I’m using Avast 4.8 and want to scan my computer for spyware and adware etc.
What is a good program for this that won’t interfere with Avast?
-Frankie
Try a Google search and download from their sites SUPERANTISPYWARE (free version) and SPYWARE TERMINATOR (free version, it has resident protection, don’t install the tool bar nor the integrated AV). I recommend too MALWAREBYTE (very useful). All are compatible with AVAST and FREE 
Just check out my signature and you will see I use two anti-spyware/malware tools one resident the other on demand.
SUPERantispyware On-Demand only in free version.
Or MalwareBytes Anti-Malware freeware (on-demand) version http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/malwarebytes/mbam-setup.exe, right click on the link and select Save As or Save File (As depending on your browser), save it to a location where you can find it easily later.
Or Spyware Terminator Resident scanner (if you use this don’t install the toolbar or crawler or the anti-virus module).
Old skool:
You might want to have SpywareBlaster too, not as a scanner (It doesn`t) but as a resident spyware blocker:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
Not a hog on resources and no conflict with Avast … free too, unless you want to submit a contribution or pay for automatic updates.
frankieplus,
avast! 4.8 has real-time on-access spyware protection, but it is good to run an on-demand scan occasionally. I recommend SUPERAntiSpyware free edtion.
Additionally, I highly recommend WinPatrol.
SpywareBlaster is good to have, also.
I am posting so you can see my signature. Those are the items I am running for a secure and clean system.
All of the files listed in above posts are very good in thier own way, and work well with avast!
I like Spybot because of its’ resident protection and it can be found here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
But really, it is a personal preference depending on your needs. As I said, any of the programs in the above
posts are very good at what they do.
I like WinPatrol and I purchased the PLUS update. Woof. Woof.
I find that SUPERAntiSpyware free edition is a bit bloated but it is a good application.
SpywareBlaster is good and it does not consume system resources.
SpyBot S&D is good but TeaTimer is redundant with WinPatrol and after an update then Immunize I advise going back to SpywareBlaster to insure that all its protection is enabled.
T-timer is NOT redundant with Win Patrol
T-timer is more of an on-access - runs before program runs- changes are prevented or confirmation is required- a black/white list is also referenced
Win patrol is an after the fact scanner-Scotty goes on patrol- anything that changes have to be undone
ps
I use both
Scotty is lighter on resources
T-timer’s first access does a memory-registry scan and loads the database so there is some slight delay, subsequent program openings are quicker
Hi…
Does he howl too? If he does, I might buy it for my system. ;D
Best Regards…
Win patrol is free
avast anti-trojan does not do registry scans- what it does it does well- the best free product out there and very nearly the best in any comparison
so a specialty real time anti-spywaree-anti malware-anti trojan is required plenty of discussion above
Super anit spyware is bloated? compared to what
AS the free version is “on demand” only it really does not matter
Why? Drivers loaded at booting? ???
I don’t find that to be the case and I’m using the resident pro version.
In the free version you can disable the background process, which is there to give a context scan functionality, without having to start the program and even then it doesn’t use much in the way of resources as it is idle.
For many years, I have used Spybot-S&D as my resident anti-spyware (Teatimer active since it’s inclusion) and, as of last year, Spyware Terminator as an on-demand anti-spyware scanner.
Both of these work well with avast … as do others that have been mentioned above.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I’m trying out Superantispyware.
What I don’ t understand is, if AVAST has real on time spyware protection then how come Superantispyware found lots of spyware?
AVAST has been running since a full reformat and system rebuild so there was no spyware on my computer before I installed AVAST and Superantispyware got lots of spyware hits
on my C drive.
Should I buy the full versino of Superantispyware to get the on demand protection running??
-Frankie
Well since you don’t mention what SAS found no one can really comment.
Add to that SAS is a specialist anti-spyware application it is likely to find more in the adware/spyware area.
SAS free is an on-demand scanner, what you are talking about is on-access/resident protection and again no one can offer any comment when we don’t know what was found. So post the results of the SAS scan open the Preferences section of the main SAS window, Statistics/Logs and you log should be there. Select the log and click the View Log button, copy and paste the contents of the file (depending on how big it is you might need split it over two posts).
Having said al that I have the Pro paid version of SAS.
Are you referring to tracing cookies?
Can you post the report contents, i.e., the files being detected as spyware?
No, the paid version is for the on-access (resident) protection.
Hi I am using Avast freeware and Spybot Search and destroy free.
The tea timer is enabled and I find it gives alerts should anything
change, the scan is good and not too slow 
As with all these tools you need to keep up with the updates, and check regularly to stay trouble free!
Good luck choosing!!
Sparks
On my w98 box I have same as Sparks plus win-patrol
I had Counterspy till they dropped W-98 support
before that CA pest patrol free (the scan only- will not remove- version which did update and provides real time protection)
I do think that a resident anti-malware-trojan-spyware is necessary for all but the safest of users- especially computers with multiple users- friends and family
Now set up those USER accounts