I've been using Ad-aware as a spyware removal tool for quite a while now, but while checking the PCs of friends and family (some of which are chock-full of spyware), I noticed that Ad-aware misses quite a few of those pests. I noticed this when I did an online PestScan (from the makers of PestPatrol) when Ad-aware was finished.

Now I'm on the lookout for another, better spyware removal tool. My first choice would have been PestPatrol (after seeing the results of PestScan), but it's not free. I would prefer to try a free alternative if it's at least as good.

Anyway, while looking around and checking with other people I noticed that nowadays there are a LOT of spyware scanners around. That's why I would like to hear from the people on this board about their experiences with spyware scanners.

I look forward to reading your recommendations.

I've been using Ad-Aware 5 for a long time.
Now i'm using spybot, which is really useful and has more removal capabilities than aw6.

Tried also pestpatrol, but it was too sluggish and inaccurate.

I use both Ad-aware and Spybot-S&D. Some spywares may be removed by one of these two tools and not the other. Using both doesn't cost more since they are both free.

gee, all theese ot-polls lately...
I use ad-aware 6 and am realy content with it for now. they do regular signature updates and from build 181 on, the scan-function is finaly much more faster.
I never tried anything esle though, so I can't compare... (which I prob. should, for my own sake...)
can you get into some more detail?

but anyway, IMHO the choise of a good firewall and virus-scanner are much more important.

Switched from AdAware to Spy Sweeper due to positive feedback given by my peers at work. I am happy with the results so far picked up a few things AdAware didn't, it also left some things that AdAware picked up. Although the differences are minor and normally the thing left behind is of low threat anyways. So I stuck with Spy Sweeper on my system.

Regards

AgentMil

I am not very experienced, but I personally prefer SpyBot. However I use also AdAware 6.

In any case, they are both free, and they both work very well. Why not use both?

I don´t know any of the others, though.

I'm using PestPatrol. Works great, and seems to catch most everything. Updated often.

None: Prevention is better than cure.

I don't install programs I don't trust, and punish everything that tries connecting to the internet that shouldn't do

Linux!

No seriously though, I don't install spyware in the first place. Of course, if I do have to remove 100 spyware screensavers from my Mom's computer or whatever, I use Ad-aware and haven't found it to be deficient (though I haven't tried others). Unfortunately, if you're not dilligent about what you install, living with spyware is going to become one of the costs of using your computer.

I use Spybot to remove the spyware, and spywareblaster to block it from being installed in the first place. Spybot has a blocker as well. Using both in tandem, I have not had any new spyware on my drive for a couple of months. You must remeber to update them just like an anti-virus program. I usally use the built in updater of both programs once a week to check.

I use and recommend Spybot Search & Destroy, i used to use AdAware long time ago, but S&D does a very good job, always updated and efficient, includes some gimmicks for IE (main culprit for unconcent Spyware installs) and has received many good reviews. Unlike AdAware, it won't do a "dumb" scan of the entire drive, so it may miss things. I suppose its wise to use both.

Well using non microsoft products is just the wisest decision, i congratulate our Yehat friend up there

Same thing I use for a virus scanner. Common Sense ™

common sense, haha. Too bad there are certain things that can still happen to you even though you may do things like not opening attachments, not installing things you aren't sure of, etc etc. There are things you can catch just by reading the email itself without ever opening an attachment. There are crapass web pages that install things without your knowledge. You get what you deserve if you don't have some real-time virus scanner. You will get hit with something at some point, just a matter of time. For all you know, you have tons of infections right now. I've got an abundance of common sense, doesn't stop my virus scanner from notifying me of things that would otherwise have hit me. Every person I know that uses a computer regularly but did not have a virus scanner in the past is using one now, because they at some point had me over either rescuing their machine from a virus or reinstalling because of the damage done.

I'm entirely convinced that you are able to keep your PC virus-free by simply using common sense. I don't use a virus scanner myself.

However, it's a lot more difficult to keep your system spyware-free. For example, how do you know for sure that a banner on one of the websites you browsed didn't install a tracking cookie ?

