cwhitlow said:
I don't use spyware. I've heard and experienced too many things wrong with it. It might just be me though. I use
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1 It's been doing it's job so far.
Not using programs to control spyware is just as bad or worse than not using an antivirus program. Everyone who owns a computer that gets connected to the internet should have an antivirus program, firewall, and anti-spyware program. The Antivirus program protects against viruses, the firewall helps to protect against hackers and viruses that are to new for the antivirus to detect yet, and the anti-spyware program helps to protect against malicious software that isn't really a virus but can still slow down or cause improper operation of your system while also threatening your privacy.
It is also smart to remember that one antivirus or anti-spyware program by itself isn't enough to keep safe. There is no single antivirus program that will catch every virus nor is there a single anti-spyware program that will catch everything. You can run two anti-spyware programs at the same time easily but you can't always do this with antivirus programs because it causes a lot of problems. You can actually run AVG and Avast(both free) together because one will shut down when the other is scanning and only one will run resident protection. If your computer is a little slower or lacking room then Avast seems to be a far superior program to AVG with regular updates and better protection. I don't use IE unless I have to because it's not as secure but there are some sites that just don't work right with Mozilla. As far as extra protection, everyone should check any files they download that they could be unsure about in any way at this site,
http://virusscan.jotti.org/ which scans with several different engines at once. You should also check your computer at least once a month(I do it once a week) here,
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ both of those sites I just posted are 100% free. I'll post some links to the programs I use all of which are freeware but you can spend money on them if you like them. I don't reccomend using Windows firewall because it lacks outbound protection, which is probably the most important function of a firewall for a normal home user.
I do use AVG as my secondary AV program and it is great for a free one,
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1
Avast is probably the best free antivirus program out there, the best I have found so far and I use it as my main AV program,
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html They even have a linux version.
ZoneAlarm is good for a free spyware program, especially for the not so tech savy people,
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
Filseclab is another great choice for a free firewall, since Sygate has gone the way of the dinosaur,
http://www.download.com/Filseclab-Perso ... ag=lst-0-2
Fore Spyware prevention I use Spybot S&D,
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
Adaware,
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
and SpywareBlaster,
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html and if I ever start wondering if there is anything on my system I run Hi-Jack This,
http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/
I know it might sound like it's a lot of work to keep the computer clean but not having one of the 3 protections is just as bad as not having any of the protections. The internet is far too dangerous of a place for your computer to be at unprotected. Going online without a firewall, AV, and antispyware program is to your pc what it would be to you if you went to Iraq carrying a poster with one of those Muhhamad cartoons that caused so many riots in Arab countries
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