Should I Buy Anti-Spyware or Anti-Virus Software? - Comments Page 1

I use Spybot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware and Microsoft's Anti-Spy because they are free. But I also use Webroots SpySweeper and Trend Micro Anti-Spy paid versions.
I like Trend Micro the best because it let you clean history and lets you delete the cookies you want and keep the ones you want and does a good job monitoring with Venus Spy Trap.

For Anti-virus I use Grisoft AVG free version and has done a really good job for the past two years and has updates quicker than most paid versions.

Roy

I have been using an anti-spyware program that you guys mentioned in Tourbus about a year ago called XoftSpy. The download is free but you have to subscribe with real money to get the fixes for the spyware it finds. I found it detected spy files days before the freeware programs did so I bought two licenses for our home.
We also run the free MSFT anti-spy program.
Both are excellent.

Any anti-spyware for Macs, or do we not have to worry about spyware? (Hope it's the latter.)

I use Pest Patrol, Spybot, SpywareGuard, SpywareBlaster and AVG free. I have been using AVG for the last 3+ years and have found it to be excellent, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new AV. I have used Pest Patrol for 4+ years, Spybot, SpywareGuard and SpywareBlaster for 2+ years. The latter two run silently in the background preventing browser hijacking and the installation of malware. There was a time when I used AdAware, but I find Pest Patrol much more thorough and effective. I've also used Trojan Remover and HijackThis.

I agree with Roy for the most part except I don't use anything I have to pay for.I leave my computers on all the time and schedule and run Microsoft's antispyware and AVG anti virus scans in the middle of the night every night and have had great luck with a clean system for several years. I also run Ad-Aware every couple of weeks which does find some minor malware and cookies which I delete.

I'm one of those that tryed every software in the univers. So here is my list: Ad-Aware(paid),
Spybot S&D, MS Anti Spyware, SpyDoctor(paid)Should be run on Dual Core! Between Adwatch(from
Ad-Aware(paid) and SpyDoctor your 99.99% safe.
For Anti Virus and Firewall McAfee,but they have their technical problems but are good in protection! One of these day's I will switch to
AVG. In any case You will need good Registry cleaners! Those are a must if you have any software with daily updates! EG: Registry Mechanic(paid) and RegSupreme Pro (paid)

Of the freebies out there, Spybot Search & Destroy, SpywareGuard, SpywareBlaster, and AVG Antivirus (free edition) are pretty much all anyone needs... if one is trying to use nothing but freebie software.

The Google toolbar is a good pop-up blocker, but it's a pretty large program just for that purpose. Believe it or not, the free "Pop-up Stopper" from Panicware might be a better choice for most people.

We all love to hate Norton, but in head-to-head tests with its competitors, Norton AntiVirus does a better job of identifying viruses than all other fee-based or free products. So if you want the cream of the crop, get Norton AntiVirus, pay for it, and be done with it.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I get so many notes from people who have major problems with Norton -- crashes, lockups and interference with other programs -- that I CANNOT recommend it. I handle thousands of emails daily and visit a LOT of websites in my research. And so far, the eTrust EZ Antivirus has not let me down. In fact, I've installed it on several machines where Norton had been running and it always picks up nasties on the initial scan. So your mileage may vary.

Hi Bob, I would like to mention two programs NOT metioned anywhere so far. For Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware & Firewall I use Panda Titanium 2006 - bit of a resource hog at 80Mb but a very thorough program. I have used it since the late 90's and find it great. It updates daily and has a bunch of good "helpers" - pqremove for most things.

For Registry Cleaning I haven't found anything better than JV16 paid version - but does have a free 30 day trial. Thanks for your ever interesting column.

I have used Norton since a newbie on an old PII Sony and on a laptop and everyone in our house uses it and have never had a problem but I do not like all encompassing prograns so run ad-aware, spybot, MS spyware, the best rated router as a hardware firewall knowing enough that XP's firewall is next to useless and firefox as my browser. I scan frquently go online to Sygate and make sure all my ports are stealthed; it also helps when your ISP is active as mine is. I subscribe to this supurb newsletter and pay for Fred Langa's also. Knowledge is power.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Care to offer some hard data to back your claim against the XP firewall?

Came across a free program a while back that I rarely see mentioned but has proved a real life-saver for me on a few tough spyware/trojan issues. Check out a-squared by emsisoft.com -- I think you'll like it!

