Help - what Spy program do you use.....

[hammersley]

Help - need a recommendation



I currently use Webroot Spy Washer...



Webroot Software | Spyware Detection and removal by award-winning Spy Sweeper software



It costs $30/year - $40 for 2 and $50 for 3 years…………mt subscription is up – what should I do – I mean I’ve renewed it the last couple of years but quit honestly I get ticked off having to annually update these things – like all of this software……what do you folks use????? Do you also have the issue like this as well???

 

[scootergmc]

Spybot. It's free (search online) and works great-- and it has updates.

 

[CRuth]

I don't run a separate program. Between my firewall (Zonealarm Pro) and my antivirus (Norton) I think they do a pretty good job on spyware.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I think you mean spysweeper which IMO is the #1 anti-spyware package out there. Being a consultant I've tried them all and found that the top three are spysweeper, spybot S&D, and adaware. I used to use both spybot S&D and adaware on client PC's with problems because each would find stuff that the other wouldn't. Spysweeper finds everything both of them do and others as well. BTW, Norton is by far the worst package out there today - it's a resource hog (slows your PC down) and misses a lot of stuff that others catch. I had a client PC that had the newest version of Norton on it (he'd been running it for years), updated daily. But his system was running slow. I got rid of Norton and installed AVG for anti-virus and Spysweeper for anti-spyware. I found 80 viruses and 500 pieces of spyware on his machine.

 

[CRuth]

I know what you mean about norton. Lots of my friends won't run it. It is a resource hog. But I've had good luck with it over the years. Never had a virus and yes I've scanned with over programs just to make sure.



Just about everyone will tell you to scan for spyware with more than program. Even spysweeper misses some. Even with the two programs looking for spyware I'll occassionally run adaware and or others. They rarely find any Zonealarm missed.

 

[ACoyle]

I will echo what Steve said about Norton. I am also a consultant. Ihave had new versions of Norton put entire offices flat down.



I tried Trend Micro for a year and was not happy. I called it virus / spam control with attitude. When it wanted to do something, it just stopped whatever I was doing and ran.



I am now using Kaspersky and am quite happy. It is a total package spyware / adware / virus and updates way more often than the others.



So far as annual renewal vs free. There is new spyware / adware and viruses every day. therefore someone has to write the code to deffend against it. Those someones have to eat, just like we all do.



AC

 

[JApol]

3RD on steve's post. I use AVG anti-virus, Spybot and adaware. I have never has another serious infection.

I would suggest weekly scans with the most recent libraries for all scan. You could be infected with something new that the companies either haven't heard about or are working on a fix.

If you have a computer that you may think is infected try out this FAQ. I have no ties to this site but they did help me out and teach me a few things.

 

[BimmerAgent]

Trend Micro

I've been running Trend products for years... . both on my network at the office and on stand alone PC's. It's an awesome product, and reasonably priced. There are many levels of protection from which to choose, and is easily customized. Never had a problem with it "doing what it wanted. " It can integrate anti-virus with anti-spam, anti-phishing, anti-fraud, and anti-spyware. It's what Hotmail uses now. Super product. Antivirus & Content Security Software | Securing Your Web World: - Trend Micro USA Bruce

 

[donnier]

I had Webroot and Norton on my last desktop and between the two, they did a good job of catching stuff.

WHen I got my new desktop, it came with Trend PC-Cillin already installed.

Doing a transfer from the old to the new, PC caught two different viruses and a trojan that Norton never did.

PC Cillin also has a malware and spyware built in.

So far its done a decent job.

JMHO.