Just had my kid's computer repaired. The shop deleted hundreds of spyware files! In your opinion what's the best free anti-spyware program? LeRoy

SpywareBlaster is free & helps to stop spyware from installing at all http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

Don't forget your anti-virus as well. AVG from www.grisoft.com. For killing spyware - Lavasoft's adaware is also free. If running XP the Microsoft Anti-spyware Beta does an excellennt job. The demo of spyware sweeper, and their online freebie scan does as a good job of finding nastys, but doesn't delete the offending entry. But you can mannually delete these keys from the registry if you knowing what you're lloking for doing. Forget Nortons and Symantecs slugware.

I use Spybot and AVG myself. I've been very fortunate since having both installed. They are the only two programs I allow to stay in my system tray.

destro75: Do you have a link to AVG? The most fear they have is that they won't no know to use it!I can't be with them all of the time(my problem) I need a program that has a user friendly interface.Is AVG complicated? LeRoy

Attached Link: http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1

I used AVG and had no problems with it. I switched to AntiVir to standardize. Both are about the same in terms of ease of use I'd say--pretty much just install and download updates. http://www.free-av.com/ I used to use SpyBot and AdAware but I've settled on the Microsoft AS beta. It works really well and does everything I need in that department. I used the trial before Microsoft bought the company and it was the only thing that cleaned a nasty hijacker. I don't know when the beta will be over. Hopefully they will leave it as a free product.

whats interesting about spyware blasters, it seems they all find different stuff. I use adaware and spybot search and destroy ...both find different things...they have blockers as well, but stuff still is found. I gave the trial version of Spy Sweeper a go after I ran Adaware and SPybot ... guess what , it found 45 entries. So maybe the trick is to run all of them ... AVG is easy to use ... you can set it up to run when you're not using the system .. it will also download the updates automatically .. checks your incoming email, and so forth.

Continuing what Dave-So said, yes, it is known that all spyware sweepers find different things. Even the makers advise using more than one product, since they can't keep up with all of the various crapware products out there. (It's different than viral outbreaks, a virus spreads, whereas you normally receive crapware downloads via a singular website. There are so many different variants that its a matter of luck for a sweeper writer to locate it.) I just use SpyBot alone since it's free, and I tend not to go near sites that have spyware problems these days. I just leave it running in my system tray, and it blocks what it gets to. I also play a lot with my browser settings to prevent ActiveX controls, Java programs, etc. from downloading and running. I only stuff to run from trusted sites. As far as AVG, it's a great product. If you allow it to sit in the system tray, it will autodownload updates every day, and you can set it to scan the computer as often as you like. I have mine set to begin a full system scan at 4a.m. every day. It usually takes about 2 hours to cover both of my hard disks. The best part of the software? It's totally free for personal use. You can purchase a copy with a little more functionality, but it isn't necessary. The updates are even free!

Only problem with AVG is that it requires a reboot to update the virus defs. I had a bit of trouble getting the update to work with ZoneAlarm, but the big problem is that my computer is 24/7, so I have to reboot it specifically for AVG. Even so, I wouldn't switch, and I'll buy it the day they stop offering a freebie. In my opinion, using MS "anti-" spyware makes about as much sense as expecting the local thieves to protect your house if you pay them or having a convicted burglar provide the locks. You can be sure MS AS Beta doesn't prevent THEM from putting spyware on your computer. No thanks. I use AdAware and SpyBot. M

Attached Link: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html

There's an excellent site called spywarewarrior.com that you might want to look at. Goes into more detail than you might want to know. You might be surprised at the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of some products.

i just bought Spy Sweeper ... it was on sale for $25 plus a free copy of Window Washer. Window Washer is actually a pretty cool program, or seems to be...it deletes all the temp internet files, cookies, and stuff like that. As far as cookies, you can pick which ones you want active, such as your password for a site like rendo. WW also puts integers in your hard drive free space. It makes data recovery impossible for stuff you deleted, such as your credit card info....they call it "bleaching" your hard drive. Suppose the CIA could still find that image of nude Vick you deleted ? also has a complete deletion function that erases ALL data from your hard drive and makes in unrecoverable ..good for if you sell your system or give it to charity or something. There are free apps that do this stuff as well... The reason I bough Spy Sweeper is tha tit found stuff Ad-Aware and Spybot didn't....their trial version will not remove what its found, only identifies it. Actually a crappy way to do business, but then again, its one of the higher rated spybot sweepers ...but again, doesn't find everything.