To the people who are not running any spyware scanners: can you just do a quick online scan on http://www.pestscan.com (unfortunately, it only works with IE). Just to be sure.

But I want to clarify that I have things fairly under control on my PC. The tool will be specifically targeted to the PCs on some of my friends and family (which have lots and lots of spyware installed).

poisondan, I ask you, how is common sense going to stop a virus/worm which requires absolutely no action on your part? Or the ones which only require looking at an email, without opening an attachment? Suppose one of these emails comes to you, looking like it's from your mom/sister/friend? Naturally you'll read your email. Bam, infected. Common sense going to help you there? Absolutely not. You're deluding yourself if you think you don't need to be protected, just because you think you know how to avoid a virus.

I know this is directed at poisondan, but I'd like to answer on my own behalf.



By using a firewall (or two).



By not using Outlook and disabling (html) graphics in e-mails.

Common sene goes a long way; to the point where I don't have any spyware on my comp. and don't need a spyware removal tool.

Aye! Can't ye see ye are killing me human?


If you are using software which allows this to occur, you are not practicing common sense. All viruses that spread by these means with Outlook/Outlook Express explot holes that were patched more than a year ago. All current e-mail viruses rely on people either:
1) Opening attachments
2) Using outdated software

I've been using computers regularly for more than half my life (including Windows a large portion of the time, and currently every day at work), and I have never once had a actual need for a virus scanner, software firewall (vastly overrated tool) or spyware removal tool, with the exception of cleaning up other folks computers. Sure, some of the sense I practice is of the uncommon variety, but I just keeping stuff up to date (very easy in Windows, even easier in Linux) is half the battle.

As far as nasty web pages go, it's not a difficult process to turn off scripting except for sites for which you want to explicitly allow it. 99% (and I really mean 99%) of sites that use Javascript, Java, Flash or ActiveX are quite useable without them (and usually less annoying.) Also, there's no really meaningful use of HTML e-mail, so it's best to just turn that off. All real e-mail apps that send HTML e-mail have a plain text version included as well. The one exception is spam, and you don't really want to see that anyway.

This is usually the point where I go into a rant about how all these scripting "technologies" (esp. being on by default even from untrusted sources) is the root of all evil, but I'm too tired.

I know at least one person that swears by all the routines you describe, and one day asked me to help with a computer acting strangely. Installed a virus scanner and found a good dozen or so viruses, removed them, and waddyaknow, all was fine again. Putting all your eggs in one basket is plain dumb, no matter what you're dealing with. Thinking you're fine because you have a firewall is silly. Thinking you're fine because you don't open attachments is silly. Thinking you're fine because you disable html is silly. Avoiding known holes doesn't mean you aren't going to fall into any holes, you should still have something that prevents you from falling into the holes you overlook. But whatever, it's your computer, your data, if you don't value it, by all means.

phong, well there are two possibilities, you either have been very lucky to have never been infected with something, or you, like that friend of mine, figure you weren't but probably have been. I've been using computers since the Commodore PET / Apple II days too, doesn't mean I know every single line of code that belongs to every single program I run and know for a fact that there is nothing there that someone could exploit. Now, does it? Even retail software from big names has been known to ship complete with a virus, so you're nuts if you think you're immune just because of your own habits. Your own habits are only one part of the picture.

That's why I read all my mail in Yahoo, and only download it to my PC after deleting everything suspicious. And of course I don't use Outlook Express, I use M2.



Not if you use Opera, and have Java, Javascript and Flash disabled.



LOL. let me tell you, it's been years since I last run a real time virus scanner in this machine, and there is no virus here (checked with some of those fancy on-demand scanners some weeks ago, just to be sure blaster didn't penetrate my firewall. Completely clean. Not even spywares)

You need to rephrase: "You get what you deserve if you use Outlook and Internet Explorer"



Please, don't try to bring others down to your level. If you don't know hot to sport a secure behaviour on the internet, then yes, you will get hit. If you know how to be careful, you won't.



