My computer runs on Windows XP. I run Avast Home Edition, Ad-Aware SE, Spybot-S & D, and CWShredder. Will adding AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware be redundant to what I am already using? There are so many free programs on the web to protect one’s computer. I don’t want any overlapping or unecessary programs on my hard drive.
Should I download, install, and use AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware as well? Thanks, Megaman
Hey megaman, Of the programs you mentioned I use A-squared and Ad-Aware, but the others are OK as well. I don’t believe you need all three(AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware ) as one should be enough. But that’s just my opinion so lets just wait and see what others think.
Another program I use is SpywareBlaster. once your system is clean, It’s a good way to keep spyware out.
@ megaman04
There is to my mind the saying you can get too much of a good thing. With multiple applications you also have to do multiple signature updates, etc.
Never more than one resident on-access anti-virus, the same if true of anti-spyware or a firewall application. With on-demand anti-virus/spyware there is no limit but I would tend to keep it at no more than two, some would say one simply as a back-up to your resident program.
Now if you don’t have a resident anti-spyware program (and I don’t) then two on-demand anti-spyware programs, currently I have AVG-AS and AdAware. I used to have Spybot S&D added to that list but felt that is was not adding much to the overall protection levels and the updates were large, slow and at times difficult to access, so it got the chop.
I like the interface in avg-as, it has relatively good detection rates and I haven’t had any issues with the updates (touch wood), so I have no need to check out a-squared, which would be the next one I would try. I have tried many of the others, like SuperAntispyware, SpywareTerminator (ST) and I didn’t like the interface at all and some of the ST options it wasn’t clear what they would do I don’t like not being in control of antonymous actions.
The reason why I posted my question again is because you didn’t really answer my question in the other category. Instead, you posted a list of spyware programs and their percentages. So I thought perhaps I’d get someone else to try to answer it. Megaman
I’ll try AVG Antispyware and not A-Squared and Super Antispyware. I just don’t want a bunch of spyware and other programs on my hard drive, so I’m trying to find out what are the best free programs.
Also, is Spyware Blaster a good one to install too? This was suggested by marc57. Thanks, Megaman
SpywareBlaster is fine as it is a passive application, it is neither on-access nor on-demand, it blocks known spyware sites, etc.
SpywareBlaster is the original anti-spyware protection solution!
Developed in 2002 to help users prevent spyware installs, SpywareBlaster pioneered the effective use of prevention techniques to reduce or greatly eliminate spyware-related problems, as well as problems related to other potentially unwanted software such as dialers, browser hijackers, and adware.
Today’s SpywareBlaster is greatly enhanced - protection is still the foremost purpose of the program, but it also provides unique utilities like the exclusive “System Snapshot”, and various useful tools. The interface has been upgraded to provide easier access to all of the new options, including Restricted Sites Protection, and Mozilla/Firefox Protection.
Help keep your system safe and secure with SpywareBlaster. We hope you like it!
This help file outlines many of the functions and features in SpywareBlaster. If you need any other assistance, please see the Javacool Software Knowledgebase.
Well, I have seen AVG Anti-Spyware miss something while A-Squared Free catching more while doing an on-demand scan. It was on my sister’s computer.
Anyway … While that did happen, Yahoo! Toolbar’s intergrated Norton Antispyware (which hasn’t been updated in a while) caught another something else while Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy didn’t (and their on-demand scanning is great). I can’t recall what infected files they were, but that was a funny thing.
Well, this proves too much security (as long as not conflicting resident scanning) can’t be too bad. I recommend both A-Squared and AVG Anti-Spyware, but you definatly don’t need them both. Try them out, and take a look on how you like the features, interface, and preformance. On the side note, AVG AS has a 30 trial period (with resident scanning) and after it gets into a limited free version, without resident scanning, and then isn’t any different from A-Squared Free.
----Also, you may consider a worthy resident scanner antispyware program. I find that it helps in certain situations.
It is also possible to use on-line scanners as a back-up as opposed to having more programs installed. On-line Virus Scanners and other useful Links Security-Ops.eu.tt
What is a “resident” anti-spyware program and an “on-demand” anti-spyware program? Can you give some examples?
Also, are these a good mix of anti-virus and anti-spyware programs to have on my computer? Avast Home Edition, Ad-Aware SE, AVG Anti-Spyware, Spyware Blaster, and CWShredder? Thanks, Megaman
The free SpyBot has TeaTimer as resident, an on-access provider that watches your computer in background and avoid infections.
SpywareTerminator has a free resident as well.
Other antispywares have resident part, but not the free version, Lavasoft Ad-aware, AVGas, a-squared.
So, if you don’t have an activated resident, you’re using the on-demand part of the program, it will scan when (and only when) you said so.
Others, are immunizators. They’re static, they do not scan, but act in the background, like a closed door.
Spyware Blaster and WindowsAdvancedCare are some of them.
avast is a resident AV program it scans files (depending on your settings) as you access them (on-access), so the scanner is always active. There is also the avast Simple User Interface where you can initiate scans (on-demand) for flies, folders, or hard drives.
That is the basic distinction between on-access (often called a resident scanner) and on-demand (scans you initiate) scanners, this can also be applied to other security programs. So when looking at choosing an anti-spyware program look at the features that will tell you what type of scanner it is, if it has on-access functionality.
Slightly off-topic, but please fill in a gap in my knowledge.
I thought a-squared and AVG A-s (formerly ewido) were mutually exclusive in the sense that what OS you have determined which of the two you’d have to use, there was a fairly sharp cutoff somewhere along the line.
AVG-AS can only run on winNT, win2k and winXP, where as a-squared can run on win9x and above, so it can be used for most win OSes. So the only OS restrictions are on avg-as.
Usually we have mentioned avg-as if you have XP, etc. and a-squared if you have win9x, winME, but can also be used with XP.
That would be fine in combination with avast. Personally I don’t think CWShredder has a deterrent value as it is only really looking at the Cool Web Search and you would look at this single purpose tool if your searches, etc. were getting hijacked.
AdAware may also detect some of the variants of CWS but may not be able to remove, in that case the CWShredder tool could be run, but it isn’t something I would run on a periodic basic, only if symptoms (above) were present or suspected. It does no harm having the tool to use ‘if required.’
Thanks for the info about CWShredder - both you and Tech do not recommend using CWShredder.
I installed SpywareBlaster 3.5.1, but I have a question about the protection tab. When it’s selected, four buttons appear: status, IE, restricted sites, and mozilla firefox. After clicking on the IE button, a block list is shown with tons of entries that are already check marked or selected. At the bottom there are two buttons: protect against checked items and remove protection from unchecked items.
My question is this, do I click on the “protect against checked items” button or the other button or neither? Thanks, Megaman
It isn’t that we don’t recommend it, simply that it isn’t in the anti-spyware category but a single purpose tool, I have a copy on my system but I have never had to use it (so it is well out of date), using Firefox you are also les vulnerable to the CoolWebSearch hijacking.
There is a list on the left and you shouldn’t need anything other than the Protection on highlighted. The four buttons on that just show current status and what is blocked/protected against. The Status is the most important it tells you if any items have protection disabled and how many items are in the databased (being protected against).
Also on that view, there is Download Latest Protection Updates, this will get any updates if available, on completion of the download you enable/apply the protection and it is done. Forget about it until the next time you check for updates.