Ie been using Win98SE since it was red-hot new. I`ve used NAV2001 since 2000 till 2004. It was the first and the last antivirus software i`ve paid for. It was great most of the time. Then I`ve found Bitdefender (freeware). It was great most of the time too. By the way it has freeware version for Linux users too.
AdAware helped me (and not only me) a lot dealing with ***ware. Installing Zone Alarm firewall helped me even more. Then i`ve quit IE and eliminated it from the system (98lite) and became Opera lover as it was freeware by then.

Here the story with viruses, ***wares, trojans, popups ends as I`ve switched to Linux+Opera.

Hi Bob
Thanks for a useful and informative newsletter. You discuss the subjects upermost in the minds of most pc users eg protection (anti-virus malware etc) and performance (cleaning and optimization) together with more than a glance at future developments and trends.
I cannot recall you ever mentioning NORMAN. A multinational (Norwegian HQ) company to whom I have subscribed for a number of years for av protection and it has performed brilliantly intercepting and destroying several virus attacks on my pc. It doesn't seem to feature much in the usual columns but gets consistant high ratings in any multisourced av software comparisons. Do you have any comments about this company and it's products?

Is ErrorSafe a rogue program? People have commented on its method of propagation, which relies heavily on pushy pop-ups. Sounds very suspicious to me, but I can't be bothered to take the risk of actually installing it on my computer!

AVG Antivirus (free), Ad Aware(free), SpyWare Blocker (free), Spy Bot S&D(free), and Out Post Firewall(free) are what I use and have used for the past few years. As a result, I haven't had problems with pop-ups, viruses, trojans, or other bad things. Now I just need an anti-spam program.

In order to make my internet experience as safe as possible I use a layered overlapping defense to meet all threats. I ensure my windows OS is up to date using Ms update and BIG Fix and keep my protecive programs up to date.
HACKERS must bypass a software fire wall- Zone Alarm(free version). I use the free version of PrevX an intrusion detector as backup.
I make use of the programs at http://www.grc.com/ to disable messenger and dcom two routes to HIJACKING. This site also has a security newsletter discussing internet security.
MALWARE is blocked by Spyware Blaster and Microsoft® Windows AntiSpyware. I recommend A squared and/or adaware for people using older operating systems than Windows XP or Win 2K.
Viruses must get past AVG's free virus guard (covers email and downloads) as well as remain hiden from AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic Windows (free version). I have disabled AntiVir's virus guard to prevent problems with AVG's guard.
Lastly I use Ewido to block TROJAN programs. After the demo period the blocker is disabled but it can be updated manually and run to check for installed trojans.

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's a wonder your word processor can still run with all that going on! :-) Here's a challenge. Drop EVERYTHING above. Then run with WindowsUpdates, the XP firewall (or a hardware firewall), AVG anti-virus and Windows AntiSpyware. Report back in a month.

Spybot S&D is great! As a matter of fact everybody that uses it should send the developer a few bucks.
He does this out of the goodness of his heart and if we all pitched in he might keep up the good work. I also think that writers that recommend these programs and emphasize that they are free should also encourage monetary support to keep these programs coming. You can pay what you can afford and you don't have to pay for every update and new version so everybody wins.

I've used Avast anti-virus (free) for several years now on all my PC's and have yet to have any issues. It updates frequently and has all the features most people need, including scanning during screensaver. I've also been a Zone Alarm fan for a few years, but recently the paid version seems to be suffering from the bloat of too many features, some of which I have yet to be able to turn off. It's a great firewall but the extra 'features' are starting to remind me of a Norton Suite. The free version is just the basic firewall and because of that might be the better way to go.

Anti-vir has worked for some time for me and has never let me down. Updates are available daily and best of all, the program is free.

SpywareBlaster is my favorite, since it runs in the background and keeps spyware off my computer instead of having to take time to run Spybot or Adaware. When I used to run the latter two they would find a fairly long list of things to remove, since installing SpywareBlaster they find maybe one thing but usualy nothing.

I've had really good luck with Avast anti virus,Prevx antivirus, Ad-Aware,SpyBot search and destroy and Zone Alarm. Prevx is really sensitive but it can be tailored to remember repeat actions. I tried the latest version of AVG free but it caused problems in my computer. It always worked great before I upgraded.