Should I Buy Anti-Spyware or Anti-Virus Software?
Geeks Bearing Gifts?
You are correct to be wary of downloading certain freeware "solutions" for spyware, viruses and popups. Some of the freebies circulating in cyberspace are in fact rogue programs designed to open your computer to a massive invasion of spyware and viruses. One notorious example is Winfixer, which purported to fix all manner of ills on your Windows PC.
In reality, it's a "malware funnel" that most of the commercial anti spyware tools cannot touch. My daughter's computer became infested with Winfixer, and it was a mess -- popups everywhere, and new viruses coming in by the truckload. If you need help with Winfixer, see the solution in my Removing Winfixer article.
Mixing Up a Malware Cocktail
I hear from some readers who run two or three anti-virus programs, and half a dozen anti-spyware tools. Personally, I think that's overkill. WAY overkill. In fact, anti-virus programs can end up fighting with each other, and cause system lockups. And running multiple anti-spyware tools at once WILL slow down your computer.There are at least a dozen highly touted anti-virus and anti-spyware tools -- some commercial and some free. So I understand your confusion as to which ones are best for you. It's natural to assume that the paid-for variety is of higher quality, but that's not always the case.
Here's my personal arsenal against viruses, spyware and annoying popups:
Works For Me!
This is what works for me. They're all free, they all come from trusted sources, and they work great. Automatic updates in each program help them keep pace with changes in the malware universe, and I have to say the proof is in the pudding. I do a LOT of web surfing, downloading and email handling. And so far, so good!
If you have a set of anti-virus, anti-spyware and popup blocker tools that do the trick for you, let us know here. If you use a PAID tool or service, tell us why you think it's better. Post your comments below.
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Posted by Bob Rankin on January 8, 2006 06:21 PM
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Should I Buy Anti-Spyware or Anti-Virus Software? (Posted: January 8, 2006 06:21 PM)
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Copyright © 2005 - Bob Rankin - All Rights Reserved
Most recent comments on "Should I Buy Anti-Spyware or Anti-Virus Software?"
(See all 149 comments for this article.)Posted by:
Frank
24 Dec 2009
i use a software called Pc Laptop Guard for years now.
It helps me fix the damage caused by infections in seconds.
Pc Laptop Guard doesn't prevent an infection. Instead fixes the damage and removes the infected agent as well.
Its not free, but the cost is well worth it.
www.labellpcsolutions.com
Hope it helps.
Posted by:
Purpleraver
22 Jan 2010
I would say that Comodo Internet Security is the best as it includes a firewall for your pc it has a real time anti-virus scanner all for free.
but that's not all, it also takes up as little as 2mb ram space when running. here is the link to Comodo's free internet security http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html
Posted by:
Dennis Wolfe
05 Mar 2010
Am I the only person in the world who uses Sandboxie? I've been using it for three years in conjunction with Avast and I have eliminated all of the malware problems that used to plague me. I have had not one single virus or adware show up on my computer in all of that time.
All of my web surfing goes into a little fake hard drive. When I am finished, I recover any files I want to keep and delete the sandbox. Nothing could be simpler and nothing works better.
Posted by:
coo
18 Mar 2010
I wholeheartedly agree with the other posters who recommended Malwarebytes...a great free program that works wonders for me every time. I also quite like SuperAntiSpyware as well as Ad-Aware. Using these three free programs has detected and removed malware that many other programs have failed to spot.
Posted by:
Mike McReynolds
28 Mar 2010
I have used most of what has been mentioned but MalWare Bytes is beginning to fall by the wayside in my experience. The latest strains of "XP Antivirus", "Antivirus 2010", and other strains of the current wave of fake antivirus infections. The SuperAntiSpyware time and time again has done wonders. The key to fighting any of the fake antivirus strains is to catch them very early, take immediate action, don't even close the pop-up, do a full scan.
A word about the seeker of Firewall. I tried Comodo's new (free) full security suite as it does include a firewall. I found it a bit on the techie side. You have to tone it down almost to inactive to keep if from asking you every second to "allow" or "deny" a firewall activity. Other than that snafu, it is an excellent program package and the free registration key is good for life! (what ever that is supposed to mean:)If you don't mind a firewall that has a bit of an agressive "learning curve" then it is great for the price.
Posted by:
shailesh
14 Apr 2010
I am getting svhost.exe error in windows server 2003. how can i kill this application error?
Posted by:
Ryan
15 May 2010
I use Norton Internet Security 2010 and Windows Defender. Do you think I use enough protection for my PCs, or should I look a different route for Spyware protection?
EDITOR'S NOTE: In my experience, Defender does a great job. I wouldn't add anything to that combo.
Posted by:
Anna
18 Jun 2010
The local IT guy who repaired my laptop recently has installed AVIRA and Malwarebytes since the free McAfee Virus Scan Plus which had been supplied by my bank, HSBC, expired around the same time.
He did say that I could also install Spybot if I want but I saw a criticism about it taking up a lot of memory, so I haven't so far. I'm mindful that it's not advisable to install too many programs as they might clash. I guess I will also have to add anti-Spam for my webmail as my old free Spamfighter only works on Outlook Express which I don't use any more.
And what about phishing? I'm not covered for that, am I, though I don't think I'm likely to fall for it.
Posted by:
Raqq Tuls
29 Jun 2010
You're right Bob, too many cooks spoiled the broth. I have only 2 anti-virus and anti-malware installed: Windows Defender which is free, and the other one, Rising anti-virus, which is also free. They both do great jobs. I'm just wondering, why is it that when the other one can't detect a virus or a malware the other one can and vice versa. There was never a time when both of them simultaneously detected the same virus.
Posted by:
Bob V
24 Aug 2010
Hi Bob, I thought AVG free was fine also until just the other day, for some reason I just decided to open up my AVG suite to check on it and everything had a green checked and all seemed well, then all of a sudden I was attacked and a pop up said I was infected by 34 viruses, trojans and malicious stuff, I couldn't get online, so I had to use my USB stick to get up and going again, I have it loaded with super anit spyware and Malwarebytes and I was ok, I'm adding Windows defender and that will be it.