What do you fight spyware with?

For the organization, I have a combination of tools. AdAware and Spybot S&D are the most prominent, but also CoolWeb_Shredder, IE-SpyAd, and "HiJack This!" if they are already infected.

I use Firefox as a browser, which has all but eliminated incoming spyware. I regularly run a detection of spyware using AdAware and Spybot S&D, which I keep updated. I have not encountered spyware since switching to Firefox, and I do some serious browsing. One additional step was to turn off the ability of websites to install software (under web features in Firefox). Exceptions can be added, if needed.

For my home computer, the setup is the same except that I also use a Linksys router between me and the Internet (cable modem). This effectively blocks all crackers trying to make inbound connections.

And of course, an up-to-date antivirus. I'm using Norton because my company provided it.

Recently with the update to desktop authority 6.5 we now have another tool to scan and remove spyware. This tool allows you to set options for quartine or deletion of spyware from all of your clients on your WAN or LAN. We also use spybot and Symantec Anti-Virus Corporte Edition which now has an option to scan and remove spyware and adware. With the combination of the three tools which two are running remotely for the entire enterprise has helped us to elimate most spyware and adware from our systems.

Personnaly I have switched browsers to FireFox and that has stopped all spyware and adware from entering my system. Due to application restraints we can not use FireFox for all Internet activity.

I do not work in the corporate environment, but for personal computers, the standard programs I use are Adaware-Se, Spybot S&D, Ace Utilities, and Microsoft Antispyware, a beta program. All of them supplement and complement each other and seem to do the job of finding what the other does not pick up. Microsoft Antispyware was doing a good job until recently it began allowing changes to the startup/registry without asking permission IF it is a Microsoft program, like MS Messenger (which I don't want in my startup). It seems they have a good idea at first, but can't help themselves when it comes to promoting their own products (as usual). You think they'd learn by now....

I use SpyBot Search and Destroy as it is intuitive and straightforward. Vosa

i'm working in a small company, and we are using Microsoft Anti-spyware (beta). it's doing great and we are satisfied with it.

After finishing an internet session, I scan my PC using Ad-aware and then Spybot. Why? Because there are some things Spybot catches that Ad-aware doesn't.

This brings up the question - did you do your poll correctly. I could not select Ad-aware and Spybot on your poll window. It only allows you to select one choice. This will make your pole inaccurate because I know other people who do the same thing.

I use SpyBot and Adaware. Together they seem to eat all unwanted stuff on my PC's.

I use Pet-Patrol to pick off any potential problems, and for those that get by, i run adaware and spybot

Pest Patrol isnt that great, but it auto updates and doesnt crash any apps that we use. also i've implimented firefox on all of our desktops, but i dont force my users to use it, i just recomend it over IE

i would like an antispyware solution that works like symantec antivirus corp edition, so i can make sure all the latest/greatest updates have been applied, i think symantec already did this, but i havent done any research on it.

Lavasofts Adaware for Scanning and Spyblaster to prevent it getting onto the system.

The other tools as required. :)

Good Spyware is hard to find and works only at 85 % and is very hard to desinstall. You are glueing for years on your old system.

The main software I use to fight spyware is SpyBot Search and Destroy, and I'm very much satisfied with how it works. However, I also employ a good firewall, and a good common sense. I haven't had my computer infected by either spyware or viruses for the last couple of years. *Knock on wood*

I usually find results in one program that the others miss. I run all of the programs, but not at the same time. Microsoft beta has the best system protection, but still allows spyware cookies to get onto my system (windows xp-home).

It is not in the list though and so I had to go for "other".
My "A-spyware tool" is Linux, end of problem.

Your survey asked which product I use - the answer is at least three! MS Antispyware Beta, Ad-aware and Norton AV 2005 trial (latter is a once only use and then delete. Not convinved that machine is 100% clean - if any doubt I have to re-install from scratch.

Spybot SD 1.3 and Adaware SE personal. Very satisfy with both product.
Price "free", what one don't get the other does, they are both free and the upadates are free also, but they accept donation for the share ware which I highly reccomend.I also use Mozilla Firefox in conjuction with Adaware SE & Spybot. Mozilla block most tracking cookies unlike IE6.

I've used Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy on a half dozen really messy home units over the past few weeks. It seems to get the job done. I've totally cleaned units that AdAware and SpyBot failed on, in fact, it always seems to catch a number of threats that somebody else's product missed. Note that you seem to have to run a Deep File Scan in Safe Mode twice at well over an hour each to get everything. Anybody else experience this?

