What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

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What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

2003-09-10 12:38:47

I've been using Ad-aware as a spyware removal tool for quite a while now, but while checking the PCs of friends and family (some of which are chock-full of spyware), I noticed that Ad-aware misses quite a few of those pests. I noticed this when I did an online PestScan (from the makers of PestPatrol) when Ad-aware was finished.

Now I'm on the lookout for another, better spyware removal tool. My first choice would have been PestPatrol (after seeing the results of PestScan), but it's not free. I would prefer to try a free alternative if it's at least as good.

Anyway, while looking around and checking with other people I noticed that nowadays there are a LOT of spyware scanners around. That's why I would like to hear from the people on this board about their experiences with spyware scanners.

I look forward to reading your recommendations.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #1 – 2003-09-10 12:42:02

I've been using Ad-Aware 5 for a long time.
Now i'm using spybot, which is really useful and has more removal capabilities than aw6.

Tried also pestpatrol, but it was too sluggish and inaccurate.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #2 – 2003-09-10 12:50:31

I use both Ad-aware and Spybot-S&D. Some spywares may be removed by one of these two tools and not the other. Using both doesn't cost more since they are both free.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #3 – 2003-09-10 14:08:47

gee, all theese ot-polls lately...
I use ad-aware 6 and am realy content with it for now. they do regular signature updates and from build 181 on, the scan-function is finaly much more faster.
I never tried anything esle though, so I can't compare... (which I prob. should, for my own sake...)

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Now i'm using spybot, which is really useful and has more removal capabilities than aw6

can you get into some more detail?

but anyway, IMHO the choise of a good firewall and virus-scanner are much more important.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #4 – 2003-09-10 14:18:54

Switched from AdAware to Spy Sweeper due to positive feedback given by my peers at work. I am happy with the results so far picked up a few things AdAware didn't, it also left some things that AdAware picked up. Although the differences are minor and normally the thing left behind is of low threat anyways. So I stuck with Spy Sweeper on my system.

Regards

AgentMil

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #5 – 2003-09-10 14:26:53

I am not very experienced, but I personally prefer SpyBot. However I use also AdAware 6.

In any case, they are both free, and they both work very well. Why not use both?

I don´t know any of the others, though.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #6 – 2003-09-10 14:31:10

I'm using PestPatrol. Works great, and seems to catch most everything. Updated often.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #7 – 2003-09-10 17:52:08

None: Prevention is better than cure.

I don't install programs I don't trust, and punish everything that tries connecting to the internet that shouldn't do

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #8 – 2003-09-10 17:52:22

Linux!

No seriously though, I don't install spyware in the first place. Of course, if I do have to remove 100 spyware screensavers from my Mom's computer or whatever, I use Ad-aware and haven't found it to be deficient (though I haven't tried others). Unfortunately, if you're not dilligent about what you install, living with spyware is going to become one of the costs of using your computer.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #9 – 2003-09-10 18:30:48

I use Spybot to remove the spyware, and spywareblaster to block it from being installed in the first place. Spybot has a blocker as well. Using both in tandem, I have not had any new spyware on my drive for a couple of months. You must remeber to update them just like an anti-virus program. I usally use the built in updater of both programs once a week to check.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #10 – 2003-09-11 06:57:15

I use and recommend Spybot Search & Destroy, i used to use AdAware long time ago, but S&D does a very good job, always updated and efficient, includes some gimmicks for IE (main culprit for unconcent Spyware installs) and has received many good reviews. Unlike AdAware, it won't do a "dumb" scan of the entire drive, so it may miss things. I suppose its wise to use both.

Well using non microsoft products is just the wisest decision, i congratulate our Yehat friend up there

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #11 – 2003-09-11 07:04:27

Same thing I use for a virus scanner. Common Sense

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #12 – 2003-09-11 19:36:22

common sense, haha. Too bad there are certain things that can still happen to you even though you may do things like not opening attachments, not installing things you aren't sure of, etc etc. There are things you can catch just by reading the email itself without ever opening an attachment. There are crapass web pages that install things without your knowledge. You get what you deserve if you don't have some real-time virus scanner. You will get hit with something at some point, just a matter of time. For all you know, you have tons of infections right now. I've got an abundance of common sense, doesn't stop my virus scanner from notifying me of things that would otherwise have hit me. Every person I know that uses a computer regularly but did not have a virus scanner in the past is using one now, because they at some point had me over either rescuing their machine from a virus or reinstalling because of the damage done.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #13 – 2003-09-11 21:09:43

I'm entirely convinced that you are able to keep your PC virus-free by simply using common sense. I don't use a virus scanner myself.

