Free spyware / adware/ malware recommendations? - Page 2

Scottwax · 07-29-06, 12:45

Forget free. Go with Trend for virus protection and Spy Sweeper for trojans, spyware, etc. My first run with Spy Sweeper (I already had ad-aware) found 31 known spyware items and 436 traces. Been clean ever since.

natebood · 07-29-06, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Forget free. Go with Trend for virus protection and Spy Sweeper for trojans, spyware, etc. My first run with Spy Sweeper (I already had ad-aware) found 31 known spyware items and 436 traces. Been clean ever since.

I was going to suggest Spy Sweeper as well. I've been using it for about a year now and it works great. I believe Spy Sweeper has a free demo, try it!

PrinzII · 07-29-06, 11:39

I have been on CounterSpy for the past year and it works well. I also have Spybot and Ad-Aware. As for Anti-Virus, I was on McAfee but now, I am on AVG. If I had to go paid, I would look at Trend or Computer Associates.

mleggatt · 07-29-06, 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrayHawk

Add ZoneAlarm to the list of must have's. It will open your eyes to how many times someone tries to connect to your computer, but even more revealing is the number of times programs you already have try to use the Internet.

Although Zone Alarm is a good start if you can (and using ADSL) I would seriously consider getting a ADSL router/firewall instead. Personal Software firewalls are o.k but do affect performance of PC and IMHO aren't as secure as dedicated firewalls (albeit a ADSL router/firewall). Configure the firewall to drop traffic by default both inbound and outbound and only add rules/services that are absolutely necessary e.g. DNS, HTTP, FTP e.t.c.

Martin

wytstang · 07-29-06, 06:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by mleggatt

I have been using Grisoft AVG for years now. I work in the IT industry and in my opinion it is one of the best. It is free for home use and even the full functional version is only approx $40 with 2 years of AV updates included.

Grisoft

As for anti-spyware I was using Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy until recently. I then discovered Ewido

Ewido

which has recently merged with Grisoft. I spoke to their technical support recently and they should soon be releasing a version of AVG that includes this anti-spyware as one product. It's good to see a functional product that works, doesn't cost the earth and is not just hype and sales flim flam.

Martin

Been using Ewido for a few months now and love it, you will be surprised at how many torjans it finds. Works awesome everyone shoukld run it......it's FREE

Sherman8r44 · 07-29-06, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by wytstang

Been using Ewido for a few months now and love it, you will be surprised at how many torjans it finds. Works awesome everyone shoukld run it......it's FREE

Too bad it doesn't work on Windows ME.

kpounds · 07-29-06, 10:12

Ewido forum at Wilder's Security Forums. (not all positive comments)
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=81

martinager · 07-30-06, 07:33

As ane xperienced A+ Tech I can say Adaware or Panda. Panda is a virus / spywayre program, but doesnt miss a thing. Weve had cases where it scaned a hard drive for 5 days to catch everything.

Panda is numb 1!

kompressornsc · 07-31-06, 06:55

Well, I thought Spybot had picked off everything, but it didn't. It got 5 versions of that damn winantiviruspro, but there must be more, they keep popping up. Of course they pop up whenever you go to a competing spyware maker's site. Ugh. So, I guess I'll go deeper with another program.

Oh, and they're in Singapore (imanine that!) Anybody in Singapore want to go kick some butt for me? Thinking about flying over there myself to do it.

kpounds · 08-01-06, 12:05

One thing to watch out for with the different spyware programs is "false positives". Some programs will show you have false spyware just to try and sell you their product. I personally just use the freebies Ad-aware, Spybot and Spywareblaster and a free AV, then every so often run Trend Micro Housecall The good thing about Housecall is it removes viruses AND spyware, so works as a double-check for your AV and anti-spyware programs.

Two good security sites with forums: Spyware Warrior and Wilder's Security

natebood · 08-01-06, 04:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpounds

One thing to watch out for with the different spyware programs is "false positives". Some programs will show you have false spyware just to try and sell you their product. I personally just use the freebies Ad-aware, Spybot and Spywareblaster and a free AV, then every so often run Trend Micro Housecall The good thing about Housecall is it removes viruses AND spyware, so works as a double-check for your AV and anti-spyware programs.

Yea, I forgot to mention Housecall. I saw it recommened on one of the PC forums I used to frequent. Good thing about it is that you don't have to download the software for it, it does it within your browser. (unless you have to download the java plug-in)

kompressornsc · 08-02-06, 03:49

Ran Housecall & still have winantiviruspro pop ups. And I have Google toolbar w/ pop up blocker & it goes right through it. Ugh. Think I'm going to step up to spysweeper-it just got a good recommendation from Consumer Reports.