At Least FIVE Anti-Spyware Programs

Gerry Cornell wrote:

Ken

I have refrained from commenting previously because I also think
relying on spyware detection programmes to protect your machine
is the wrong way to protect your machine. I refrained because the
main protagonist against your point of view is obviously right but
not for the reason he gives. I also do not wish to lend my support
to someone who expresses his views in the way he does.

Relying on spyware detection programmes is synominous with
shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.


There are two types of anti-spyware programs. One type, as you say, finds
the spyware *after* it's already been installed. The other type prevents
installation (and some programs do both).

I'm in complete agreement that the second type is much better than the
first. However, I also see value in ruinning the first type. Yes it's better
to shut the gate before the horse bolts, but just in case the lock on the
gate fails, it's also good to have a means of getting the horse back.


I rely on keeping spyware out and not finding out about it after it
has arrived. I run a Hosts file, Microsoft Anti-Spyware and have
a Hardware and the Windows Firewall. My ISP operates
Spamguard. I have Outlook Express messages rules to sort
any spam that manages to bypass Spamguard.


I do almost all the same things you do, Gerry.I don't think we have any real
disgreement at all, except that I run a few more products than you do, just
in case.



I use the internet extensively relying on a medium security Internet
Explorer security setting. I invariably decline all unwanted offers of
whatever. I use three search engines Google, MSN and Vivisimo
extensively. I have not gone for extra Toolbars.

With what result? Negligible malware and, if I run Adaware it finds
only a few unimportant cookies but nothing of any consequence.


Same here.



I have Spybot and HijackThis on the machine but only use the first
rarely and the latter if something unexplained arises. I keep a
watchful eye on Event Viewer reports.

I undertake regular housekeeping. If there was an unexplained fall
off in performance I think I would notice.


Same here.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote in message
...
Jonny wrote:

I would ask would two or more self updating pay for antispyware
programs be adequate. Many AVs have spyware sniffers built-in, does
this count? Some have ZA Pro with its own antispyware, would this
count as one? If not, why?


I think you're asking the wrong questions. Whether they are free or
for pay, and whether or not they are self-updating, the issue isn't
literally how *many* you have, or what "counts."

The problem is that there is so much new spyware constantly coming
out thatn one of the makers of these programs have been able to do a
consistly good-enough job of keeping up with them. Eric Howes, on
http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-guide.htm, states "No single
anti-spyware scanner removes everything. Even the best-performing
anti-spyware scanner in these tests missed fully one quarter of the
'critical' files and Registry entries." and "It is better to use two
or more anti-spyware scanners in combination, as one will often
detect and remove things that others do not."

So you need to decide how careful you want to be, and to what
lengths you are willing to go to protect yourself. One decent
product will provide some protection, two will provide more
protection, three will provide more protection than two, and so on.
It's clearly more trouble to use multiple programs, and only you can
decide whether the extra protection is worth it to you., and where
you should stop. My personal view is better safe than sorry, so I use all
of the
following: Spybot Search and Destroy
Adaware
Spyware Blaster
Spyware Guard
Microsoft Anti-Spyware beta.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote in
:

Fuzzy Logic wrote:

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote in
:

If you don't practice safe surfing and/or can't be bothered to
properly configure your browser by all means have some insurance.

Insurance is *always* good, regardless of what you do. Especially in
this case when most of the products are free, hardly affect
performance at all, and are very easy to use.

My only problem is that some of these Spyware programs have poorly
tested detection rules that mess with your registry and may
cripple or make your machine unusable.

True. Some are even worse than that, and are dangerous by design. See
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm You can get poor
quality, and even dangerous-to-use products in almost any software
category. I recommend using only the good ones and not the poor ones.
g Eric Howes site, which I reference above, is a good source of
information on which are good and which aren't.

So insurance isn't *always* good unless it's the *right* insurance.
Unfortunately it's not always easy to know that beforehand.

Here is a brief summary of Eric's conclusion on Spyware detection and
removal:

It is better to use two or more anti-spyware scanners in combination, as one
will often detect and remove things that others do not.

Prevention is always preferable to scanning and removal, and users should
securely configure their PCs and install anti-malware protection to prevent
the installation of spyware and adware in the first place.

Moreover, users should learn to practice safe computing habits, which
include avoiding web sites and programs of unknown or dubious provenance and
carefully reading End User License Agreements and Privacy Policies.

Source http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-guide.htm

PS I forgot to mention the Spybot Search & Destroy consistently crashes my
Win98SE box if run as a scheduled task with an autoupdate check. It works
fine if run manually (aside from consumming vast amounts of system
resources).

Bingo!

So installing FIVE or SIX of them may only compound your problems.

DSH

"Fuzzy Logic" wrote in message
...

My only problem is that some of these Spyware programs have poorly tested
detection rules that mess with your registry and may cripple or make
your machine unusable.

Which are these Dangerous Websites To Avoid you folks are concerned about?

DSH

It varies, the recent Wmf exposure required no action, other than visiting
an infected Server. Even with the best of tools, everyone using the Web is
subject to a "Zero-Day" threat. Maybe folks with something like Panda's
"True Prevent" might avoid infection, but that technology isn't perfected.

"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...
Which are these Dangerous Websites To Avoid you folks are concerned about?

DSH

Thanks...

But are there some specific sites that are known to be polluted -- or a
class of sites?

DSH

"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...

It varies, the recent Wmf exposure required no action, other than visiting
an infected Server. Even with the best of tools, everyone using the Web is
subject to a "Zero-Day" threat. Maybe folks with something like Panda's
"True Prevent" might avoid infection, but that technology isn't perfected.

"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...

Which are these Dangerous Websites To Avoid you folks are concerned
about?