However, it's a lot more difficult to keep your system spyware-free. For example, how do you know for sure that a banner on one of the websites you browsed didn't install a tracking cookie ?

To the people who are not running any spyware scanners: can you just do a quick online scan on http://www.pestscan.com (unfortunately, it only works with IE). Just to be sure.

But I want to clarify that I have things fairly under control on my PC. The tool will be specifically targeted to the PCs on some of my friends and family (which have lots and lots of spyware installed).

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #14 – 2003-09-11 22:35:31

poisondan, I ask you, how is common sense going to stop a virus/worm which requires absolutely no action on your part? Or the ones which only require looking at an email, without opening an attachment? Suppose one of these emails comes to you, looking like it's from your mom/sister/friend? Naturally you'll read your email. Bam, infected. Common sense going to help you there? Absolutely not. You're deluding yourself if you think you don't need to be protected, just because you think you know how to avoid a virus.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #15 – 2003-09-11 23:05:59

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poisondan, I ask you, how is common sense going to stop a virus/worm which requires absolutely no action on your part? Or the ones which only require looking at an email, without opening an attachment? Suppose one of these emails comes to you, looking like it's from your mom/sister/friend? Naturally you'll read your email. Bam, infected. Common sense going to help you there? Absolutely not. You're deluding yourself if you think you don't need to be protected, just because you think you know how to avoid a virus.

I know this is directed at poisondan, but I'd like to answer on my own behalf.

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poisondan, I ask you, how is common sense going to stop a virus/worm which requires absolutely no action on your part?

By using a firewall (or two).

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Or the ones which only require looking at an email, without opening an attachment?

By not using Outlook and disabling (html) graphics in e-mails.

Common sene goes a long way; to the point where I don't have any spyware on my comp. and don't need a spyware removal tool.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #16 – 2003-09-12 05:08:36

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i congratulate our Yehat friend up there

Aye! Can't ye see ye are killing me human?

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poisondan, I ask you, how is common sense going to stop a virus/worm which requires absolutely no action on your part?

If you are using software which allows this to occur, you are not practicing common sense. All viruses that spread by these means with Outlook/Outlook Express explot holes that were patched more than a year ago. All current e-mail viruses rely on people either:
1) Opening attachments
2) Using outdated software

I've been using computers regularly for more than half my life (including Windows a large portion of the time, and currently every day at work), and I have never once had a actual need for a virus scanner, software firewall (vastly overrated tool) or spyware removal tool, with the exception of cleaning up other folks computers. Sure, some of the sense I practice is of the uncommon variety, but I just keeping stuff up to date (very easy in Windows, even easier in Linux) is half the battle.

As far as nasty web pages go, it's not a difficult process to turn off scripting except for sites for which you want to explicitly allow it. 99% (and I really mean 99%) of sites that use Javascript, Java, Flash or ActiveX are quite useable without them (and usually less annoying.) Also, there's no really meaningful use of HTML e-mail, so it's best to just turn that off. All real e-mail apps that send HTML e-mail have a plain text version included as well. The one exception is spam, and you don't really want to see that anyway.

This is usually the point where I go into a rant about how all these scripting "technologies" (esp. being on by default even from untrusted sources) is the root of all evil, but I'm too tired.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #17 – 2003-09-12 05:09:20

I know at least one person that swears by all the routines you describe, and one day asked me to help with a computer acting strangely. Installed a virus scanner and found a good dozen or so viruses, removed them, and waddyaknow, all was fine again. Putting all your eggs in one basket is plain dumb, no matter what you're dealing with. Thinking you're fine because you have a firewall is silly. Thinking you're fine because you don't open attachments is silly. Thinking you're fine because you disable html is silly. Avoiding known holes doesn't mean you aren't going to fall into any holes, you should still have something that prevents you from falling into the holes you overlook. But whatever, it's your computer, your data, if you don't value it, by all means.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #18 – 2003-09-12 05:15:25

phong, well there are two possibilities, you either have been very lucky to have never been infected with something, or you, like that friend of mine, figure you weren't but probably have been. I've been using computers since the Commodore PET / Apple II days too, doesn't mean I know every single line of code that belongs to every single program I run and know for a fact that there is nothing there that someone could exploit. Now, does it? Even retail software from big names has been known to ship complete with a virus, so you're nuts if you think you're immune just because of your own habits. Your own habits are only one part of the picture.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #19 – 2003-09-12 06:38:56

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There are things you can catch just by reading the email itself without ever opening an attachment.