It seems we all use basically, the same tools to clean up mess others leave behind on our computers. I'm an independent contractor and service provider that takes care of a lot of small and medium networks. Years back I spent most of my time in the server room patching/updating servers, routers, switches, etc. or at the desktop installing software or fixing crashed machines. But these days a whole lot of my billable hours are spent cleaning infected machines, and a single machine can take hours to clean. I've found that no one tool even comes close to doing a through and complete job. On one particulary nasty laptop I used seven diffenent tools and they each found something new. I wondered what I would find if I used eight, or nine. I always start with Spybot because it cleans and protects and couple that with SpywareBlaster to enhance the protection. Then I do AdAware and, if on an XP or 2K box, the MS AntiSpyware. I end with a sweep of the machine using Trojan Hunter. There are also several other tools like BHODemon, and the excellent tools from Gibson Research. For viruses, I do Norton and AVG. My wish is for one tool that I can carry on my USB thumb drive, plug into a pc and have it scan for viruses, spyware, malware, trojans and the like without needing to install itself on the machine or ask me for input. I like making money but sitting in front of a screwed up laptop for hours watching progress bars is not my idea of fun. By-the-way, I'm a Novell CNE which is why I have the time to spend on the desktops. My servers pretty much take care of themselves and don't need very much attention from me. They just work.

We run Panda GateDefenders, a hardware bridge that sits between my routers and MDF switches at every site. We use them to block spyware, spam, viruses (inbound and outbound on 7 different protocals!) and even use the content filtering as well. I have had a LOT LESS internal problems with spyware (down about 98%) since putting them in place, as well as stepping on all the new worms that broadcast on the network! With as many PCs as our school District has, that means a good chunk of bandwidth is back to what we want it for.

In conjunction to using Mozilla Firefox, I also use Spybot Search & Destroy along with Adaware with Microsoft's Anti-spyware tool. My system stays really clean, and I don't have any problems. Best of all, it's all free. =D

Yes, I'm satisfied. Plus I use SpyWareBlaster,
SpyBot-Search and Destroy,and CWShredder.
I do not have a problem with spy-ware.
Dell also checks my system too.

Your poll only allows for one answer, but many of us use many programs, frequently all running at one time.
Am I happy with the program(s) I use? Well, not really, because I have to use more than one program to do the job.
We primarily use Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy together, but there are times when just (or is that even) those two don't do the job.

is not allow the users to have administrative access to their computers and only rarely give a user power user access. This stops most of it. We've had fewer than 20 incidents in the last year, out of 5500 computers and all of those were on power users.

I am happy with the products I am using: AVG and Spybot S&D. I find if you set them up right and update them, they seem to be handling all the dangers to date.

ad-aware/se, spybot, spywareblaster, spywareguard,
are what I have on board right now. In addition I use zone alarm whenever I need to be on the web. I use Firefox but also have used Mozilla, Netscape, and I also have a locked down version of IE. The 'guard stops hijacks, the blaster protects against malicious webpage,java attacks, it and spybot help to immunize IE from being opened. I found out the hard way that using Firefox itself is not a real protection if you have any IE version on your pc and especially if you have an earlier version of Java like 1.4.1. So I found that using several can provide overlapping security as there is no one
anti-spyware utility that does it all.

My "Other" is "GIANT" Antispyware and I have been very pleased with it. I tried two of your named software and had problems. The price you pay isn't always an indicator of the value you get!

I am currently using Adaware and Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta). Adaware comes up with only tracking cookies. MS AntiSpyware finds nothing.

Norton Internet Security 2004, however, is turning up genuine nasties, missed or ignored by the other two.

A bonus I hadn't anticipated from Norton!

And it works. We have 2 levels. One on the Corporate Web and Email Server amd the other on our in-house emai, server.

Don't get more than 3-4 spam messages in a day to each account and that too, after having my email address "out in the open" on the net, thanx to the host of small companies and charitable organisations I've helped in the past, who put-it up there and now have either lost the admin password or the site-admin (in some cases) or for some other vague reason or the other can't get it off their sites...

Believe me. Try it. Some of this Open Source stuff is good.

Use combination of "freeware" products - Spammers should be forced to pay for the cost of adware removal software, since we don't ask to receive there crap in the first place. But back to the question....

With my company and my side job. I use Spybot Search & Destroy and Lavasoft Ad-aware. They both seem to catch things that the other does not, which works. I've also been placing Microsoft Anti-spyware (beta) on a few select machines since it's still in beta. I find Microsoft has done a superb job thus far with there product. I like how it prompts you to allow certain connections such as using DameWare or VNC or some other software that has to use a network connection. The only flaw that I've found so far is that if I have a user that likes to place his task bar to the left or right of the screen, the notification window from Microsoft AntiSpyware (beta) seems to just go up into the air somewhere, not allowing you to select if you want to block or allow access.....

Also manually clean the registry and removal of temp internet files, cookies and damaged objects in Internet Options seem to do the trick....

I use RegRun NIVA Gold. It has many excellent features. Used it for 18 months, never let me down.

