Safe AntiSpyware Products

  • Thread starter Thread starter slick1
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slick1

> Although I have AVG and my machine is firewalled, I am still
without any AntiSpyware.
> With so many "Rogue AntiSpyware" products out there I don't
know who is safe to use.
> Would anyone please know of any free, safe, AntiSpyware products
and how many I need to put on my machine?
> My System: > Acer TravelMate 2450
> Windows XP - Home - SP2
> Windows Explorer 7
> AVG, Windows Defender, SpyBot, Malicious software tool.
( all updated )
 
slick1 wrote:
>> Although I have AVG and my machine is firewalled, I am still
> without any AntiSpyware.
>> With so many "Rogue AntiSpyware" products out there I don't
> know who is safe to use.
>> Would anyone please know of any free, safe, AntiSpyware products
> and how many I need to put on my machine?
>> My System: > Acer TravelMate 2450
> > Windows XP - Home - SP2
> > Windows Explorer 7
> > AVG, Windows Defender, SpyBot, Malicious software tool.
> ( all updated )

I think you've got plenty of programs already. The real key is
practicing "Safe Hex".

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
Infected Anyway?
http://www.getsafeonline.org/
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2006/02/05/82584.aspx - MVP
Harry Waldron - The Family PC - How to stay safe on the Internet
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Eric Howes on
Rogue Antispyware Programs

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
 
> From slick1: Although I do practice "Safe Hex", (as best as I know
know how to, my being a newuser and all), I was just
wondering why I always hear that there is no one software
that cleans and immunizes you against everything.
I did get one Trojan, "AntiVirGear", on my system that
AVG did pick-up on, but the rest didn't. Who knows what
else may have slipped by AVG & the rest?
Your reply does answer that I do have a safe system,
but am I going to far to ask if it is ok to add more
security
to my system to run in the background?

"Malke" wrote:

> slick1 wrote:
> >> Although I have AVG and my machine is firewalled, I am still
> > without any AntiSpyware.
> >> With so many "Rogue AntiSpyware" products out there I don't
> > know who is safe to use.
> >> Would anyone please know of any free, safe, AntiSpyware products
> > and how many I need to put on my machine?
> >> My System: > Acer TravelMate 2450
> > > Windows XP - Home - SP2
> > > Windows Explorer 7
> > > AVG, Windows Defender, SpyBot, Malicious software tool.
> > ( all updated )
>
> I think you've got plenty of programs already. The real key is
> practicing "Safe Hex".
>
> http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
> Infected Anyway?
> http://www.getsafeonline.org/
> http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
> http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
> http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2006/02/05/82584.aspx - MVP
> Harry Waldron - The Family PC - How to stay safe on the Internet
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Eric Howes on
> Rogue Antispyware Programs
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
 
slick1 wrote:
>> From slick1: Although I do practice "Safe Hex", (as best as I know
> know how to, my being a newuser and all), I was just
> wondering why I always hear that there is no one software
> that cleans and immunizes you against everything.
> I did get one Trojan, "AntiVirGear", on my system that
> AVG did pick-up on, but the rest didn't. Who knows what
> else may have slipped by AVG & the rest?
> Your reply does answer that I do have a safe system,
> but am I going to far to ask if it is ok to add more
> security
> to my system to run in the background?

I'm sorry, I thought I was clear. Personally, I don't think that you
need to have more stuff running in the background nor do I think it will
keep you safer. If you got AntiVir, you (or someone using your
computer), clicked on something they shouldn't have.

On my Windows machines - used to the fullest by two teenage boys - I
have an antivirus (F-Prot), the Windows Firewall, and nothing else
running resident. Machines are behind a consumer-level router. Once a
week or so they do spyware-related maintenance by running Ad-aware
(free) and Spybot Search & Destroy (free). They do not get viruses or
malware because they know what not to do.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
 
The key point is to ditch IE and get a safer browser. If you do that, then
chances are you won't get hit by spyware unless you do something really
risky. Continue using IE and you WILL get hit by spyware. Not maybe. Will.
Usually in very short order, too.

As for spyware cleaners, some are better than others at removing particular
spyware. Ad-Aware is pretty good, Spybot S&D useful but not all that
effective, Hijack This is a good tool but needs a high level of understanding
to use it.
 
"Anteaus" wrote:
> The key point is to ditch IE and get a safer browser. If you do that, then
> chances are you won't get hit by spyware unless you do something really
> risky. Continue using IE and you WILL get hit by spyware. Not maybe. Will.
> Usually in very short order, too.

IE7 *is* the safer Browser - if your Security Settings are "soft" and you do not
practice "Safe Hex", you will get inected regardless of what you run.

> As for spyware cleaners, some are better than others at removing particular
> spyware. Ad-Aware is pretty good, Spybot S&D useful but not all that
> effective, Hijack This is a good tool but needs a high level of understanding
> to use it.

Running Ad-aware & SpyBot on the same machine, gives you a fairly good
level of protection /along/ with a good anti-virus like NOD32 or KAV.

HijackThis is only an analytical program. An expert can interpret the log findings
for you.
Read this Tutorial *before* first use
(http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42)

Silj

--
siljaline
http://aumha.org/vsop.php
 
"siljaline" aka Randy Bonkers wrote:

> IE7 *is* the safer Browser - if your Security Settings are "soft" and you do not
> practice "Safe Hex", you will get inected regardless of what you run.

I agree completely on this point. IE6 and now IE7 is relatively safer than
any other browsers there are on this planet! As far as I am concerned, IE6
is the best around thus far.


>
> > As for spyware cleaners, some are better than others at removing particular
> > spyware. Ad-Aware is pretty good, Spybot S&D useful but not all that
> > effective, Hijack This is a good tool but needs a high level of understanding
> > to use it.
>
> Running Ad-aware & SpyBot on the same machine, gives you a fairly good
> level of protection /along/ with a good anti-virus like NOD32 or KAV.
>
> HijackThis is only an analytical program. An expert can interpret the log findings
> for you.


I don't agree at all that you will ever need any third party anti-spyware
programs. However, if you still need something then go for Windows Defender
which is as safe as possible. I never advice people to go for any other
third party software because you just don't need it unless you regularly
visit those sordid sites. go to Microsoft's website and download Windows
Defender for free.

Hope this helps.
 
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