I invite you to come here at my home and scan my whole HDD in search for viruses. That will only serve to prove you are full of sh*t.

I reckon you have been reading grc lately?



OK, I will rewrite the sentence I just wrote:
"Please, don't try to bring others down to your and your friends' level."

Best regards;

Roberto.

f*cking buggy forum engine...

Well, let's see...

I have been using computers since the ZX81, thankyouverymuch...

Still, I don't understand all this "I don't believe in virus scanners, spyware scanners, personal firewalls" trend...

I mean, you have at your disposal perfectly fine 100% free solutions for all these 3 types of programs.

I do practice a lot of that Common Sense you so much value, and for me, inside that virtue is included precisely using a PF, a Virus Scanner, and every now and then, scanning for spyware. 99 out of 100 times, it will be fine, clean and happy.

My point is: we are all humans, and we are bound to make a mistake at some point or the other. If having these tools is free, and brings the chances of that single one time I am not careful enough being precisely the one that will destroy all my system, well... for me it's certainly worth the price.

In one line: It's free, it's good, it lets you sleep better, why not use it???

<Slightly OT>
Do you practice Common Sense as protection against AIDS? Thought so. And in this case, it's not so easy to find free condoms!!!
</Slightly OT>

Roberto: Yahoo Mail uses a Virus Scanner, so sorry, you are using one

From these programs, I only use a personal firewall. And mostly to keep my pirated software from phoning home.

I don't want to waste system resources to anti-virus scanners. And worrying about updating the virus definitions every few weeks. No matter if the program is free or not.



We are talking about real-time virus scanners here, smartass.

And if you look close, you'll notice I use Virus Scanners when needed, but web versions (scan to go). I only don't have a real time scanner installed. I already have too many apps running on the background, I don't want to waste resources with another one that is of no use to me.

Roberto: Sorry if I pissed you off, it was just a silly, no offense intended joke.

By the way, I have also tested several web virus scanners, and so far I find the Trend Micro one to be the best, HouseCall. Any other good ones? Norton only provides detection, as far as I see, although I find their specific removal tools to be the best available. And I find Panda a bit unstable.

Anyway, going waaay OT here, I'll stop

Easy, I use Mozilla Thunderbird instead of Outlook Express. The worm you described is also known as Klez, which didn't affect me even when I was still using OE because I had my OE updated way ahead of time.

The sad thing is that this is still one of the most active viruses on the Internet. The stupid security hole it exploits has been patched for years.

I worked tech support and computer repair for a few years and during that time virus scanners were about three times more likely than actual viruses to cause problems that required tech support or bringing the computer in for repair.* Even if a virus scanner is "free" in monetary terms, they're not free in terms of time and computer resources wasted.

Also, notice that I said I never had "need" for a virus scanner. I will periodically check a Windows machine I'm using, but over the years that's proven to be a big waste of time.

* The one exception here is realtors, who seemed to get viruses at an astonishing pace. If you work for or at a realty agency, I recommend being completely paranoid about viruses. They're like computer leper colonies. I am NOT joking about this. Realtors are total virus magnets. They always get the rarer ones too (the old-style viruses that spread by passively infecting .exe files and being stow-aways on floppies).

rjamorim, and a hardy fuck you to you too, jackass. Seriously, what the hell's wrong with you? I'm being quite serious about ways OTHER THAN YOUR WEB BROWSER AND YOUR EMAIL PROGRAM for things to get into your system, and you say I'm full of shit because you use browser X blah blah blah. Your web browser of choice is meaningless. Your email program of choice is meaningless. There is more than one way for you to get infected/affected than just those, which I already stated. Yet somehow you bring it all back to just IE and OE. Wake up. And wtf's grc got to do with anything? Sheesh. If you're not using tools to protect yourself, there's only one other way you could possibly be protected. That's if you KNOW THE SOURCE CODE FOR EVERY PROGRAM YOU USE and know for SURE that there is NOTHING in any of them that could possibly be exploited in any way. The fact that you've got a blind spot or two doesn't give you the right to treat me like shit for pointing out that blind spot to you. So I kindly throw the shit right back over the fence.

