i have too many anti spyware progs, anti ads, pop-up blockers etc

purply

hi,
i seem to have accumulated a number of programs to get rid of anti spyware, pop-ups etc.

i have very little hard disk space as it is-do i need all the following or is there one program i can install that will replace all the ones i have currently:

ad-aware
spybot
crap cleaner
window washer
zone alarm
microsoft anti-spyware
google toolbar
norton antivirus (but the license has expired-an alternative i could have?)

i didnt realise i had so many!

can anybody advise?
thanks

rogerramjet

Drop down to the two you feel most comfortable using and think work the best.

I use the ms one and spybot only

peter_the_piper

I suggest dump Nortons and get another Antivirus (AVG)etc, keep all the others and get another hard disk. You can't have too much protection IMHO.

Mr_Skint_2

Ok Keep

crap cleaner,, Cleans IE cookies and all other manner of pap
zone alarm,, Firewall
microsoft anti-spyware,, Cleans AD ware and scumware, Beats Adaware in recent tests
google toolbar,, Prevents popups, aswell as Service pack 2 for XP


And get AVG Antivirus (Free) http://free.grisoft.com/doc/Get+AVG+FREE/lng/us/tpl/v5

Fran

I would suggest having a read through the What Security do you use? thread and Computer security! Viruses! thread to get the feel of what others find to be enough security and what they think of it.

rich_jtg

purply, I'm in a similar situation as yourself, with tons of AV and Spyware programs sat on my computer, and I get fed up of running them all the time to scan for nasties.

What I'm presently looking into is buy a Mac to connect to the Internet as they don't have the same problems as Windows driven PCs as in there presently isn't a virus for the current operating system, and spyware just isn't an issue.

I've had a Windows driven PC for 12 years now, but I'm just sick of the security side of it all now.

tigermatt

Mr_Skint wrote:

Ok Keep

crap cleaner,, Cleans IE cookies and all other manner of pap
zone alarm,, Firewall
microsoft anti-spyware,, Cleans AD ware and scumware, Beats Adaware in recent tests
google toolbar,, Prevents popups, aswell as Service pack 2 for XP


And get AVG Antivirus (Free) http://free.grisoft.com/doc/Get+AVG+FREE/lng/us/tpl/v5

I would also suggest you keep Ad-Aware or Spybot or both, as it is recommended you run more than one Anti-Spyware Program as a fail safe. (i.e. To pick up anything the other one doesn't)

I would recommend this because Microsoft's Anti-Spyware is still in Beta and may not be as good as others.

BTW purply, don't run more than one Anti Virus program as having more than one could cause them to collide possibly damaging your system! ([thread]112721[/thread])

inatomato

Just my 2 cents'

I personally keep:

Ad-aware (the free one is good enough) and Spybot - these two are the most effective at getting rid of 99% of all known germs and are updated regularly by the authors. Spybot can also 'innoculate' your browser(s) against future infections and attacks. Best of all is the price

I use Sygate personal firewall (again free, but has seen me unhacked for about 2 years now) - you can get it here

I have used AVG for donkey's, and for personal use it's free and effective. Get it here

I had a few problems with the Microsoft one (now renamed 'defender', by the way). But it was an early test version and I may have just been unlucky and/or too lazy to uninstall it!

Google toolbar really doesn't get in the way, and it's a resaonbly effective popup blocker. And it's from Google, so you know it ain't going to eat your hard disk!

Of course, use Windows Update regularly - or better still, set it to automatic to make sure you get all the latest patches and fixes from those lovely Microsoft chaps.

Mr_Skint_2

tigermatt wrote:

I would also suggest you keep Ad-Aware or Spybot or both, as it is recommended you run more than one Anti-Spyware Program as a fail safe. (i.e. To pick up anything the other one doesn't)

On a report MS Anti came up better..http://www.adwarereport.com/

Ganyam

First of all get a new hard drive, you can get a new 200GB for around £60 +vat from Ebuyer, http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/ do a clean install (only if your having lots of problems)

You dont need lots of programs to clean you system. All you need is a good antivirus and firewall, you can go free with these as others say.. AVG, Avast.. I use NIS2005 and think its great (alot would disagree) but thats down to user preference before anyone starts..

As for firewalls sygate is good.

Microsoft Antispyware is very good even though its still beta, i would also use the likes of Lavasofts adaware, to clean up afterwords, and your system will stay clean.

Mr_Skint_2

Ganyam wrote:

First of all get a new hard drive, you can get a new 200GB for around £60 +vat from Ebuyer, http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/ do a clean install (only if your having lots of problems)

You dont need lots of programs to clean you system. All you need is a good antivirus and firewall, you can go free with these as others say.. AVG, Avast.. I use NIS2005 and think its great (alot would disagree) but thats down to user preference before anyone starts..

As for firewalls sygate is good.

Microsoft Antispyware is very good even though its still beta, i would also use the likes of Lavasofts adaware, to clean up afterwords, and your system will stay clean.

Er a new hard drive, you are joking right....

And MSAntispyware is beating Adaware in tests....

NIS is er well Ok but its a resource hogger and just really
not worth the money, especially up against Nod32..