Best Spyware Protection

Vipre Premium and Prevx together are the best all-round solution I've found.

my comment is on spyware software i have been using these programs since i learned to turn on the machine and have found spybot search and destroy one of the best just don't install the tea time part as it is very annoying and confusing if you don't know a lot about computers i have tried all the ones you have said windows defender i dont think has ever caught any spyware and i would vote as one of the worst products but just in case i have it installed as i run windows seven it comes pre installed malwarebytes this is a good product how ever it slows windows seven startup and shutdown and conflicts with windows seven so i would not reccommend malwarebytes for windows seven spybot search and destroy needs to run as adminastrator to deal with spyware removal and does a fantastic job i highly reccommend it and install it on any computer that i work on try it update it imunise yourself and enjoy spyware free web surfing

Geez Bob,

I usually agree with you, but are you being paid by MS? Windows Defender? At least you mentioned Malwarebytes. Their free version is better than most real time AV's. I do like Advanced SysCare Free, it does hunt for the really nasty ones but has a small core def.It does have some nice extra tools though. Aren't they the same people that make IOBits360 free, real time (except for updating)AV? You didn't mention that (which I have found to be a solid very light AV and compatible with Zone Alarms Firewall Free. I use the last 4 on my kids computer (they like to go to PBS etc.), and find that it very rarely leaves anything for MBAM to catch. AVG is decent, Avast better (in my opinion). Spybot's passive protection is precarious at best, and Tea Timer is a huge resource hog. I had Spyware Doctor too (used them all at one time or another and have older pc's that I use to test them on by intentionally going to questionable sites (I use WOT to help me with that.Another decent tool though not AV it helps steer people clear. No mention?),it wasn't impressive at all.The best thing Norton ever made was their uninstaller. I was waiting for you to give the thumbs up on that stinker Panda put out Cloud AV. Garbage! I had to get RevoUninstaller Pro to get rid of that one. So yes, freeware user beeware!!!

I use a paid security suite (won't mention). When free trials come out I test them all. They change from year to year. I liked Bit Defender 2009, but not 2010 (constantly crashing).Kaspersky is usually solid year over (a bit pricey though). If I had to get another paid one now I would just pay for MBAM's Pro, 25 bucks for lifetime license! Can't beat that. Then get a good Firewall. A good N Router is a good buy as well (2 way firewall), all the more! I'm happy till April, 2011 for now. So I'll keep testing and make my decision then. No Windows machine should be without MBAM (wish they made one for Linux. Yes, you can get a virus on Linux just not as frequently, hmmm...wonder why?).

One last mention, DrWeb's Cureit! It's saved my bacon a couple of times. I generally like your articles and get your news letters but we part ways on this particular one. To each his own I guess. I can agree to disagree. You're starting to worry me Bob. :) Keep up the good work,

doc

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's funny you asked... all the invoices I've sent to the "Paid Shills" department at Microsoft have not been paid. Maybe I have the wrong address.

A few months ago a friend's computer became infected. She contacted the Microsoft Consumer Security Support Center for assistance.

https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/

They remotely connected to her computer and ran their Malicious Software Removal Tool. Then they installed Microsoft Security Essentials and ran a full scan. After that they used MalwareBytes free edition and SUPERAntispyware free edition.

http://www.superantispyware.com/

Then they charged her $99. for using nothing but freely available products. One reminder: once a machine becomes infected, the only absolutely sure way to make sure all traces of the infection are gone is to reformat and reinstall the OS.

Is it only my circle of friends and I who use Sandboxie to prevent malware and viruses? None of us have had so much as a hint of malware for over two years. Nothing, zip, nada.
Three years ago I quit using Spybot Search and Destroy, Hijack This and all of the other cleaners because there has been no need for them. I do use Avast but I have heard the alarm go off three times in two years. I simply no longer get spyware or viruses.
Sandboxie is free. You can only tell you are using it because it has a # sign when it is on. It creates a fake hard drive and the little viruses and malware write to it to their heart's content. All the while they think they are writing to the hard drive.
Every few days I empty the Sandbox and all of the malware goes out with it; never touching my operating system.
Try it. You'll never have to clean your hard drive again.

I thought Windows Defender was replaced by Essentials. Do I need both ?

I have Avast!AntiVirus and Microsoft Windows Defender running in real time on WinXP SP3. I did not realise that Avast! also contains an anti spyware module. Do you know if there is any conflict between these to applications that may adversely affect my machine?
Thanks for a great learning resource.
Best regards.
Kim

The best free spyware/maleware prevention software IMHO is Javacool's SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard. Both very effective in preventing spyware, maleware and browser hijacking. I've been using these two programs for years and as a computer tech, I've installed them on hundreds of computers, both programs are small and run silently in the background, neither are resource hogs. For removal of any nasties, I recommend another free program, MalwareBytes, I've found it to be excellent in removing even those hard to get rid of nasties.