You are wrong. Again. Heh

Read this:
http://www.acm.org/classics/sep95/

And it's really funny seeing you go berseck and cursing like mad. Just shows that it's impossible to keep a discussion with you.

None. ´Cause I´m just in love with spys who look under my blanket.
Edit:
But now getting serious again: I have to tell a little story, which really happened to me today. So.... here it goes:
As usual today in the morning I started my queued up- and downloads (of course only legal stuff) before I go to work over DC++, then I went away in the expectation that all would run as every day (harddisk is filled up around 1 gig after mostly). - But what did I have to see, when I was back? - My "favourite" virus-scanner freeware-tool, which I maintain nearly daily for updates, named AntiVir started to search my harddisks for viruses automatically while I was away - and indeed finally found one. But instead of deleting it at once, it asked in a specially opened window, if it should delete, or save(!) or give this file a kiss on his ass (?) or whatever - and - and that was really annoying for me now - stopped during that time (it were more than 6 hours until i came back) the whole in- and outbounding internet-traffic of my computer until i had given commands what that nasty proggy shall do!!! - So, now, a few hours ago, I decided that there can be only one punishment for this crime: the death-penalty ! - May you burn in hell, you f*cking, nasty so-called virus-scanner. You made more harm than any virus ever made before on my comp!

On the ICSA Labs online virus scanner certification page they only list Trend Micro HouseCall as certified:
http://www.icsalabs.com/html/communities/a..._certprod.shtml

go read your own reply, you're the one that started the shit. Dumbass.

<edit> not to mention your little link is an argument in favor of MY point, not yours, heh. Like I just said, unless you know every line of source for every program you use, you can't trust it. The compiler you get your programs from is also a program itself that you use, duh.

I really see you didn't get Ken's point at all. (the whole point, not only the example, although I see you only understood the example)

I suggest you give up now, you are only making a fool out of yourself.

YES SIR, SIRTY SIR SIR SIR! You're sad. You start swearing at me, so I respond in kind, and *I* am the one making a fool of myself, heh.

Quote where I swore at you.

Funnily, I see tou you was very far from responding "in kind".

Since you didn't quote where I swore at you, let me quote where you swore at me:

"rjamorim, and a hardy fuck you to you too, jackass."

"So I kindly throw the shit right back over the fence. "

"go read your own reply, you're the one that started the shit. Dumbass."

On reply to that: I claimed you are full of sh*t, basing on the stuff that you wrote. I hardly consider that swearing.

oh, well...

RoFL... all this over spyware removal... man each man to their own devices thats what I say!!

Anyways just a quick question... whats the Alexa toolbar that SpySweeper picked up? All it had in the file was MSN related stuff... I deleted it and removed it so I better have no problems running IE? Could someone please elaborate?

Regards

AgentMil

quote it yourself, it's right there for you to read. I grow tired of you and your denial of what's right there in plain words.

_Shorty, please, take a deep breath and relax...

Even opensource won't protect you from unknown bugs, as you might not notice the patch early enough.
You never know whether there are no security bugs...

But you don't need to run the virus scanner all the time if you don't install/run any unchecked software.

BTW, do you have the sourcecode of all the security programs you use?

Personally, I use the antivirus on demand (Avast), one firewall (ipfw) and one 'system protector'
(Tiny PF 5) to check which programs run and do network connections.
I don't need to scan e-mails. Even if Thunderbird has some obscure security bug, I have html sanitizer on.
(rjamorim, some email programs don't send html+text mail by default)
Mozilla Firebird doesn't allow automatic running of software
and I have Java, Flash and some JavaScript statusbar tricks turned off.
Unless I install some unknown soft, I don't scan for spyware.
I don't open mail attachments without scanning them first and can discern a hoax/virus from legitimate email.

Common Sense and utilities combined are a best weapon.