Superantispyware

[jamjar]

Hi

 

I use the free versions of ZoneAlarm firewall, AVG, Spybot, Ad-Aware and SpywareBlaster, Ewido 4 Paid, and, of course, CCleaner.

 

Is Superantispyware any good and worth adding to my current setup or does anyone have alternatives to recommend?

 

 

Thanks

[rridgely]

Its not worth paying for the full version(especially since you have the full version of ewido) but yes its worth downloading and using as an on demand scanner. It does find stuff the other do not.

[Eldmannen]

I agree with rridgely.

 

It is not worth paying for. But it might be worth downloading and trying out as it has the potential to find stuff other software don't.

[matt_man22]

I use the free versions of ZoneAlarm firewall, AVG, Spybot, Ad-Aware and SpywareBlaster, Ewido 4 Paid, and, of course, CCleaner.

 

 

rridgely, I cannot believe you actually recommended downloading another scanner. I can't even imagine having that much junk installed. jamjar, you're probably slowing down your computer more than if you had spyware.

 

Instead of downloading more and more scanners, take time to understand how a computer works and how to prevent getting spyware in the first place. I use only a firewall. No spyware scanner, no virus scanner, no real-time protection. Yet I have never had any virus or spyware. It's actually really easy.

 

Here are some tips:

 

• Get firefox with the NoScript extension. Only allow trusted sites to use javascript.

• Do not download from P2Ps like Limewire.

• Letting other people use the computer is a mistake. Set up VMWare with Windows if you are letting someone else use it.

 

Doing some of these simple steps and learning how spyware can get into your computer can make a big difference. At most you should need one real time scanner.

 

Yes this is my first post, but I've been watching these forums for a couple of months. I'm appalled at the "more is better" mentality in relation to spyware protection. Less is actually better, and I hope the people providing help stop recommending "download 5 scanners" and instead make a post how to prevent it in the first place.

 

Matt

[hazelnut]

Hell Matt and welcome after peeping through the window for so long!!

 

In a perfect world there would be no need for scanners and spyware and anti malware programs. However we live in the real world where people are attracted to porn, popups and movie clips ect. It's human nature.

It's also human nature for people to take advantage of this by dropping malicious things onto other peoples computers.

 

If you have looked here as often as you say, you would see that in posts in the hjt logs for instance, advice on how you catch spyware is often offered with links for people new to computers. Also tips like one AV only. You can only offer advice, you cannot ram it down people's throats.

Even on forums such as Wilders it's not unusual for the above selections to be quoted.

We all have our own ideas on what is best for our computers, it's down to personal preference really.

[matt_man22]

I understand that it will happen no matter what. But looking in the hjt forum, at the top is a guide for removal. Shouldn't there also be a guide for prevention?

 

http://forum.ccleaner.com/index.php?showtopic=6329 Implies it is necessary to download 5 pieces of software to be spyware free. A lot of times, people will live with spyware for a while and then remove it. But what happens when they get a new computer? They do the same thing. I was just suggesting that you may also want to have a stick post that shows how you can prevent spyware in the future.

 

Now there is a post in the Spyware forum about protecting yourself:

 

Which Do I Use?

 

Well, to be honest. Use them all, it's better to be safe then sorry. As for Real Time Protection, use either WinPatrol or SpywareGuard. Only use 1 though, running them together can cause problems.

 

It lists a few causes, but hardly gives prevention techniques. I fully understand that people will be installing/downloading spyware. However, for the people who want to learn, it may be helpful to tell them how next time they can't prevent it from happening.

[Humpty]

Hi Matt_Man22,

 

IMHO running few different scanners as on demand won't slow your system.

 

Everyone is different in their surfing habits and the advice given was to use SAS as on demand which is quite reasonable.

 

FF with noscript run through Sandboxie is what I use as mainstay security along with a hardware firewall.

 

Lean,mean and clean.

 

Also take into consideration that people do have habits or phobias that are hard to break.

 

Kav runs realtime as I just feel I need to see that av icon sitting there.Sorta feel naked without it.

 

MS apps phoning home rile me as well hence my need for a software firewall.

 

Superantispyware is used as on demand.

