Best Anti-Spyware Software?

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

Ideally everyone should be running Kaspersky or NOD32 ... or, even more ideal, not be retarded when it comes to using their computers (anyone who knows computers well doesn't need to use an anti-virus to stay malware free) ...
However, if you want free, I'd use Spyware Terminator (Active) and compliment it w/ Spybot and Ad-Aware (Passive) ...

I read about Kaspersky before. I have McSuckie on my computer now, free through school, is there a serious performance difference between Kaspersky and the others?

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

Kaspersky was the best anti-virus i ever used. Oh panda was second. But i havent used any antivirus is a looong time.

 

[melnlovr911 10+ year member]

I loved panda when I used it. Currently Im using a free CA program from work (anti-virus, spyware) I wouldnt run anything but my girlfriend will not get on the computer without an anti-virus program on.

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

I read about Kaspersky before. I have McSuckie on my computer now, free through school, is there a serious performance difference between Kaspersky and the others?

Kaspersky is faster than most, but can still be sluggish in some areas (startup time, scan time).
If you're looking for a good anti-virus w/ minimal performance impact, I'd look at NOD32. While it's not quite as good as Kaspersky at finding and removing viruses in my experience, it's still provides top-tier protection w/ the least performance impact of any AV on the market.

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

I loved panda when I used it. Currently Im using a free CA program from work (anti-virus, spyware) I wouldnt run anything but my girlfriend will not get on the computer without an anti-virus program on.

uuuhhhh, so why did you put anti-virus on it? she should be in the kitchen, not on the internet.

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

Hijack This! Is the best thing ive ever used, but its not for the novice user

spybot search and destroy is what i put on family members computers

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

Ideally everyone should be running Kaspersky or NOD32 ... or, even more ideal, not be retarded when it comes to using their computers (anyone who knows computers well doesn't need to use an anti-virus to stay malware free) ...
However, if you want free, I'd use Spyware Terminator (Active) and compliment it w/ Spybot and Ad-Aware (Passive) ...

AVG and Avast! both work just as well and are free. Spybot while technically passive has an immunization function that effectively blocks spyware and adware. PCTools Threat Fire can be used in conjunction with it as it is a free active anti spyware program. Ad Aware has sucked hard for about 3 years now, pretty much useless, but a squared works great as does AVG's anti spyware program.

 

[MikeofTulsa Moderator]

nod32 is what i use

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

AVG and Avast! both work just as well and are free. Spybot while technically passive has an immunization function that effectively blocks spyware and adware. PCTools Threat Fire can be used in conjunction with it as it is a free active anti spyware program. Ad Aware has sucked hard for about 3 years now, pretty much useless, but a squared works great as does AVG's anti spyware program.

AVG and Avast! do not remotely compare to Kaspersky or NOD32 ... Sorry ... They're good free anti-viruses, but they're lacking in many key areas ...

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

AVG and Avast! do not remotely compare to Kaspersky or NOD32 ... Sorry ... They're good free anti-viruses, but they're lacking in many key areas ...

Detection wise they rate up there with those 2, yes they don't have some of the features, but as for a detection engine they aren't bad.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

I first usually scan with Adaware SE and go through it's removal process, then use Spybot S&D for the 2nd run. I almost always pick up something else when I run spybot that Adaware didn't pick up.
Also, I highly recommend you download a program called CCleaner and run it. Tits, to say the very least.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/word.gif.64b12e39f936af3b4fff38a1c0bd0244.gif x2. All 3 great programs

The best anti-spyware is the user. Although they can't be fixed //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif:laugh:

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

Detection wise they rate up there with those 2, yes they don't have some of the features, but as for a detection engine they aren't bad.

Not really ... I don't get infected computers all the time that are using AVG/Avast!, but I do get them in occasionally. Most of the time w/ AVG, it's trojans that AVG catches but doesn't completely remove, so the infection keeps coming back (Detection rate and removal rate are both important //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif). I don't get computers in w/ common problems using Avast, just randomly misses viruses it seems.
Both AVs are perfectly fine for the occasional user or the smart user, but the ones in between should be running something better, IMO (the people who download lots of stuff and don't know WTF they're doing).

We sell dozens of computers a month at work that go out w/ Kaspersky and I've yet to see a single one come back w/ a virus infection. That says something. We get 1-2 a month that have problems w/ the firewall, but that's easily fixed (For whatever reason, Kaspersky Internet Securty manages to add Internet Explorer to its block list. Still not sure why/how it happens).

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

i use spyware blaster to basically block spyware from being installed in the first place

spybot and ad aware to scan every so often just in case

and the AOL Active Virus Shield (Kaspersky technology in a Free AOL package without all the bs of aol) as my AV.

seems to work just dandy, although i never really need them except once in a blue moon.

 

[Jmac 10+ year member]

i use spyware blaster to basically block spyware from being installed in the first place
spybot and ad aware to scan every so often just in case

and the AOL Active Virus Shield (Kaspersky technology in a Free AOL package without all the bs of aol) as my AV.

seems to work just dandy, although i never really need them except once in a blue moon.

Active Virus Shield rocked ... Too bad AOL dropped it in favour of a shitty chopped-down McAfee AV ...

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

Not really ... I don't get infected computers all the time that are using AVG/Avast!, but I do get them in occasionally. Most of the time w/ AVG, it's trojans that AVG catches but doesn't completely remove, so the infection keeps coming back (Detection rate and removal rate are both important //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif). I don't get computers in w/ common problems using Avast, just randomly misses viruses it seems.
Both AVs are perfectly fine for the occasional user or the smart user, but the ones in between should be running something better, IMO (the people who download lots of stuff and don't know WTF they're doing).

We sell dozens of computers a month at work that go out w/ Kaspersky and I've yet to see a single one come back w/ a virus infection. That says something. We get 1-2 a month that have problems w/ the firewall, but that's easily fixed (For whatever reason, Kaspersky Internet Securty manages to add Internet Explorer to its block list. Still not sure why/how it happens).

They shouldn't be using IE anyway //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif