All you should really need for Spyware is AdAware and Spybot (Adaware detects more, but Spybot has a bunch of useful tools, and besides, it runs really quick when you set the priority to 'highest'). For Antivirus, I can't really recommend AVG - it's been able to find my viruses from time to time, but it was never really able to get rid of them. I'd have it running in the running in the background as a precaution, but it's not all that reliable - for your weekly system scans, try Housecall (no software to download) The rest of that crap you can get rid of... One last thing - get a firewall. Most "experts" recommend ZoneAlarm, but I (as well as all the people I know who KNOW what they're talking about) don't like it: it's very unstable, and seems to get even moreso with every update. For stability AND protection, the only other reliable (free) firewall I know of is Kerio. And if you're going to pay for one, don't get BlackICE; it's worthless. In fact, if you're going to pay for ANYTHING, make it a virus scanner, such as Norton or McAfee (I use Norton, but I don't just use it to check programs after I downloaded them; although this isn't as safe, Norton takes up a lot of resources when it's running on AutoProtect...) Hope my rambling little bit of incoherency helped.

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What not to get, listed below; Rogue_Anti-Spyware

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Ooo thanks nice link :P

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well heres my 2cents worth. kind in mind these arent free but i mail u 100 bucks if the spyware detectors below dont find anything..so u can trust adaware and spybot they are good but not the best, then again they are free so dont expect much. antivirus: IMO: best on market i know and use is called nod32 plain and simple if it doesnt detect trouble then u can bet your sweet butt u dont have trouble. it beats hands down over norton mcafee and any other software they is toss in your face on new machines.(bundled).they have the awards and years to back it up. ics labs cert www.nod32.com spyware detectors: sweet programs they beat adaware and spybot time and time again. take it from an A+ cert technician. 1.pestpatrol 2.xoftspy i use to say spysweeper was a great program but i downgraded it to just good..as for it tools it has..detection is good. questions or comment/ or can prove to me that the 2 above spyware detector didnt find your spyware troubles i send ya 100 bucks.

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Ick don't use xoftspy, it's just a (poor) adaware knock-off... Also, Pest Patrol isn't freeware; they have a free scan on their site, but it's still not as good as adaware or spybot... Finally, the nod32 download is only a trial (although I've never heard of it, I must admit it sounds very good; I'll have to try it out some time)

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well it all boils down to what works for that user, peps can say one thing if it works for them it may not for others..picky peps we are, i constantly stay up with the latest threats and software to combat them (i have too be am in the business for 8yrs now as a pc technician) i seen some crappy software and more crappy and some darn fine ones. most users when they buy a computer it comes with bundled software that the companys get kick backs off of for just useing their product, so they either better keep up with the times or watch someone's elses software beat them. i also test software because i will only use the best or near it as i said before, i dont settle for what works i want better and so should the peps useing their computers. most user however are not aware of this crap until its too late. case in point i like adaware and spybot its free and anyone can use it for that purpose but i watched time and time again pestpatrol and xoftspy catch more stuff then any of the two.. pestpatrol has about 22k definitions compared to spybot 12k definitions..these 2 programs make a great backup or main to the other two programs..you can never be too safe, what one misses the other is sure to find.

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"pestpatrol has about 22k definitions compared to spybot 12k" Actually, Spybot has over 15k and adaware has over 28k, and as I always say, I use spybot more for the built-in tools; however, comparing the number of definitions isn't necessarily accurate, as it all depends on what the makers consider a single 'definition'; in addition, having 'more' isn't as important as having 'the most common' spyware definitions...

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"having 'more' isn't as important as having 'the most common' spyware definitions..." yeah man we can discuss this topic until we both die of exhaustion, but to me i would rather have a product that covers "more" than i would a product that only has the most common, as we all know just because tom gets the spyware as jane, doesnt mean harry will. in my line of work this is common just as one computer gets this virus doesnt mean the next computer will have the same virus as the last or next. In conclusion go with what works for you or that user if u like one software over another thats your choice but it never hurts to explore other software that comes after cause in the end, u want the most effective one or ones. with that in mind i am currently testing SPYWARE ELIMINATOR which reviews and techtv says its by far the best spyware to date, i used it somewhat but havent really had a chance to burn it in the field. so far it looks like a winner.feel free to come up with ya own conclusions here is site. http://www.aluriasoftware.com/

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"yeah man we can discuss this topic until we both die of exhaustion, but to me i would rather have a product that covers "more" than i would a product that only has the most common, as we all know just because tom gets the spyware as jane, doesnt mean harry will." I meant that having less (but the most common) is more important than having more (but not having the most common). Plus, as I mentioned, AdAware has the most... I'll have to take a look at "Spyware Eliminator", although TechTV has gone down since they changed to G4 :S

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to blueraja: i can assure u that both pestpatrol and spyware eliminator has both the most common as well as new threats and is able to detect "in the wild" threats. i will go as far as to say spyware eliminator and spysweeper are neck and neck but looks like eliminator is keeping it just above spysweeper.. as for adaware it only detects up to 17k definitions confirm..it cailms 28k definitions but is yet confirmed. which ever one wins rest assure hopefully we will get a great product out of either one. i myself will only use these products pestpatrol spyware eliminator spysweeper adaware

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"as for adaware it only detects up to 17k definitions confirm..it cailms 28k definitions but is yet confirmed." ...There's not need to make things up. If you go into adaware properties, it tells you how many definitions it has. It's as simple as counting how many def's are in the .ref file...I don't see how anyone could see this as ambiguous.

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"If you go into adaware properties, it tells you how many definitions it has. It's as simple as counting how many def's are in the .ref file...I don't see how anyone could see this as ambiguous." so if a product says it will blow up the world in 90days do u believe it? i wouldnt because i need proof, as i expect the best and will try to get it. if adaware really did detect 28k definitions then it would be the best, and while it is good its not. and most reviews put adaware about 5th in spyware detection thats why i do not use it anymore as there are more effective programs out now.. http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000004.html in conclusion if u feel safe and secure just useing adaware then by all means use it. like i post on here, i am constantly trying to get the most effective programs to combat this crap and i will always inform the general public which programs are the most effective, its up to them whether they choose to use it or not.

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