OK. I'm looking around for an anti-spyware utility as I seem to be getting "attacked" a lot and Advanced Spyware Remover is not blocking them, so I find them three digging months after on my PC.. in the System Restore!!

I'm now going to throw it out obviously.. but I need a replacemenet.

I need some idea's please...something that works well alongside avast! anti-virus.

TIA

Have a read of this sticky thread in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and Hijack This Logs forum. Scroll down to the "Preventing It Returning" section for info on free security software for your computer.

Thanks Owen.

Yep I've read that and a few others a few times.

I have ID-SPYAD, MPVHOSTS file embdedded inside Spybot S&D with the TeaTimer and active protection enabled (theres a nifty feature where it imports all your hosts file), Spyware Guard, Spyware Blaster, avast! Anti-virus and Ad-Aware SE (its disabled though and used for scanning only) and ALL the latest updates.

However firstly, is Spybot S&D active protection all I really need for an anti-spyware? Or do I need Ad-Aware SE enabled as well? (are there conflict issues)

Secondly, Spyware Blaster and Spybot S&D mainly caters and provides active protection for Internet Explorer - not Firefox! I only use Firefox majority of the time or Opera when Fx fails. Are they still decent FREE safety measures?

Lastly, I've had problems with AVG anti-virus and ANY firewall I install. Nothing works out, and they end up trashing my PC, BSoD's or juist shutting down applications, interfering when even disabled (until uninstalled). I've been through the lot and had done 11 reformats and reinstalls of XP Pro on three new HDDs before I figured out and was able to see that it was Sunbelt Kerio personal firewall that was trashing my system: namely the fwdrv.sys driver for it. Near enough every firewall driver messes up and conflicts with my system. So I only have Windows SP2 firewall running all the time.

Any help on this major pain?

From that list of programs you have given me, it looks like you have adequate protection, but the one thing you haven't got which you mention further down is a firewall.

The Spybot S&D Teatimer is adequate protection against spyware, it will let you know if any settings or changed and stops malicious programs running. Most antivirus programs also offer a certain degree of protection as well now. I have NOD32 antivirus and it will notify me if any spyware attempts to run. Ad-Aware is used as a program to offer a second opinion to Spybot or vice versa, all you really need is its scanning functionality. Having Ad-Aware's active protection will only do the same thing as Spybot's, running both will cause extra load on your PC and possibly some conflict.

Spyware Blaster does provide a certain degree of protection in Firefox, blocking Tracking Cookies. The reason protection is more readily available for IE is because it has ActiveX technology. If you are not familiar with ActiveX, it is Microsoft's alternative to Java, but ActiveX has full access to the Windows Operating System and can in effect allow software to be installed, files deleted, etc, etc. This is why spyware protection programs protect Internet Explorer, to block bad sites that could install spyware and ensure that IE has the correct protection settings. When installing an ActiveX control though IE prompts the user, the anti spyware programs help Internet Explorer determine which are the bad sites and the controls are automatically blocked without the user intervening. Firefox doesn't have ActiveX technology, so really it could be said it is safer than Internet Explorer, but if ever a vulnerability is found in the software, you could still be affected. That's why you should always ensure you are up to date. And the main thing, is common sense, think about the things you download and the sites you visit, it's the best method of protection.

I've just noticed you mention AVG Antivirus and Avast Antivirus, does that mean you are running both pieces of software? If so, you only need one program or else they will conflict. The Windows firewall doesn't really offer brilliant protection, you need a good old third party firewall. I have a firewall in my router and Kerio Personal Firewall on my computer. I'm not really sure what is causing your problem, I've had firewall problems in the fast, either them not working correctly or crashing my computer. The perpetrators were Outpost Firewall (free version), Sygate Personal Firewall and some others. I think some remnants from another piece of software (possibly Norton) had caused the conflict. I have since had to replace my hard drive though and haven't had issues with any firewall since. I can't really suggest what it could be in your specific case.

Thanks Owen.

Well I'm on a new HDD here and none of the personal firewalls it didn't affect my old harddrive at all. I forgot to mention, I have a router firewall too. On this system Outpost and Kerio have badly affected it. They caused blue screens and were making other applications to quit with errors, including Windows explorer.

I don't really know whats wrong there. I've been through about 13 firewalls, three paid ones as well and inside hours or days I could see the problems.

I did have AVG anti-virus but uninstalled it as it gave me many errors including conflict with certain extensions of Thunderbird. Avast! works perfect for me albeit its many false positives.

I don't really visit/download much software due to my time and profession, so I won't be at as massive risk as some.

Thanks for everything I'll try Kerio again.

Thats strange, I don't think I've heard of many problems with AVG conflicting. I did fix one PC where it just wouldn't run properly though, but that was many versions ago. I put Avast on that PC.

Well a router firewall will stop the baddies getting in, but a personal firewall is there to stop the baddies getting out (for example, a piece of spyware gets onto your PC, monitors it and gets some of your passwords, it trys to send the information back to its master and the personal firewall intercepts, asking you if you want to let soandso.exe access the internet).

I do quite a bit of downloading, but I have a nose for whats good and whats bad.

Your very welcome

wow. you guys sure know what you're doing. how come you get attacked so often?

anyways, is there a simple and yet effective program for the basic user? preferrably free as i'm still not working. currently i'm using Ad-Aware and well i guess it's pretty alright for scanning adwares but i can't turn on adblock as it's the free version.

thanks in advance.

Firstly have Spyware Guard and Spyware Blaster, updated fully and enabled protection of all.
Then well, download Sypbot S&D and activate its "Resident Teatimer", "Immunizer" and "Resident SD Helper". They're enough for spyware protection. Download/copy the "MPV HOSTS file" and integrate it into Spybot S&D's protection (in Tools>Hosts file). Everytime a registry/browser change is made, it will alert you and give you the option to allow or not.

Next also I suggest you download/copy IE-SPYAD and have it for extra protecion. You'll need an Anti-Virus and a perosnal Firewall aswell for which I recommend Sunblet Kerio Personal Firewall as one of the best.


All of this can be found here: http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=605

Follow that carefully. You should keep Ad-Aware SE for weekly/fortnightly scanning purposes.

heh, i've used this one .
i'd malware that was giving me " Hello ! " while paste.
ewido removed that.

Kazna, the few programs you mentioned, does it slow down the computer? cause i sure as heck know that Norton LOVES doing that.

is Kaspersky any good? i used to use that.