Anti-Spyware...Friendly or not?

[Evil_Sire]

Often when browsing the internet people pick up spyware. This makes people download anti-spyware programs.
These supposedly free programs just add another spyware thing to your comp.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANYTHING THAT SAYS IT WILL REMOVE SPYWARE unless you trust it.

Seriously, it's worth the 20 quid to get Norton or something.
What do you think?

[Luminaflare]

For Norton? No. But otherwise there are some really good anti-virus and anti-spyware programs out there that are worth your money.

[Pikman]

Norton isn't worth it. I can stand by McAfee and ESET Nod32. Both are very well recommended and update themselves frequently. Though costly, they do work.

[Hendor]

I trust a lot of the free programs, most notably AVG, Avira, Avast, Ad-Aware, NOD32, and Spybot. I use Avast on all of my computers for ongoing protection, but I do a sweep with the others every now and then in case Avast misses anything.

The only reason I don't use Norton or McAffe is because a) they're expensive and b) they're quite memory consuming.

Oh, cooool. I like this new feature that tells you that a post has been made since you click Reply.

[t̷s͢uk̕a͡t͜ư]

Why is this in Debate?
*moved to Discussion*

The point is, do your research. If nothing else, look up "spyware" on Wikipedia to get a listing of legitimate software (and there are even a number of useful comparisons, to boot). But don't be clicking on random pop-ups that claim they'll remove spyware for you.

I personally use (on my Windows XP machine) McAfee with an anti-spyware module and Spybot Search & Destroy. I have a few other tools sitting around, but I don't find much occasion to use them because I know what I'm doing and know how to set up a firewall.

[Zelda_S_Kenneth]

Kaspersky Internet Security owns all. But it costs 50 bucks.

[T3chno]

I use Kaspersky Internet Security. Highly recommended. But for picking up spyware, obviously you'd have to download something, wouldn't you?

[Zelda_S_Kenneth]

I use Kaspersky Internet Security. Highly recommended. But for picking up spyware, obviously you'd have to download something, wouldn't you?

Nah. The scanning and firewall do all the work (even if the firewall does need some micromanagement), and they do a superb job at it, in my opinion. Besides, you CAN'T download anything else. Spybot and Kaspersky on the same drive cut off all my internet connections once, because Firefox's immunizations didn't agree with KIS.

[Luminaflare]

I trust a lot of the free programs, most notably AVG, Avira, Avast, Ad-Aware, NOD32, and Spybot. I use Avast on all of my computers for ongoing protection, but I do a sweep with the others every now and then in case Avast misses anything.

The only reason I don't use Norton or McAffe is because a) they're expensive and b) they're quite memory consuming.

Oh, cooool. I like this new feature that tells you that a post has been made since you click Reply.

NOD32 =/= free

[Pikman]

[quote="Luminaflare"][quote="Hendor"]I trust a lot of the free programs, most notably AVG, Avira, Avast, Ad-Aware, NOD32, and Spybot. I use Avast on all of my computers for ongoing protection, but I do a sweep with the others every now and then in case Avast misses anything.

The only reason I don't use Norton or McAffe is because a) they're expensive and b) they're quite memory consuming.

Oh, cooool. I like this new feature that tells you that a post has been made since you click Reply.[/quote]


NOD32 =/= free[/quote]
$110 for a year. Expensivo. Got rid of it and downloaded McAfee. But if you can get a free trial of NOD32, you'll love it.

[Zelda_S_Kenneth]

I trust a lot of the free programs, most notably AVG, Avira, Avast, Ad-Aware, NOD32, and Spybot. I use Avast on all of my computers for ongoing protection, but I do a sweep with the others every now and then in case Avast misses anything.

The only reason I don't use Norton or McAffe is because a) they're expensive and b) they're quite memory consuming.

Oh, cooool. I like this new feature that tells you that a post has been made since you click Reply.

NOD32 =/= free

$110 for a year. Expensivo. Got rid of it and downloaded McAfee. But if you can get a free trial of NOD32, you'll love it.

I didn't. I myself ran a few tests. It missed a few viruses I deliberately placed on my system (in a VM environment), and turned out to not be worth its price tag. But that's just me.

