I used to primarily access the internet from my mac at home, but have been using my PC laptop more and more since we got wireless access here in the house. I figured that since PCs tend to be more vulnerable I ought to invest in an anti-spyware and anti-virus program. I have Norton, but it's not updated and I should probably do that, but figured I'd ask here first for any other ideas. I tried out a test version of SpySweeper which turned up, surprisingly, quite a few things that got downloaded.

Does anybody have any suggestions or preferences for certain programs? Are some more conservative than others for picking stuff up?

The absolute best, most thorough tool I ever encountered was microsoft's Beta version of their anti-spyware tool on the main page. You'll see it under Frequent Downloads.

Don't validate your version of windows, don't sign up to join the info ring (unless you want to - they explain it), and then set it up to check every day at whatever time you want. 2am is the default. Just leave the laptop running, or adjust the time or whatever.

That program catches things nobody else does, is free, and is very easy to use.

Excellent, this was one of the questions I had. Should I actually purchase one or are there free versions that perform equally well or better.

I have had this PC since February of 2002, and I have only had one virus, which was my own stupid fault. I use:

Norton Anti-Virus with LiveUpdate. It's something like $30 a year for LiveUpdate.
Spybot Search & Destroy to prevent or remove Spyware.
AdAware to remove Adware.

I've been successfully using a combination of Grisoft's AVG (free!) and Spybot S&D. This combo catches virtually everything - Spybot has an app called TeaTimer (which you must choose to enable) that will stop ANYTHING from installing unless you want it to. I used this on my parents' computer, who have a tendency to click every damned thing on the screen, and it kept their computer entirely virus free for the past year - a first. Prior to that, with McAfee ViruScan only, tons of stuff slipped through and eventually brought down their machine.

But I'd check out that MS anti-spyware thing, too - I wonder if it would cause a conflict if I ran it with the other stuff?

Yeah, TeaTimer is good shit.

AVG and Norton have both worked well for me over the years. For spyware I use the stuff mentioned above as well as Adaware..Just do a search or go to
www.downloads.com ...

Anything but McAfee.

Steve

I use AVG.

Also, I'm very careful about spyware and I haven't had any on my computer for about a year. To check, I use Ad-Aware once a week.

Microsoft Anti-Spy doesn't conflict with any of the big ones, but I promise it's better than spybot and adaware (both very good programs). It's free, right from their site. Has been for about a year. I run it on our stuff, no issues. The automation is the best part. Cuz we forget stuff.

dont use norton or mcafee. theyre bloated pieces of crap. theres a whole bunch of good freeware recommendations here. the anti virus stuff is near the top of the post. get yourself a firewall too. theres a recommendation for a good one on that page too.

I just let my Norton membership expire...that thing never caught shit. I've had MUCH better luck with AVG. And for spyware, AdAware.

A note on how these anti-spywares function, if anybody wonders... If you know this stuff don't read.


Each of these spyware programs has a "naughty list" that its writers compile, based on their experience / research, and it changes all the time. The program is only as effective as its list. Every scan you run is just taking that list in one hand and your hard drvie in the other, and comparing. Anytime it finds something on C: that's on the bad list, it flags it, etc.

Some sites out there have complained at having their material flagged by some of the program writers (spybot, adaware, etc) and the only reason it's arguable is that the list is subjective... Spybot (lavasoft, in sweden I think) decides that CoolWebDeals is spyware, whereas they feel it's a marketing tool. Etc. So some known annoying things don't make it on, and anything brand new won't be on quite yet.

The microsoft and spybot programs check everytime you run them for updates, I believe, which keeps them effective. But it's not like viruses, where you know one when you see it. The list is what matters, and right now microsoft's list is the best I've seen. There's an easy test. Run spybot and adaware first, then run the microsoft. If you have some nasty stuff on there, usually the microsoft will still pick a few things up the others missed.