Decent SpyWare/Adware Program

KnightStalker · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:11

Hey guys, my girlfriends computer is riddled with Spyware and Adware, popups apearing from everywhere ive used the free ones, but they dont seem to pick up on the stuff thats really annoying, now her dad has said he will pay for a decent spyware/adware program...so basically whats out there?and whats the best.

Scythe · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:14

KnightStalker said:
Hey guys, my girlfriends computer is riddled with Spyware and Adware, popups apearing from everywhere ive used the free ones, but they dont seem to pick up on the stuff thats really annoying, now her dad has said he will pay for a decent spyware/adware program...so basically whats out there?and whats the best.

So have you tried Windows defender (ms one), Spybot, Adaware etc?
Ad-aware pro might be a good bet

MarcLister · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:24

Scythe said:
So have you tried Windows defender (ms one), Spybot, Adaware etc?
Ad-aware pro might be a good bet

What he said. Spybot, Ad-aware, SpyDefender (is that it?), A Squared. Don't think you really need to pay for decent anti-spyware utils. Are you having a problem getting rid of the spyware then?

What browser is your girlfriend using? If IE, get her to change to FF. You can seriously reduce the amount of spyware getting in by using FF. I used to get some stuff, not that dodgy, every week using IE no matter my settings. When I tried the FF beta, as it was then, the weekly infestation stopped.

Rebel=UK= · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:25

Spysweper is good

http://www.webroot.com/

I also like Pestpatrol

http://www.pestpatrol.com/

Steve Watford · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:25

Try booting into safe mode then running spybot adaware etc.

garyh · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:27

A combination of Windows Defender (probably the best of the lot), Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware should do the trick - if the spyware still resides on the computer; you may as well nuke it and start fresh tbh.

NB: All of the above are 'free' so to speak; completely pointless paying for spyware protection when there's so many good freeware utilitys out there that do the job, and are if not better than that of a paid solution.

Glaucus · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:30

I run spybot search and destroy. Then on top of that run aware every few weeks. Never have any problems, with that combo.

MarcLister · 29 Jul 2006 at 21:31

AcidHell2 said:
I run spybot search and destroy. Then on top of that run aware every few weeks. Never have any problems, with that combo.

I do exactly that. And run FF instead of IE. Three simple choices that can dramatically reduce chances of spyware getting in. Course it depends what websites and FF settings you use.

KnightStalker · 29 Jul 2006 at 22:11

yea, they use IE, none of them like FF, i use firefox and have a max on a weekly basis 2...i use Lavasoft adware, tryed it on here computer, it found about 300, also i only formatted their machine 1 week ago!!!, but yet theres still some laying around, ill try all the above and see what happens.

Simmy · 29 Jul 2006 at 22:56

I've always found Spyware Doctor to be the best at detecting and removing spyware/adware/trojans etc. It hogs a lot of computer resources if you let it run in the background, but I just run it once a week or as and when needed. Very good little program.

Ontop of that I run Adaware, Spybot Search and Destroy and CCleaner

The last isn't necessarily to remove spyware, but it gets rid of temp files, where nasty stuff usually hides, and keeps your computer clean from crap.

HighlandeR · 29 Jul 2006 at 23:15

All good programs lately ive found ewido and also spybot a good combo to run, Ewido tends to delete them out and spybot finishes and rounds it off.

Ive noticed regardless of running a good spyware program running adware/spybot tends to fix corruption issues/and delete those spyware issues.

Regardless a good Format and Restore is the No1 soloution if spyware/virus issues are bad.

MarcLister · 29 Jul 2006 at 23:17

HighlandeR said:
All good programs lately ive found ewido and also spybot a good combo to run, Ewido tends to delete them out and spybot finishes and rounds it off.

Ive noticed regardless of running a good spyware program running adware/spybot tends to fix corruption issues/and delete those spyware issues.

Regardless a good Format and Restore is the No1 soloution if spyware/virus issues are bad.

Ewido? What is that? An antivirus? As for format, haven't ever had anything that bad. Just luck and common sense, I hope. Touch wood.

ants83 · 29 Jul 2006 at 23:57

i use spyware doctor its not free but it does the job!

Energize · 30 Jul 2006 at 01:44

I use a combination of spybot and adaware.