[Hendor]

NOD32 =/= free

Ah. I was talking with friends at school about free anti-virus programs and some guy came up and started listing all these features that NOD32 has. I just assumed it was free.

[BNW]

As far as I know, I have no anti-spyware on my computer. I've had this laptop for a little of half a year, and nothing has threatened it at all. It may be that I don't visit certain sites, but I'm spyware free as far as I know. I have run a few scans with some trials, but nothing as far as I know.

[Zelda_S_Kenneth]

As far as I know, I have no anti-spyware on my computer. I've had this laptop for a little of half a year, and nothing has threatened it at all. It may be that I don't visit certain sites, but I'm spyware free as far as I know. I have run a few scans with some trials, but nothing as far as I know.

Hey spyware! You on BlckNWhteNnja's computer! If you can read this webpage, go home whining to your mama and tell him that he's a lazy good-for-nothing gender-confused cyber-vandal who takes pleasure in destroying order in cyberspace because "it's fun" and "I've had a hard day today, therefore everyone else should". That's right! Go home! Nobody likes you! Aw, you wanna cry? So... wait... what are you doing? Are you trying to infect my computer? No, please no! I take it back, you're doing a good job of obeying your nature and avioding all those scans and making sure you're not known to the infectee! I swear I won't tell anyone about the registries you might have changed! I promise I won't say a thing about the personal information you've stolen, the backdoors you've exposed, and all that damage you've done! Please! Please don't, don't, don't give me that download link so that you can get onto my computer! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Oh wait... I forgot that I have Kaspersky.

[smartalco]

KU provides (no: forces you to use if you actually want access to the network here) Sophos Anti-virus, apparently it is a very nice anti-virus program (googled), and all the students get it for free, so thats what I use! (exclusively)

[Vyacheslav]

Honestly, I just use AVAST and Spybot S&D. No spyware/viruses. On 98, I just have McAfee 4.5.1 from 2001... no problems with 98 either.

[JetPack]

I use Ad-Aware and it works quite well. Pretty much catches everything bad.

[Keron]

I'd been told Spybot has spyware in it, but I couldn't find any support for that stance. I use it, AVG, and Ad-aware.

[Turtle]

I still have a picture I took of the 'Norton has been uninstalled' popup in my computer. One of the best days of my computer's life.
I use McAfee.

[jean-luc]

I use Avast! on almost all of my machines. I also use Comodo Firewall Pro. both are free.

I do not recommend Norton or McAffee. Norton is distastrous, and in my experience McAffee is really resource intensive.

Where I work, we have a Kaspersky group license. I'm very happy with Kaspersky. I have a friend that owns Nod32 and really likes it, so I'll recommend it second hand.

[Geti]

if you know where to look (heck, its on wikipedia) you'll find free software to do more than enough. if youre going places that'll get you lots of spyware, youre looking at way too much pr0n, or engaging in illegal activites.

[TribulatioN]

I'm using norton, only cause my dad paid for it. But I also use Ad-Aware 2008, free & wonderful.

[PsychoSnail]

I use ESET Smart Security (NOD32 + Antispam and Firewall functions).
I used to use McAfee, but it used too much resources.

[scythe]

Often when browsing the internet people pick up spyware. This makes people download anti-spyware programs.
These supposedly free programs just add another spyware thing to your comp.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANYTHING THAT SAYS IT WILL REMOVE SPYWARE unless you trust it.

Seriously, it's worth the 20 quid to get Norton or something.
What do you think?

Norton is the worst piece of software on the planet. Download Spybot and Ad-Aware and you should never have any problems; if you need anything still try Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which is similar. All of these are safe.
Hell, my computer came free with Norton. I uninstalled it, because Norton is terrible. AVG all the way. Also, HijackThis will usually catch anything the others don't if you know how to use it.
Then there are a few things you can use like NoScript (Firefox addon) which will keep websites from being able to load spyware onto your computer.
And I'd like to take the opportunity to plug UnPlug, which lets you save audio files that websites play.

[Eiturlyf]

F-PROT Antivirus fyrir Windows FTW.