Best free anti spyware?

Vashti

I have AVG Free, and Avast! and they are brilliant. However, they both deal with virus's, and not spyware.

Have tried AVG Anti Spyware but after a few weeks it does not provide constant cover, and if you re install it knows you have downloaded before, and you don't get the benefit. Crafty huh. I also have Ad-Aware, which does not apparently root out the worst spyware.

Is it time to shell out for something, or is there another good free programme out there?

myself321

hi there try

spybot search and destroy, ad-aware personal se, spyware terminator , all free all very very good , download here https://www.download.com

superscaper

Vashti wrote: »

I have AVG Free, and Avast! and they are brilliant. However, they both deal with virus's, and not spyware.

Hope you are not using AVG Anti Virus and Avast at the same time.

judderman62

superscaper wrote: »

Hope you are not using AVG Anti Virus and Avast at the same time.

Indeed it always makes me how many people are out there using more than one AV product and not knowing one isn't supposed to do so.

computerwoman

a2free is quite good,
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
cw

judderman62

a2free is NOT anti spyware - it is a trojan detector/remover - the only free one I am aware of - so I'd recommended using this too - as again AV software isn't generally too well equipped to deal with Trojans.

hawkwind

Spywareblaster and spywareguard.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/products.html

Spyware, adware, browser hijackers, and dialers are some of the fastest-growing threats on the Internet today.
By simply browsing to a web page, you could find your computer to be the brand-new host of one of these unwanted fiends!

The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.

Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software.
Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
Restrict the actions of potentially unwanted sites in Internet Explorer.


SpywareBlaster can help keep your system spyware-free and secure, without interfering with the "good side" of the web.

And unlike other programs, SpywareBlaster does not have to remain running in the background.

SpywareBlaster is freeware for personal and educational use.

SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.

An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware! And you can easily have an anti-virus program running alongside SpywareGuard.

SpywareGuard now also features Download Protection and Browser Hijacking Protection!

Features Listing: Fast Real-Time Scanning engine - catch and block spyware before it is executed (EXE and CAB files supported) with signature-based scanning for known spyware and heuristic/generic detection capabilities to catch new/mutated spyware
Download Protection - prevent spyware from being download in Internet Explorer
Browser Hijacking Protection - stop browser hijacking activity in real-time
SG LiveUpdate - provides an easy updating solution
Small size - with a small size and small definition sizes, download and updates are quick
Report Capabilities - keep a detailed log of all spyware detected
Spyware files are blocked before being opened or run - they are not simply shut down after they are loaded in memory (and after they have performed their tasks)
It's a free download

Barnum42

I'm another on Spybot and Adaware, plus a quickie that is not designed as a spyware device, but does clear up a lot of stuff as it empties out cookies where many pieces of spyware reside - Ccleaner. http://www.ccleaner.com/

"CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware! "

judderman62

another +1 for ccleaner - simply superb piece of software and very frequently updted.

In fact here's my full security protection rundown:

NOD32 - anti virus (one of the best going)

Sygate - Firewall - easy to set up and, to my mind, far easier to understand than Zone Alarm (despite reputations having it the other way round )

a squared - Trojan Hunter/destroyer. Only free one I know of - not long ago updated and looks nicer/cleaner now.

Ccleaner - gets rid of temp files etc and does so brilliantly.

Ad aware - anti spyware

Spybot - anti spyware and other very useful tools - protects against your homepage being hijacked (if for some odd reason you choose to use Internet Explorer ), testimer protects against unauthorised changes to the registry, secure shredder - shreds files so they cannot be easily recovered.

Firefox - I use this (haven't touched IE for about 5 years) and deny all cookies except those I know I definitely need - this usually results in adaware/spybot finding nothing.

All except NOD32 are free

Millionare

For Free Spyware Removers, Adaware and Spybot are regarded as the Best ones available currently.

skiddy2k

best free antispyware/adware programs IMO are AVG-AntiSpyware (formerly known as Ewido) and SuperAntiSpyware... work a charm... but are only for on-demand scans... don't constantly run in the background... can do a scan once a month or 2 (or if you think you're infected)

Also a good idea having some HOST files (prevent you from going onto malicious sites... it blocks them):
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html