Anti-spyware recommendation

• tankee1981

  20 Nov 07, 01:55

  I am newbie in computer knowledge so hope that you guys can help.
  
  Any good spyware software to recommend? I am considering to go get an original one soon, as my current one cannot be updated.
  
  I am doing financial transactions through my PC such as iBanking so which anti-spyware suits me the best? Beside anti-spyware what else should i take note of? Thanks
• eagle

  20 Nov 07, 01:56

  get free and very good ones:
  
  1) Spybot
  2) Ad-aware
  
  But you must remember to manually scan and update the software... Manual is better than setting it auto because it saves on your processing speed
  
  However, the best anti-spyware is still yourself.
• LatecomerX

  20 Nov 07, 02:22

  To answer your last question in your post, you should install an anti-virus and a firewall instead. To me, an anti-spyware is unnecessary, or rather redundant, if you're already using an AV since it is supposed to detect spywares as well. Imo, anti-spywares are simply mini-AVs created to milk more money from the general public.
  
• eagle

  20 Nov 07, 02:27

  Originally posted by LatecomerX:

  To answer your last question in your post, you should install an anti-virus and a firewall instead. To me, an anti-spyware is unnecessary, or rather redundant, if you're already using an AV since it is supposed to detect them as well. Imo, anti-spywares are simply mini-AVs created to milk more money from the general public.
  

  I'm not sure if spywares like coolwebsearch are detected by anti-virus softwares...
• tankee1981

  20 Nov 07, 02:37

  I am currently using Webroot spysweeper(unlicensed) and AVG 7.5 SoHo edition. Is that sufficient?
• tankee1981

  20 Nov 07, 02:38

  Originally posted by eagle:

  get free and very good ones:
  
  1) Spybot
  2) Ad-aware
  
  But you must remember to manually scan and update the software... Manual is better than setting it auto because it saves on your processing speed
  
  However, the best anti-spyware is still yourself.

  Where can i download these from? I am afraid i may download the wrong ones which contain spyware instead!
• LatecomerX

  20 Nov 07, 02:43

  Originally posted by eagle:

  I'm not sure if spywares like coolwebsearch are detected by anti-virus softwares...

  At least Kaspersky does.
  
  http://usa.kaspersky.com/threats/spyware.php
  http://pcreview.co.uk/startup/MSXMIDI.EXE.php
  
• LatecomerX

  20 Nov 07, 02:50

  Originally posted by tankee1981:

  Where can i download these from? I am afraid i may download the wrong ones which contain spyware instead!

  http://safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/
  http://lavasoftusa.com/
  
  But I would recommend skipping Ad-Aware. Heard that they are simply not that good as before.
  
  And next time, if you're afraid of picking the wrong stuff from Googling, you can try searching them in Wikipedia for their official sites instead. Usually information in WP is accurate.
  
• ndmmxiaomayi

  20 Nov 07, 09:59

  Originally posted by tankee1981:

  I am newbie in computer knowledge so hope that you guys can help.
  
  Any good spyware software to recommend? I am considering to go get an original one soon, as my current one cannot be updated.
  
  I am doing financial transactions through my PC such as iBanking so which anti-spyware suits me the best? Beside anti-spyware what else should i take note of? Thanks

  Get an antivirus, firewall and HOSTS file.
  
  HOSTS file re-directs all the bad sites to your computer. Before saying I harm you, it's actually not. Your computer is not a server, thus by re-directing all bad websites to your computer, it's equal to accessing your computer. The bad websites files don't exist on your computer, neither is your computer IP address usable on the Internet, so it's pretty safe.
  
  Antivirus and firewall... basic protection. AV for the viruses out there, firewall to block malicious incoming and outgoing threats.
  
  And common sense. None of the protection programs will help if you are going to do dangerous stuffs.
  
  HOSTS file here: MVPS Hosts File
  Bluetack's Hosts File
  Bluetack's Host Manager
  hpHosts
• ndmmxiaomayi

  20 Nov 07, 10:08

  Originally posted by tankee1981:

  Where can i download these from? I am afraid i may download the wrong ones which contain spyware instead!

  A few webbies to check out if you are afraid of that:
  
  Rogue spyware database - this is not so updated. If you use Rogue Remover, just update it.
  
  Rogue Antispyware list - hasn't really been updated, but most of the rogues are listed there.
  
  Security Cadets