I've been testing and now recommend Microsoft's Security Essentials over my old favorite AVG. SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes have replaced Adaware and Spybot S&D as my non-active on demand scanners. But one oldie is still a goodie, Javacool's Spywareblaster (freeware, though a paid version with auto update is available). A passive system, it relies on killbits to prevent spyware from ever running. No scans, no resource usage. Like any anti-malware product it does have to be kept updated to be effective.

Bob,

You used to recommend AdAware, but you don't mention it in this article. Is it now off your preferred / recommended anti-spyware list(s)?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I just don't hear much about it anymore... and others like MBAM seem to be getting great reviews.

The site for spybot is no longer around. You cannot get updates or anything from their site.

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

EDITOR'S NOTE: Not sure what you mean. The software was just updated on 6/30.

I've been happily using MSSE on a couple of XP Pro machines for a few months. One of those machines is very bare-bones, used for one very small business, plus access to an online Virtual Merchant for processing bank cards. The machine does have a valid and updated copy of QuickBooks Pro ver 2009, and Outlook express is used for email. I browse with IE 7.0 and SeaMonkey. Use of this machine is very limited and involves no playtime, gaming, nor risky browsing.
Today, MSSE just up-and-quit. I tried to re-load and got the error message to try again, or if failure continues then download and reinstall MSSE. Well, I've never had that experience with a security program... ever before. I scanned with Malwarebytes and found No Malicious Items. Uninstalled and reinstalled MSSE, updated and scanned - again no malicious items detected. What's up with that? It's rather unsettling to have the primary anti-malware tool "completely fail", especially because I set up this machine to be pristine and secure and have kept it isolated, mostly off most of the time.
hmmmmm. Could it be related to the recent upgrade version of MSSE, requiring download and reinstall over and above the usual and regular updates?

Dear Bob,

I am using Webroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper. Will the Spy Sweeper that comes with Webroot interfere with Windows Defender and cause problems? Should I keep Defender turned off or can they both be used together. Thanks much

EDITOR'S NOTE: I always suggest that you use the minimum amount of security software, since they CAN interfere with each other. That said, Defender seems to "play nice" with other security programs.

Just an added word of caution, from someone who has been hit.

There is a very nasty piece of spyware called "The Spybot" which is either a worm or a trojan depending on how it hits you. It tries to confuse you when you're looking for "Spybot Search & Destroy".

It's almost exactly the opposite of what you want and can catch you when you're at your most vulnerable - nasty, nasty.

Never forget to include the "Search & Destroy" part of the name if you want to stay safe.

PS: it _is_ possible to get rid of it but is a real pain. Been there, done that.

If I have avast! Antivirus, do I need an anti-spyware program like Windows Defender or MBAM? Or is it okay to have two programs both with spyware protection?

EDITOR'S NOTE: If your anti-virus package has a spyware scanner, you might not need another one. But if you feel the need, something like MBAM, which scans only on demand, is a good option.

Being in an Educational (corporate) environment, I have to deal with this everyday.

The best thing to do, other than stop Internet surfing, is to keep all apps updated (Java, Adobe, etc.) and have all needed OS patches installed, if staying on Windows XP, otherwise, get Windows 7 for better stability and security.

If staying on Windows XP, there is no single best product out there, but Malwarebytes, in reactive state, has removed 98% of what is found, especially when SAVCE (Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition) didn't detect the problem.

Another product worth looking into is Sandboxie -
http://www.sandboxie.com/
- which allows one to isolate IE and Firefox (can configure for other browsers) from the system so that if a malware attempts to install/load/etc., you close the browser and eliminate any potential threat.

Note that yesterday Microsoft updated MSE. I have it installed on Win7 Pro x64 and the MSE - Help - Update... says:

Microsoft Security Essentials Version: 1.0.1963.0
Antimalware Client Version: 2.1.6805.0
Engine Version: 1.1.5902.0
Antivirus definitions: 1.85.1029.0
Antispyware definitions: 1.85.1029.0
as of 2010-06-29 15:31 EDT.

I'm one of those Adaware/Spybot fans. I decided to run a test: back-to-back runs of fully updated Defender and Spybot. Defender found nothing. Spybot found a few minor cookies for things like yieldmanager, about the usual number I find on my periodic runs.

I'm guessing that Defender may not go after these. Based on your article I've added Defender to my toolbox. However I doubt it is going to be the first one I'll haul out.

P.S. Anyone in need of a smile should read the Spybot license agreement

Sandy,

Defender can be set (in Options) to provide real-time protection rather than just a scheduled scan.