Spyware/Other Software Combo's

[Jonaldinho]

First of all I run Spybot and Ad-Aware. I would like to add a third in AVG's Anti-spyware.

In your opinion is there any point in this? There is a bit of 'downloading' going on on the home pc therefore id like things a bit tighter. Most importantly can things get to a point when they interfere with each other? Ive heard this is the case with some types of Anti-Virus software. Couldn't see a specific answer to this in the old search.

Also what combinations of protection software do you run?

 

[Jonaldinho]

Bump?

 

[The Hoff]

Pointless mate, a fully updated Spybot S&D and Ad-aware database is going to be plenty effective enough; they compliment each other quite well indeed.

Windows Defender the MS offering is also improving, and can be handy as a tertiary scanner, but as long as your existing ware is upto date I'd say you're being overly paranoid.

Also you say downloading is occuring, but if you use bit-torrent/usenet you're very very very unlikely to have any such need for this type of software, spyware is more oftenly placed on a client machine from visiting dodgy websites, such as pr0n and crack sites offering "keygens".

Get a decent AV like Kaspersky Pro, update S&D and Ad-aware, and another very useful program is Hijack This.

imo.

 

[Darren S]

Imo m8, 90%+ of software like that is totally turd. A complete waste of HDD space, memory and CPU time. I'm talking purely from a home-user point of view here. I am also entirely convinced that half of this crap invites more crap onto your PC that it's supposed to protect against.

Quite a lot of viruses/spywhere are aimed at compromising specific .exe file(s) that launch or controls the AV/anti-spyware program in the first place. If that's not there, it can't be of any risk. Usually.

I'm far from saying that there aren't some decent products out there. But on the whole, most vendors will pray on people's paranoia and fear that their PC will be butt-raped if it's on the internet without their products. The key issue comes down to what you do with the PC in first place. If, like ozzy says above, you're searching for keygens and visiting www.hamsterfisting.com and other such places, you're far more likely to get crap on your PC, regardless of what measures you've got in place to counteract that.

It's no different than putting your faith 110% into something like Road Angel. It may save your ass many a time, but if you drive everywhere at 80mph, sooner or later, you'll get caught out. The dithering old farts in the sub-25mph will be excempt from any such trouble by the Plod and the 'benefits' of Road Angel would be totally wasted on them....

D.

 

[Jonaldinho]

Many thanks chaps! Just confiming what I already thought.

 

[The Hoff]

Imo m8, 90%+ of software like that is totally turd. A complete waste of HDD space, memory and CPU time. I'm talking purely from a home-user point of view here. I am also entirely convinced that half of this crap invites more crap onto your PC that it's supposed to protect against.

Disagree, sure there are many programs which not researched will basically pose as anti-spyware utilities, but actively install spyware as part of their install proceedure and then require you to buy a licence before they remove it.

But the programs he mentioned (S&D, Ad-aware) are anything but a waste of HD space, they're essential pieces of freeware for any user, regardless of usage. Whether thats to delete tracking cookies/data mining keys or hardcore malware, I wouldn't be without them for a monthly scan.

As I said it's an unregulated market, and there are a lot of red herring wares out there, but the programs mentioned are very useful tools indeed.

I'm far from saying that there aren't some decent products out there. But on the whole, most vendors will pray on people's paranoia and fear that their PC will be butt-raped if it's on the internet without their products. The key issue comes down to what you do with the PC in first place. If, like ozzy says above, you're searching for keygens and visiting www.hamsterfisting.com and other such places, you're far more likely to get crap on your PC, regardless of what measures you've got in place to counteract that.

Agree, you are able to minimise your chances of becoming 'infected' with malware by not going to certain types of website; by not clicking YES when a pop-up prompts you to install 'PC Speedboost'. But even for the experienced user, it is possible to be fooled by the wealth of offerings on the internet. For that very reason these utilies exist, and with careful vetting they can be your best friend.

Trouble is, the very people who are at risk (my illiterate parents) are the same people who are niave about the risks, and go clicking all sorts of things without adequate protection.

Kaspersky Pro/Spybot S&D/Ad-Aware/HijackThis - recommended imo.

 

[Rick-Reid]

I have AVG Anti-Viruis, and AVG Anti-Spyware. Use this combo on my personal pc, work laptop and gaming machine. Never have any problems.

 

[mattjaco]

d/l spyware blaster its free and stops active x contols etc.. in the first place