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Spyware Removal software?

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by groupjb

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Anyone have any recommendations on spyware removal software? Or advise about which ones to stay away from?

15 replies

by jschein

Ad aware is great, just as when a new spy-tool comes out, they update their database and the easiest thing to do is open it, click update and run your scan. If I barely use my pc for websurfing, once a month... If I'm all over the internet, once a week or when those funny little things happen.

Best of all, google's toolbar with pop-up blocker helps due to most malicous programs / files come in when you inadvertantly go somewhere and they try to throw 80 pop-ups at you... You goto hit the "X", but the x is actually an executable of the program...

Good luck in your choice

by jschein

Yes, used both of those programs, however, MICROSOFT SUGGESTS.... , we all know how Microsoft is.

Both do a decent job, however, adaware is more in depth once you get your settings in place and does one heck of a job. Free updates, excellent cleaner, gets more than any other spyware remover out there although some of the others get like 1 or 2 that adaware doesn't until their next update, but I can wait one more day for those updates...

Also, adaware does not need ADMIN priviledges to install... That's right... NONE. Install and run as a regular user.

Good luck on your decision

by skduffy

As stated above, Lavasoft's Ad-Aware 6 is
excellent. I have also used Spybot Search &
Destroy with great success.

by joseph moore

It has already been said, but I am gonna say it again.
Ad-Aware is the way to go!
I use it on all my machines.
One time, I did a test between Ad-Adware and SpyBot. I ran SpyBot first, then Ad-Aware on the same machine.
There were still things to remove after SpyBot that Ad-Aware caught.
So, I think Ad-Aware is better.

by groupjb

Good to know Ad-aware is so widely recommended -- I already use that on my pc, but was wondering how it stacked up against spybot and others. Perhaps I should have my girlfriend install it on her laptop as well; she has Norton Systemworks, but I don't think that has a spyware detection feature...

by lizzy

I have done what Joseph Moore has done, running Spybot and then AdAware. I have also reversed it running AdAware and then Spybot. Both caught other things that the first one didn't. I have used both with much sucess and would find it hard to recommend one over another. I use both. Norton System Works is also great, but does not have spy ware or ad ware removers and have used it sucessfully with both Spybot and AdAware installed. AdAware and Spybot will warn you that it may remove the other adware remover when you use the latest versions, but this has not happened yet. If you use the latest .EXE file to install from a CD, then if it does disable one, you can easily re-install it.

by groupjb

Microsoft recommended Spybot and Spysweeper -- anyone have any experience with these?

by wlbowers

I started using Spybot when the other one stopped updating to concentrate on their next version.

I have had excellent results with spybot. They provide timely updates.

Good Luck Lee

by wlbowers

I currently use the following.

Spybot:
http://tinyurl.com/ziar

Ad-Aware:
http://tinyurl.com/tek5

CWshredder:
http://tinyurl.com/2bzef
Or
http://tinyurl.com/2k642
Look for the file in English CWShredder.exe

Hijack This:
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/

This program is useful in that it shows what is currently loading on startup. You must know what is good and what is bad. Once you check it and fix it is gone. So be sure.

I have had to boot into safe mode and run these.

Good Luck Lee

by pierrejamme

I know this has been answered to death but:
I use all three every week after updating them ( Spybot Adaware, and Pest Patrol) and I alternate them. Often finding something in each application even though I already ran x,y or z. I also use the Google Search Toolbar, don't even consider any other toolbars at this point and I use ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall With Mcafee for viruses. there ar just too many morons out there to give them an opening.
When I have friends say their Internet is slow and I tell them to run these programs they often find 100's of bots, and seldom have they kept up their virus scan and none of them have ever used a firewall. Many use Hotbar, Yahoo, MSN and several other BAD Idea search and Toolbars.

by format19

Hi there,
I run a computer service centre and so am on the front line of Virus and spyware removal, every single machine that comes in for repair needs to be checked for both.
We use Webroots Spysweeper 2.6 (both on our machines and on customers) the have just released ver 3 in the States and looks to have some improvments.
We have found it to be the most efficient of all that we have tried. www.webroot.com
If anyone knows how to get around Win XP with multiple profiles and having to log into each profile and scan for spyware could you send me a mail to format19@yahoo.com

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