For the work network, the combination of a Cisco Firewall, enterprise antivirus software, and occasional Ad-Aware scanning are doing a pretty good job.
For private users, I lean toward Norton Antivirus 2005 and Ad-Aware or Spybot scans.
The only drawback of Norton Antivirus 2005 is that the system needs to be a newer, faster machine because it will bring an older, slower computer to a crawl.
I've been trying Microsoft's spyware software and it appears very promising.

We use CounterSpy at the desktop level. Haven't had a problem since.

We've tried Spybot, adaware, etc. and all we've had were problems...

But you're antispam solution is only as good as how often you update the definitions... dont' do it daily, and you are just not going to stop it...

I actually use two programs because it seems they look for different things. Webroot Spy Sweeper is really good but Bulletproof Software Spyware/Adware Remover is the best I have found. Not only does it seem to be the most functional, it offers several utilities that prove invaluable.

Ad-aware does a good job. I recently downloaded and installed the Microsoft Beta spyware on my daughter's computer and she seems satisfied as well.

This works pretty good. However, there is no "One" solution. There never will be. It also depends on what degree you lock your network down. How much productivity power you can do without also.

On my home box (WinXP) I'm currently using Ad-Aware Plus, SpyBot S&D, MS AntiSpyware, Spyware Blaster, and HyJack This. I also use my HOSTS file to block known adware and spyware sites.
Ad-Aware Plus includes Ad-Watch monitoring. MS AntiSpyware and SpyBot also have monitoring features which guard against registry changes. All have auto-update features. I also use MS Auto-Update to keep WinXP safe - no problems using Internet Explorer.
Off topic:
I use Norton AntiVirus along with AVG AntiVirus (I'm beginning to trust AVG more than Norton); they don't get in each other's way and occasionally one finds something that the other doesn't.
To keep crackers out and zombies in, I use software (Zone Alarm) and hardware (router) firewalls. MS firewall is disabled.
The most important part of anti-malware defense is backup. I use MS NT Shadow Copy daily to backup Documents&Settings and SystemState to an external drive which are copied to DVD+RW daily. Norton Ghost does a monthly disc image on the external drive which also gets copied to DVD+RW. I've been experimenting with Norton Incremental Backup weekly, but that seems to take up a lot of resources (13 Gigs in the last two days).
Along with Defrag and DiscClean all of the above operations, except the DVD copies, are done automatically and un-attended while I'm sleeping or at work.
Lastly, I run RegistryFirstAid daily to top off my sterile environment!
Parinoid? Your hard drive can never be too big or your malware-defense/disaster-recovery too elaborate. A large IT department couldn't afford the time or money to employ all this on hundreds of work stations.
Ron in Atlanta

Who uses only one??

I use Adaware, Spybot, MS/Giant (if W2K/XP), & Pest Patrol. Tag-team them w/Zonealarm & it's a very strong team, indeed.

I should knock on wood to say I've not gotten a virus that wasn't stopped at the door...

Tracy

I have tried most spyware programs and I find CounterSpy to be the most efficient.

I use Adaware and it works well after I bought a licence.

The only two spyware products worth the time they take to install are Webroot's Spysweeper and CounterSpy. Spybot and Adware are really not that good of products and I am not sure why anyone would choose to use these unless they are free and don't want to put up money.

To clean all the machines I encounter, I use a combination of Spybot, Hijack-This, CWShredder, IE-SpyAd, AboutBuster, LSPFix, as well as other tools like RegLite and Winfile for when Windows Explorer is completely dead.

Likely the tool I try to use the most that seems to accomplish nothing is knowledge. I try (obviously in vain) to educate my customers on safe browsing habits and monitoring children's habits in an attempt to reduce the amount of spyware they accumulate. Some customers have heeded my counsel and have spyware under control. Others I am seeing once or twice a month, paid visits, because they can't figure it out. I once lost all professionalism and told a customer that his particular sex fetish will get him hijacked everytime. I still see him once a month to clean his comp.

Being an analyst I use them all. I recreate the net surf session and then run the programs. Microsoft Beta offers the most detailed explaintions in layman's terms. My results show they are capturing the most and 2nd is Spybot, although AdAware will still be my underdog favorite.

Used for months, works good, no problems

I use PestPatrol and happy the way it works. Auto-updates, real time protection, detection and removal. restore, etc.

i use spywareblaster which stops it before its gets on your machine. i use both ad-aware and spybot-search & destroy but don't detect much since using spywareblaster.

I use adaware, spybot-search and destroy, spysweeper, and MS antispy. I also use Zone Alarm firewall, Norton AV Corporate and Netscape. Very few problems with viruses and spyware over the past 2 years.

I think my subject line says it all. But we have been using Kaseya.com to automate the install, scan, and reporting of whichever software application we want to use. It takes a bit of programming, but I can push an app out to all nodes and run Spybot in about 2 hours total. Technology is beautiful, :).