Spyware Software

[icebreaker]

I have the normal free software.

Spyware blaster
Ad-aware SE
AVG
Windows Defender
on my old desktop I have norton IS 2006 but still 175 days on subscription so I cant use S&D
but on other desktop and laptop I have S&D.

I was considering moving up to the pay software and get a good active shield plus another good spyware scanner.

Only tried the trial versions on all software listed below:
I tried Spy Sweeper 5.2 Spyware Doctor 4.0 and Counter Spy 1.5, Superantispysweeper.

SpySeeper 5.2 and Spware Doctor 4.0 really slowed down my system hardcore.

Spysweeper made like all my processes go up from like 1-5k - 20-30k each. I had Spool process up at like 23k. thought I had spyware infection but as soon as I stopped active shield and uninstalled it, everything went back to normal and I tried to reinstall it again and processes did the same thing.

Both were really slow to load up.

Now Counterspy isnt to bad on scans but to have active shield up it took 185k-200+k process memory. Memory hogs.

Superantispyware only took about 25-35k which is about what Iexplorer or Firefox run with, and that is with active shield up.

I havent tried Arconis or Norton IS 2007 (have 2006 and doubt ill ever use Norton again even if reviews say 07 has much improvements)


Looking for others experiences with these programs plus any others not listed that may be good to use. I dont mind these programs so much on my desktops but my P3 40gigHD 356mb ram laptop would be slowed down considerable by these purchase required software.

 

[theartist87]

I would not suggest looking on search engines for anti spyware programs. Most that you end up getting are actually spyware themselves (especially the paid ones).

I'd suggest dump Norton if you can, slow as hell. Upgrade to the paid version of Adaware. Dump Windows Defender, and add Spybot S&D. Use either AVG or Avast for your AV.

Norton 07 by the way, is the worst program they have ever made. When it first came out, the installer was bugged so if you tried to upgrade from a previous version, it royally screwed your computer up. They've since fixed that, but it's huge, bloated, uses way too much resources, and tends to not catch the easiest (and worst) viruses.

 

[raphink]

Something that:
* is not necessary on my computer
* slows my computer down
* prevents me from doing what I want on my computer

sounds like a virus to me.

I just find it funny that people might choose to pay for them... Haven't heard of the process of vaccination for PCs though

There's two ways of being in good health: either you cure whenever you're sick and it costs you money and you face the secondary effects of the pills (the antivirus way), or you keep yourself in good health by eating properly and have a proper hygiene (the "use a proper OS way").

 

[icebreaker]

ya Norton 2006 IS is pretty bad. I use S&D on all PCs, but I cant install S&D on the pc with Norton because for some reason it gives Norton an internal error and Norton will completely stop running and even restarting doesn't fix the problem,. I had to reinstall Norton twice trying to figure a way to keep S&D and Norton. My subscription still has like 170ish days left so I'm gonna keep it on just because its paid for.

 

[Sketcher]

Spybot hasn't detected anything on the computers I have been using for the last two years (and on one of them, Ad Aware found a lot of crap). You're not missing much.

 

[icebreaker]

ya i regularly do spyware/virus scans and I use ad aware/AVG/windows defender and now free version of superanti spyware.

Usually the only thing I find with the above ones will be tracking cookies.

When I was testing out the Trial verson of the paid ones like spy sweeper and spyware doctor, and counterspy they actually came up with some random spyware/trojan type things that I have never seen come up on the other scans. Kinda makes me wonder about how well my free versions are actually doing.

 

[Chuck_Darwin]

Get a mac. Virus free, Spyware free, and Malware free since 1996 on the internet for me.

 

[pgp_protector]

Get a mac. Virus free, Spyware free, and Malware free since 1996 on the internet for me.

My Wintel system has also been Virus Free, Spyware Free, & Malware Free (and on the net since BBSes

 

[California Dreamin']

Get a mac. Virus free, Spyware free, and Malware free since 1996 on the internet for me.

I've been a Mac user since 1992. No complaints from me!
I have a shirt that says "I'm not really a Windows user.. I just play one at work"

 

[icebreaker]

Never used a mac pc or OS so I really dont know how they work. They seem very generic to me with little option to upgrade later. I normally never have the cash to buy a nice pc so I buy cheap and add ram video card nice monitor later on.

I will say that if they operate anything like my ipod or itunes then I will stick to windows with all its flaws until I decide to switch to like linux.

 

[wolfman544]

I would not suggest looking on search engines for anti spyware programs. Most that you end up getting are actually spyware themselves (especially the paid ones).

I'd suggest dump Norton if you can, slow as hell. Upgrade to the paid version of Adaware. Dump Windows Defender, and add Spybot S&D. Use either AVG or Avast for your AV.

Norton 07 by the way, is the worst program they have ever made. When it first came out, the installer was bugged so if you tried to upgrade from a previous version, it royally screwed your computer up. They've since fixed that, but it's huge, bloated, uses way too much resources, and tends to not catch the easiest (and worst) viruses.

I have to second this thought. I am very happy with Avast, Adaware and Spybot. I have all my home and work machines running them.