When I had to take my PC in last year (december 2004) because it was having problems, the computer store said it was all the spyware and viruses. We had to reformat the hard drive--what a pain. The store recommended AVG for viruses and Spy Sweeper for spyware. I use both of those plus the Lavasoft and Microsoft spyware proggies. So far (knock on wood), we've had a year free of problems. Since my IPS is SWB Yahoo!, we have their free pop-up blocker and spyware proggies, too.

My recommendation for a FREE Kid's computer setup. AVG anti-virus AdAware and SpyBot anti-spyware (note: with free versions you do need at least two products). ZoneAlarm firewall SP2 for WindowsXP is a must (firewall turned off) Mozilla FireFox browser Teach them common sense about Internet safety (what not to click onkeeping updated..Email,etc.) Dont let them use any of the file sharing programs like Kazza, Limeware, etc which installs tons of spyware (Emule is safe in that it doesnt install spyware.. but still!). Learn how to do a format and system re-install yourself. Its easy and will save you the cost of the repair shop..cuz kids will be kids! SWAMP (the neighborhood kids It guy)

I use SpyBot and AdAware, no idea if they are the best. For anti virus and firewall I am using ZoneAlarm. I also run the free command line version of MacAfee virus scanner from time to time. I am not very impressed with the ZoneAlarm anti virus, but it is an excellent firewall.

Attached Link: Microsoft Anti-Spyware LInk

Now free Spyware Removal - I've used Adaware for some time, but recently I've also installed the Microsoft Anti-Spyware beta. I'm really not sure how well it is working or looked up any reviews, but so far, no problems. (Link above)

I use Adware. However, I didn't know about the MS beta one so I downloaded it and am going to try it.

I did a scan using the MS spyware beta, and it found 1 entry... my iMesh program that I use to download music (100% legal in Canada :) ). I did another scan using Lavasoft Adware after getting the signature updates, and it found 3 spyware files on my computer: 2 from double click and 1 from somewhere else... all "Data Miners". Based on this... I'll stick with Lavasoft :)

I hadn't run AdAware for a long time so I tried it. It reported 304 items. 303 were tracking cookies/data miners which AdAware itself classifies as low risk. "...used either for targeted advertising, or tracking users across a particular website, such as page views or ad click-thrus." Those things don't worry me and can be controlled with cookie settings if you really want to, otherwise, they're pretty much inevitable. Number 304 was a site I had added to my favorites. AdAware listed it as a "possible Browser Hijack attempt" because they had apparently blacklisted the site--I've noticed nothing fishy about it. One of the things I like best about MSAS is that it is always running blocking hijacks, home page changers, new startup programs, new toolbars etc. AdAware has realtime protection but only in the pay version. I'm sure if I had run SpyBot, it would have found something else the other two didn't. As someone said, it's probably best to run at least a couple of different ones. Personally, I use the ZoneAlarm, AntiVir and MSAS and call that a reasonable solution that I can manage and so far hasn't let me down. Various other combinations are just as good, all a matter of choice.

Ad-Aware... http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ Spybot - Search & Destroy... http://www.safer-networking.org/ SpyCatcher Express... http://www.tenebril.com/downloads/ I run all three, and they all pick up stuff that the others miss...and I'm not talking about false positives. There's also a very good article here... http://blogs.zdnet.com/Spyware/index.php?p=752&tag=nl.e589 ...which details some of the so-called anti-spyware tools to avoid. It has some good links too.

mickmca, I almost never have to reboot for AVG updates. If you go into the Control Panel, and click on the Updates button, then click Properties, you can choose the Update Immediately option. This will allow AVG to update itself almost every time, without you having to reboot your system. I have it set to then request to reboot, so it doesn't happen automatically. Then, if it is too inconvienient at that time, I can just do it later.

Attached Link: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

Attached Link: http://windowssecrets.com/comp/050929/

One is that no one product does the job all by itself. You have to run multiple products if you want coverage that's as complete as possible. But even that's not complete protection - its just around 80% or so.

The linked anti-spyware article is from the great Windows Secrets newsletter, and dates form September of '05 so it's fairly recent. There are some good links in it to other studies & reviews that were done on rating anti-spyware. This market has changed a lot recently, so if you are still using Lavasoft + SpyBot because they're both free and they USED to be what everybody used, you might want to take another look.

One thing that's VERY important to note: Although Microsoft Anti-Spyware is generally regarded as doing a good job, Microsoft has crippled it's ability to detect programs installed by M$ "partners" - noteworthy firms that include Claria (formerly Gator), WhenU and 180Solutions. These guys are some of the BIGGEST spyware vendors out there! So don't expect Gates' team to cover your butt when somebody else is sticking money in their back pockets.

• Jimdoria ~@>@

Message edited on: 01/30/2006 13:52

"One thing that's VERY important to note:" Thanks Jim - sadly I'm not surprised :(