. there are free trials for both these if interested to give them a go.

1/24/2007 11:42:37 AM

spyware prevention:
- Microsoft Windows Defender
- Spyware Blaster (not really needed w/ IE7)

spyware removal:
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- Lavasoft AdAware

Personally I only run Defender/Search&Destroy, that's it, along w/ OneCare

FYI, CCleaner is not anti-spyware

[Edited on January 24, 2007 at 12:57 PM. Reason : .]

1/24/2007 12:56:16 PM

lol i read the title and thought he wanted some spyware installed on his computer, not spyware removal or spyware protection...

1/24/2007 1:08:36 PM

Spybot search and destroy is a pretty great program. It, like all the other anti-spyware tools out there, misses about 20% of what is on your computer. What it tends to miss is pretty much just tracking cookies though and it does come with a few other useful tools (like immunization, startup list editing in-program, etc.)

If you find that any of these programs are missing some big ones, make sure you're running them in safemode. Some things can only be removed when you're in safemode.

1/25/2007 12:58:09 PM

i don't know, i think spybot does a pretty good job of catching most things...and it'll run on startup if it finds something that needs to be removed before windows boots up all the way

that said, spybot and adaware are the two that i use, in conjunction with SAV corporate, and i NEVER have problems

1/25/2007 1:15:54 PM

Quote :

"When will antivirus software start incorporating spyware mitigation?"

They do already. Though you'd know.

I use CA desktop DNA migrator/CA internet sercurity suite 2007, takes care of everything (realtime monitoring) and well worth it.

1/25/2007 4:54:10 PM

Programs I've used at some point and liked:

Lavasoft Adware
http://www.lavasoft.de/download_and_buy/product_comparison_chart.php

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

Spybot
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

CA eTrust Spyware
http://shop.ca.com/spyware/anti_spyware.aspx

AVG Antivirus
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5

Hijack This
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html


Free online spyware/virus scanners/removers
These are pretty helpful when you think your security programs have been comprimised.

Bitdefender Very nice scanner, catches alot.
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

TrendMicro Housecall
http://housecall.trendmicro.com

eTrust Antivirus
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx



For those who don't know, If you have any infection at all, always run antivirus/antispyware scans in safe mode.


[Edited on January 25, 2007 at 5:26 PM. Reason : ]

1/25/2007 5:24:46 PM

Symantec AntiVirus 10 provides virus AND spyware/adware/malware detection and removal.

SAV 10 is now freely available from http://www.ncsu.edu/antivirus.

1/25/2007 10:51:25 PM

I hate to rain on your parade, but the anti v programs provided by ncsu have "flaws" in them. I've known several users who complain about the constant "system disabled" icon appearing the lower righthand corner on the screen.

1/25/2007 11:03:40 PM

they work just fine, chief. that error crops up when virus definitions are corrupted. that's not a "flaw." that's an "error by Symantec." companies occasionally push bad definitions. it happens.

If you'd looked at the antivirus site that i just pointed out, you'd see that we clearly have instructions on how to fix the very error you just mentioned. i'd know... i wrote those instructions, AND tested them out.

http://www.ncsu.edu/it/av_dev/faq/#disabl

and more to the point, why aren't these people you've mentioned calling the NCSU Helpdesk for assistance? I've not seen a single request about corrupted definitions in about a month now.

[Edited on January 25, 2007 at 11:11 PM. Reason : helpdesk]

1/25/2007 11:10:03 PM

Quote :

"they work just fine, chief."

haha...yes, Earl pisses me off, too

1/25/2007 11:58:41 PM

Yeah I get that damn thing all the time!! Im like "what the hell is this about?!?" I'm definitely

switching to something different! Frankly, I've had enough of symantec.

1/26/2007 12:41:05 AM

i dont like how symantec products are such resource hogs. like for example, AVG Free is less taxing than Symantec but provides the same real time monitoring, email scanning, etc.

1/26/2007 1:10:41 AM

Corrupted def files, quick repairs, repair programs I think it's safe to say are all unwanted tasks.

Quote :

"and more to the point, why aren't these people you've mentioned calling the NCSU Helpdesk for assistance?"

The answer to that question remains unknown. But I can tell you this, I searched "Symantec" up here on tww and found four threads with alot of unhappy customers. I'm not here to argue with you on this because the facts arn't on your side. Not many people want virus protection that's has a 'recent' history to flaws and vulnerability or in your words "corrupted files".

These "corrupted file" problems prevent the scanning/installation/functioning process until they are removed. That's malarky, and noone should have to deal with that when using Anti v software! Now I hope I didn't offend you because that is not my aim. But I'm I understand why you passionately support this (you obviously work tech assistance with this product) software. I, to the contrary, tell the truth to the people who want REAL answers. This product is not a quality product. Fact.

[Edited on January 26, 2007 at 1:45 AM. Reason : .]

1/26/2007 1:33:51 AM

I only have an antivirus program plus I use Windows firewall (on my laptop) but luckily more and more programs (Windows updates, IE 7, etc) have added popup and scripting security controls nowadays

1/26/2007 1:50:50 AM

if people dont go to questionable websites then they dont need spyware removal tools. if they are smart in their travels, they can get away with a simple antivirus program and the built-in firewall, as well as using a good browser to prevent popups.

1/26/2007 1:55:43 AM

do not pay for spyware programs.

there are sufficient programs available for free.

do not pay for antivirus.

you get it for free from school, or employer, or you get the freeware AV.

use firefox. use AdBlock. and dont go downloading stupid shit from crackhead websites.

thats all.

1/26/2007 2:49:12 AM

I've lost my will to discuss this, Earl. It'll take too long to address all of these points, and TWW is not the place to do it. Suffice it to say that if you feel that corrupted definitions are "malarky," then you simply do not understand how antivirus products work. Please leave that to the professionals.

I'll simply say this: NCSU and ITD fully stand behind Symantec AntiVirus. We will support it fully. Rather than complain about it on TWW, try giving us a phone call, e-mail, etc. We'd genuinely like to help you.

1/26/2007 6:59:28 AM

i haven't seen that "auto protect disabled" messages in months so I think they may have resolved whatever was going on with it.

1/26/2007 8:47:38 AM

the fact that anyone is arguing there is better antivirus software publicly available than symantec corporate amazes me. kaspersky is pretty good and all, but no one has near the number of forensic computer scientists of symantec. the fact anyone tries to state that it's a resource hog only further calls attention to the fact that they're only repeating things they've heard and really don't know what they are talking about (kinda like mindlessly bitching about ms because they're "evil").

SAV9 native processes: 0.0% cpu time, 1.6mb ram usage
SAV9 realtime scan: 0.0% cpu time, 4.68mb ram usage
Symantec common client (runs with all symantec software): 0.0% cpu usage 1.04mb ram usage
doesn't get much slimmer than that and still get the job done

[Edited on January 26, 2007 at 10:52 AM. Reason : .]

1/26/2007 10:49:26 AM

yeah I think someone is confusing Symantec Antivirus and Norton Antivirus...both made by the same company.

1/26/2007 11:22:19 AM