antispyware etc help needed

random456

my microsoft antispyware has just ran out and i dont want to get defender as im not too keen on the microsoft packages. i have avast antivirus which i have had for ages and am really pleased with, as it updates as soon as you turn your net on instantly, you dont have to do it manually then wait half an hr.

anyway, i need a new spyware blocker and scanner (so its got a scanner on permanently). it needs to have automatic updates and be a small a programme as possible as i am on dial up. it needs to be free (not just trial). i dont want defender, ad aware, spybot or spysweeper as i have had these before. i keep reading threads and on the net but everyone differs as to which one they think is the best. can someone recommend me what im after? thanks.

also, i use ccleaner which im also happy with, however, my pc is still slow (mostly caused by lack of ram!) and i know there are still junk files on there somewhere. is there a free prog which gets rid of EVERYTHING?

help much aprreciated, ta.:beer:

oh and no i have no spyware/viruses anything like that that are slowing it down (before you tell me to go and do scans, i have shields there all the time and i only go on the same 5 sites-i have only had 1 virus in 3 yrs).

shopbot

This article might help you:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/security_scanners.htm

I cannot offer you any alternatives as I run the programs that you say you don't want. It is worth remembering that automatic updates are usually part of paid for packages.

If your surfing habits are as limited as you say and you take care not to open potentially dangerous e-mails then there is no reason why any of the products recommended on the tech board sticky shouldn't keep you safe.

woo

it's difficult to recomend anything else, because as shopbot says you have crossed off your list all the ones that most people would recommend.

why so against the likes of spybot?

shopbot

pumpa wrote:

i dont want defender, ad aware, spybot or spysweeper as i have had these before. i keep reading threads and on the net but everyone differs as to which one they think is the best. can someone recommend me what im after?

To answer your question; as this is also a web forum everyone on here will differ too. The aim is not to find one definitive answer from the net but to get a consensus view. For example you can google any product in any sphere and you will get good and bad reviews. No product will return 100%. No-one can really decide what is best for you except you.

I would maybe consider revisiting those products you say you don't want. Is the lack of automatic updates really that big an issue. It only takes a couple of clicks to update and you are saving money over the paid for version.

For what it's worth I've had no viruses or serious malware in the last year and I run AVG Free, Windows Defender and SpywareBlaster. These run in the background. In addition I do very regular scans with Ewido, Adaware and Spybot. I also use Firefox as my browser. In some peoples eyes this is a safer browser that IE - although Techies will argue about that ad infinitum.

Open_Wallet_Surgery

pumpa wrote:

my microsoft antispyware has just ran out and i dont want to get defender as im not too keen on the microsoft packages.

Have you considers Adaware by Lavasoft ?

Think its still available on https://www.download.com, which incidentally has other free spyware killers on there, and if you can put up with the odd ranting American (its a American site) alot of the software is user rated

Hope this helps

random456

i really do need the automatic updates (same as my antivirus which is free) as it took a good 15 mins for microsoft antispyware to update on my crappy dial up..avast only takes abt 10 seconds

Fraserca

May I suggest that spyware protection is only needed if you visit dodgy sites ?

Oh sorry for not being pc ....

shopbot

Fraserca wrote:

May I suggest that spyware protection is only needed if you visit dodgy sites ?

Oh sorry for not being pc ....

May I suggest that view is a little naive

There are other ways to pick up spyware. For example a few years ago some Sony music CDs were distributed with software that installed itself on the users PC and alledgedly was spyware.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Sony_CD_copy_protection_scandal

I'd rather have the knowledge that I was fully protected than deluding myself that my 'safe' surfing habits were enough in themselves to prevent spyware.

Quasar

I have gotten rid of the massive Norton system and have installed various free security programs, including spybot and ad aware. My computers run sweetly on them, but then I have broadband so I have no problem with quick updates.

Fraserca

Ah - Protection ... From what ? the dodgy websites or the scareware that MOS et al want to sell us ?

Methinks its better not to go down the dark alleys of the internet...

Donnie

pumpa wrote:

i really do need the automatic updates (same as my antivirus which is free) as it took a good 15 mins for microsoft antispyware to update on my crappy dial up..avast only takes abt 10 seconds

Automatic updating doesn't affect the speed of updates. It's just an aid in case you forget to update manually.
There aren't any free programs available, that I know of, that fit your criteria.

As mentioned before Spywareblaster; http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html is an option.

Ad-Aware SE Professional is probably the closest to what you need. It's a 6.4MB download. That will take around 30 minutes to download on dial up.