DSH

Here's a site that tracks/documents "Bad Web Pages":
http://www.websensesecuritylabs.com/

"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...
Thanks...

But are there some specific sites that are known to be polluted -- or a
class of sites?

DSH

"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...

It varies, the recent Wmf exposure required no action, other than
visiting
an infected Server. Even with the best of tools, everyone using the Web
is
subject to a "Zero-Day" threat. Maybe folks with something like Panda's
"True Prevent" might avoid infection, but that technology isn't
perfected.

"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...

Which are these Dangerous Websites To Avoid you folks are concerned
about?

DSH

"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in news:#GsQJIHHGHA.3000
@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl:

Which are these Dangerous Websites To Avoid you folks are concerned about?

Much like real life it's probably best to stay away from the 'seedy' part of
the net. This would be warez, porn & gambling sites (as well as any link you
get in spam mail). I would also discourage clicking on links that use
tinyurl and it's kin as they are a great way to hide potentially harmful
sites.

Fuzzy Logic wrote:

I would also discourage clicking
on links that use tinyurl and it's kin as they are a great way to
hide potentially harmful sites.


I think that's good advice, if you don't know the person who sent you the
link.

I often provide tinyurl links myself, but whenever I do, I try to remember
to post the real URL as well. That gives the reader the choice of whether or
not to trust me.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

This is not a dietary newsgroup. Please don't post off topic.



"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...
Try teaching Grandmother to suck eggs next time.

DSH

"Alan" wrote in message
...

It doesn't really matter what others do, what matters is that *you*
protect *your* machine to a level that *you* feel is adequate. If you
feel one program is sufficient that is fine.

And if someone else thinks they need five that is fine too. Even with ten
pieces of software it won't affect your machine.

Make *your* own choice. What I have on my machine (and what others have
on their machines) doesn't affect your machine.


"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...

Do you honestly expect folks to install at least FIVE different
Anti-Spyware programs, keep them updated, monitor them and constantly
tweak each one as required?

DSH

"Shenan Stanley" wrote in message
...

[...]

There is no one software that cleans and immunizes you against
everything. Antivirus software - you only needed one. Firewall, you
only needed one. AntiSpyware - you will need several. I have a list
and
I recommend you use at least the first five.

First - make sure you have NOT installed "Rogue AntiSpyware". There
are
people out there who created AntiSpyware products that actually
install
spyware of their own! You need to avoid these:

Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Also, you can always visit this site..
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
For more updated information.

Install the first five of these: (Install, Run, Update, Scan with..)
(If you already have one or more - uninstall them and download the
LATEST version from the page given!)

Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdn )

Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/index.html
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdk )

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!)
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate3 )

SpywareBlaster (Free!)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate6 )

IE-SPYAD2 (Free!)
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate7 )

CWShredder Stand-Alone (Free!)
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract..._download.html

Hijack This! (Free!)
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
(Log Analyzer: http://hjt.iamnotageek.com/ )

ToolbarCop (Free!)
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/toolbarcop.htm

Ccleaner (Free!)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Microsoft AntiSpyware BETA (in testing stages - Free!)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...ware/software/
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/fqur )

Browser Security Tests (Free Tester)
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

Popup Tester (Free Tester)
http://www.popuptest.com/

The Cleaner (~$49.95 and up)
http://www.moosoft.com/

Worthless twaddle snipped.

DSH

"Alan" wrote in message
...

baldersnip

Thanks.

Good Advice from both of you.

DSH

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote in message
...

Fuzzy Logic wrote:

I would also discourage clicking
on links that use tinyurl and it's kin as they are a great way to
hide potentially harmful sites.


I think that's good advice, if you don't know the person who sent you the
link.

I often provide tinyurl links myself, but whenever I do, I try to remember
to post the real URL as well. That gives the reader the choice of whether
or not to trust me.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Great!

Thank you.

DSH

"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...

Here's a site that tracks/documents "Bad Web Pages":
http://www.websensesecuritylabs.com/

"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...

Thanks...

But are there some specific sites that are known to be polluted -- or a
class of sites?

DSH

"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...

It varies, the recent Wmf exposure required no action, other than
visiting
an infected Server. Even with the best of tools, everyone using the Web
is
subject to a "Zero-Day" threat. Maybe folks with something like Panda's
"True Prevent" might avoid infection, but that technology isn't
perfected.

"D. Spencer Hines" wrote in message
...

Which are these Dangerous Websites To Avoid you folks are concerned
about?

DSH

Ron Martell wrote:

Watchman wrote:


I just run Adaware and Spybot to deal with spyware. Not that they find anything.
Then again, I don't visit warez sites either.
Strangely, Spybot always identifies two things for fixing. Both are from me
telling XP that I don't need to be told about my firewall being disabled or
program updates. Is there a way to make Spybot ignore them?

Watchman

Which updates have you disabled? Some application programs or Windows
Updates?

If you have disabled Windows Updates then you are vulnerable to
attacks as exploits to take advantage of newly discovered security
flaws in Windows are being released onto the Internet within hours of
the security flaws being announced.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

Oops! Not the upates notification but the AV notifications. AVG goes grey when it
needs updating so I don't need XP to tell me to update.

Watchman
--
'Anyone who isn't confused doesn't really know what's going on'

Shenan Stanley wrote:

Watchman wrote:
I just run Adaware and Spybot to deal with spyware. Not that they
find anything. Then again, I don't visit warez sites either.
Strangely, Spybot always identifies two things for fixing. Both are
from me telling XP that I don't need to be told about my firewall
being disabled or program updates. Is there a way to make Spybot
ignore them?

Watchman

http://www.safer-networking.org/uk/faq/46.html

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Thanks, that explains it!

Watchman
--
'Anyone who isn't confused doesn't really know what's going on'