Posted on 07/30/2005 7:24:40 PM PDT by Sally'sConcerns
Well Sally, since I don't ever get viruses I can't help you because I don't need all those extra applications. Haven't owned anything but a MAC. Mine is 4 years old and runs like a swiss watch. And it wasn't really that much more expensive.
You're wrong, just as I found I was wrong to think that Adaware, Spybot S&D, and Microsoft's Spyware beta would be able to clean any spyware out.
I had a major infection (my fault for being careless) a couple nights ago, and neither of those programs detected a single one of the trojan downloaders, spyware, or adware programs. Worthless.
Throw out your Spybot, Adaware, and MS Spyware. They are not at all effective against today's serious threats.
The only program that really wiped everything out once and for all was the Spyware Doctor. Spy Sweeper too was effective -- though I didn't get a subscription to remove the baddies, Spy Sweeper's active monitor stopped the hijacker programs and adware in their tracks when they tried to re-install / re-run themselves. Then I got the Doctor running, and it took care of business.
I would suggest trying Javacool Software's free programs, SpywareGuard and the SpywareBlaster you already mentioned (both, since they work as a team).
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/products.html
Though, I will say, I didn't get to see them in action, as Spy Sweeper was already installed and had the malware under control.
You may also try AVG's Anti Spyware 7.5
Though not as good as Spy Sweeper or the Doctor, it is probably one of your best bets for a free scanner... sinec it is actually effective, in contrast with the usual recommendations of Adaware and Spybot. Anyway, I had it up first, and it was catching several bad files, but couldn't detect everything.
Another one that might be very good is SUPER Anti Spyware,though again, it was installed along with the Doc and Sweeper, and really didn't have a chance to work.
My current line-up is the Spyware Doctor, Spyware Guard/Blaster, AVG, and it's twin, AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5.
So far, no trace of any malware has appeared... not so much as a single pop-up.
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