Which free anti spyware program should I be using in conjunction Vista's Window's Defender? Should I use Adaware or S&D? Or is Defender simply enough? Should I use all three? lol

Also, if I find that I have spyware, should I reset all of my passwords? I know that a lot of spyware is simply cookie based, but some of it can be quite malicious from what I understand(ex. key loggers, maybe that's more of a trojan thing though).
Thanks

I use with Vista, SUPERAntispyware, Spybot S&D and Adaware. They are all Vista compatible.

As far as threat level and remedying of malware related problems, it is best when you find that the antispyware (and antivirus) isn't remedying the problem(s) to seek further advice directly correlating to the malware. The different kinds of malware out there are numourous, and their effects are wide and varied.

P.S. I didn't have to alter security settings in Vista (Windows Defender or UAC), to use these. They all work happily together.

Thanks bro. I never heard of SUPERantispyware before. I will look into it.
BTW, in my message list for my computing, it is showing this thread twice. Like it was a double post or something. I don't think I double posted. At least, I hope I didn't. The message numbers are the same. Also, it is not showing my signature in this post. I wonder why.

***actually, it does show it in this "post" but in the original thread post it did not.

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150

I myself would use spyware terminator....I don't think Super runs in real-time while you surf....but I could be wrong.
http://www.download.com/Spyware-Ter...

Some HELP in posting on Cnet plus free progs and instructions Glad to Help!

Thanks Xp. I actually made a thread about something in that link you post(maybe someone else uses that link too, lol I doubt it though cause it looks just like yours). Check it out if you want:

http://computing.net/security/wwwbo...

Also, I have a question. I ran Ad-aware and it said it found two "MRU Objects" and I removed them. I read a little bit about MRU's(just a little, not much) and they sound kind of scary. Should I change my passwords for the sites I use?

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150

dude...i ran the installer for spyware terminator and it installed some stupid "crawler" search bar. :( Why would you tell me to use that? I uninstalled both the terminator and that crawler crap.

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150

DUDE, you have the option of NOT installing the Crawler feature. Spyware Terminator works great!

Some HELP in posting on Cnet plus free progs and instructions Glad to Help!

I must not have been paying attention very well. I was doing other stuff too. Didn't mean to offend though. I was just sayin'.

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150

You're right xpuser4real... the real time protection only comes with the paid version in superantispyware, but nonetheless the free version is very good.

Actually I've found it to be more thorough than both spybot and adaware. The downside is the scans can take twice as long.

I use spybot for my realtime protection in vista, this works great also.

I never looked into spyware terminator, I will have a nosey at this one day. I've heard good things.

BTW... Kiaora Meditation. Am I right?.

Anyways moving on... MRU stands for "Most Recently Used"... Basically it is a log of what you have done on your pc.

I always delete these whenever they are found as I don't think they serve a legitimate purpose.

There is no need to do anything apart from deleting them as they aren't password stealers or anything like that.

thanks for the info btk1w1. I feel better about that MRU crap now.

about "Kiaora Meditation" thing...
I had no idea what you are talking about. I presume this was someone's user name and you were asking if I was that individual. If that was the case, then no I am not. I had no clue what Kiaora was and I had to look it up:

"t takes its name from "kia ora", a Māori language greeting which has entered New Zealand English. It means literally "be well/healthy" and is used for both "hello" and "goodbye". The name was first used for a lemon squash by John Dixon of Sydney, Australia who founded an ice and soft-drink business in 1896. First created in Australia in 1903, 'Kia-Ora' was launched in Great Britain in 1917."

Also, I think I found some meditation center in New Zealand or something called Kia-Ora meditation. And I've never been there nor have I heard of it.(I'm from the US)

lol...well I learn something new everyday.

by the way, btk are you dennis rader?
(lol I am JUST KIDDING!/Trying to be funny.
look that one up!)

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150

also, forgot to mention the above quote comes from wikipedia.

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150

Oh hell.... I'm gonna have to change my user name now! lol

The way I got my user name is the bt part are the initials of my name and the k1w1 part is kiwi, which is the familiar term for New Zealanders which reflects the fact I'm from there.

That in it itself is kinda humourous as the "kiwi" fruit is actually a chinese gooseberry which originated in the south east asian region. Are you as confused as me?... lol

Yes you are right "kiaora" is the recognised Maori greeting amongst New Zealanders.

I got a hunch you were from New Zealand also... obviously my hunches aren't to be trusted. lol.

Anyways how do rate those programs you are trialling?

hi btk1w1,

It is always interesting to talk to someone from another place and culture. I definitely learned something from that, lol.
What gave you the hunch I was from NZ btw?

As for the antispy programs I am trialling:
I have dl'd and installed adware and s&d. I have used adaware and s&d in conjuction before, and I have never had any big complaints about them. I am new to windows defender, so I don't really know much about it. I heard that it has real-time integration into IE, but I mainly use firefox. I am thinking about using IE to benefit from that integration. As previously mentioned, I uninstalled Spyware Terminator due to the search bar thingy. I did take XPuser's advice though about antivirus software and switched to Avast for my anti-virus from AVG(lol and I just realized like last night that the site he links to is actually his). I know this thread isn't about AV, but I thought I would bring it up since we are talking about programs I am trying. I just got kinda sick of AVG constantly downloading updates. I mean, I know I can schedule them, but it seemed like there was always some update that needed to be downloaded. Most of the times it checks, there is actually a new update. But the main reason I switched to Avast was due to what XpUser said about its real-time capabilities. I would think that Avast would take up more resources, but I do not know for sure. I imagine that is not necessarily true. But anyway, that's the gist of it.

-Meditation

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150

Avast is defenitely my AV preference as well... You won't notice Avast as it updates, you will just get a message telling you it has been done. Pretty cool really.

I also set Avast as my screen saver, this allows it to scan your pc while you are away, and if you interrupt it during screensaver scanning, it will resume right where it left off next time the screen saver kicks in.

It also has real time protection which is a big plus. I'm sure though that XpUser has tipped you off on these advantages.

"You won't notice Avast as it updates, you will just get a message telling you it has been done."

Right when I was reading the above sentence, I got the message.

Athlon 64 X2 4400
1024MB of RAM
250GB HD
Nvidia 6150