That's why I read all my mail in Yahoo, and only download it to my PC after deleting everything suspicious. And of course I don't use Outlook Express, I use M2.

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There are crapass web pages that install things without your knowledge.

Not if you use Opera, and have Java, Javascript and Flash disabled.

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You get what you deserve if you don't have some real-time virus scanner.

LOL. let me tell you, it's been years since I last run a real time virus scanner in this machine, and there is no virus here (checked with some of those fancy on-demand scanners some weeks ago, just to be sure blaster didn't penetrate my firewall. Completely clean. Not even spywares)

You need to rephrase: "You get what you deserve if you use Outlook and Internet Explorer"

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You will get hit with something at some point, just a matter of time.

Please, don't try to bring others down to your level. If you don't know hot to sport a secure behaviour on the internet, then yes, you will get hit. If you know how to be careful, you won't.

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For all you know, you have tons of infections right now.

I invite you to come here at my home and scan my whole HDD in search for viruses. That will only serve to prove you are full of sh*t.

I reckon you have been reading grc lately?

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I've got an abundance of common sense, doesn't stop my virus scanner from notifying me of things that would otherwise have hit me. Every person I know that uses a computer regularly but did not have a virus scanner in the past is using one now, because they at some point had me over either rescuing their machine from a virus or reinstalling because of the damage done.

OK, I will rewrite the sentence I just wrote:
"Please, don't try to bring others down to your and your friends' level."

Best regards;

Roberto.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #20 – 2003-09-12 06:40:10

f*cking buggy forum engine...

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #21 – 2003-09-12 08:31:26

Well, let's see...

I have been using computers since the ZX81, thankyouverymuch...

Still, I don't understand all this "I don't believe in virus scanners, spyware scanners, personal firewalls" trend...

I mean, you have at your disposal perfectly fine 100% free solutions for all these 3 types of programs.

I do practice a lot of that Common Sense you so much value, and for me, inside that virtue is included precisely using a PF, a Virus Scanner, and every now and then, scanning for spyware. 99 out of 100 times, it will be fine, clean and happy.

My point is: we are all humans, and we are bound to make a mistake at some point or the other. If having these tools is free, and brings the chances of that single one time I am not careful enough being precisely the one that will destroy all my system, well... for me it's certainly worth the price.

In one line: It's free, it's good, it lets you sleep better, why not use it???

<Slightly OT>
Do you practice Common Sense as protection against AIDS? Thought so. And in this case, it's not so easy to find free condoms!!!
</Slightly OT>

Roberto: Yahoo Mail uses a Virus Scanner, so sorry, you are using one

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #22 – 2003-09-12 08:46:14

From these programs, I only use a personal firewall. And mostly to keep my pirated software from phoning home.

I don't want to waste system resources to anti-virus scanners. And worrying about updating the virus definitions every few weeks. No matter if the program is free or not.

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Roberto: Yahoo Mail uses a Virus Scanner, so sorry, you are using one

We are talking about real-time virus scanners here, smartass.

And if you look close, you'll notice I use Virus Scanners when needed, but web versions (scan to go). I only don't have a real time scanner installed. I already have too many apps running on the background, I don't want to waste resources with another one that is of no use to me.

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #23 – 2003-09-12 08:57:40

Roberto: Sorry if I pissed you off, it was just a silly, no offense intended joke.

By the way, I have also tested several web virus scanners, and so far I find the Trend Micro one to be the best, HouseCall. Any other good ones? Norton only provides detection, as far as I see, although I find their specific removal tools to be the best available. And I find Panda a bit unstable.

Anyway, going waaay OT here, I'll stop

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?

Reply #24 – 2003-09-12 09:21:43

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poisondan, I ask you, how is common sense going to stop a virus/worm which requires absolutely no action on your part? Or the ones which only require looking at an email, without opening an attachment? Suppose one of these emails comes to you, looking like it's from your mom/sister/friend? Naturally you'll read your email. Bam, infected. Common sense going to help you there? Absolutely not. You're deluding yourself if you think you don't need to be protected, just because you think you know how to avoid a virus.

Easy, I use Mozilla Thunderbird instead of Outlook Express. The worm you described is also known as Klez, which didn't affect me even when I was still using OE because I had my OE updated way ahead of time.

Notice

Poll

What's your favorite spyware removal tool ?