 

Might add that I am trying out the latest version of Comodo firewall.Pretty darn good ATM.

[rridgely]

rridgely, I cannot believe you actually recommended downloading another scanner. I can't even imagine having that much junk installed. jamjar, you're probably slowing down your computer more than if you had spyware.

 

No, having multiple on demand scanners does nothing to slow down your computer. If you have multiple real time scanners then you would have lots of programs running all the time(which would slow you down) Hence why I told them not to buy it especially since they have the full version of ewido(for real time).

 

Instead of downloading more and more scanners, take time to understand how a computer works and how to prevent getting spyware in the first place. I use only a firewall. No spyware scanner, no virus scanner, no real-time protection. Yet I have never had any virus or spyware. It's actually really easy.

 

Here are some tips:

• Get firefox with the NoScript extension. Only allow trusted sites to use javascript.

• Do not download from P2Ps like Limewire.

• Letting other people use the computer is a mistake. Set up VMWare with Windows if you are letting someone else use it.

 

I agree that you need to know how to keep a computer clean in order to be completely safe. But not using a virus scanner or spyware scanner is a bad idea. Something could slip in and you wouldn't know it and without any of the above types of programs installed it could be a real disaster.

 

As far as ways to prevent infections there are many good ways that wont tax system resouces at all.

1.Spywareblaster

2.Host File

3.Alternate Browser(preferably for me would be firefox with adblock.)

 

Doing some of these simple steps and learning how spyware can get into your computer can make a big difference. At most you should need one real time scanner.

 

If that were only so.

These programs are only as good as their deffinition files and sadly its not possible for one program to detect everything. Thats just the reality of it.

 

Yes this is my first post, but I've been watching these forums for a couple of months. I'm appalled at the "more is better" mentality in relation to spyware protection. Less is actually better, and I hope the people providing help stop recommending "download 5 scanners" and instead make a post how to prevent it in the first place.

Matt

 

Just because you have these programs installed doesn't mean you have to use them every day. Those 5 scans that your so appauled by are for peoples computers who have already been infected and need help to get them clean. Using those programs are a lot easier then trying to hunt through your computer for the right thing to remove(especially since most users don't know what to look for in the first place)

 

At the most I tell someone to run real time an antivirus, firewall, and one real time spyware program. Just running those three will keep your computer clean and not slow it down.

For added protection the above things I listed will not use any system resouces at all.(spyware blaster ect.)

 

Now for a post that recommends how to keep a computer clean I mention this link all the time.

http://www.castlecops.com/postlite7736-.html

 

Yes we need a faq for that too here but it takes time to write one(I've been working on it )

[jamjar]

Hi

 

I don't use my pc for any of the reasons mentioned by hazelnut.

 

I thought that you needed security software as soon as you use the internet, however careful your usage is.

 

 

 

Regards

[rridgely]

Hi

 

I don't use my pc for any of the reasons mentioned by hazelnut.

 

I thought that you needed security software as soon as you use the internet, however careful your usage is.

Regards

 

 

YOU DO!

You can get spyware from doing just about anything online but especailly the things hazelnut mentioned. I highly suggest you read this link for more info.

http://www.castlecops.com/postlite7736-.html

[1984]

yeah i agree with that post on castlecops by TonyKlein.

 

I use firefox, etrust antivirus, and netveda firewall, hostsfiles, and spywareblaster installed. Those are the only things that are constantly "on" (i understand that spywareblaster and hostfiles are not using resources).

 

But i do have ewido, superantispyware, spybot and adaware on my computer and run them once in awhile to double check to make sure things are clean-usually before i use my credit card or do my banking online. cant hurt, but can help.

 

as someone who had a hijacker on their system in the past i can tell you its much easier to have that software installed and use it if/when you need it, then to try and install it AFTER you become infected.

 

and like so many other computer users, when i got this computer, my first (well not counting the commodore vic 20 i had when i was a kid), i didnt know squat (i know squat plus one now! ) about spyware, virus prevention, etc. i didnt even know the difference.

 

its kind of like airbags. they add a bit of weight to the car, dont affect the mileage in any real world sense, but you are damn happy they are there when your (computer? ) car crashes.