Best anti-malware/spyware program?

[THT]

Any recommendations for anti-malware/spyware programs?

[lazyworm]

I know this is may not what you want to hear, but -- don't run windows is
probably the best answer. No need to play cat and mouse with all the constant
updates.

[paul0660]

Spyware doctor with antivirus does fine, with occasional scans with Superspyware doctor. Malwarebytes has gotten a lot of attention recently but I did not find it an improvement over what I am using. I am not sure what lazyworm is talking about, since it has been years since I have had a problem with XP pro windows updates. I even have a Vista laptop that slogs along pretty well, and after some tweaking, doesn't ask me to confirm every command. Some of us do use real grown up financial programs that only work on the MS platform.

[joefrank64k]

MS just released their FREE AV/ASW/AMW program that replaced Windows Live OneCare called Microsoft Security Essentials...

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/?mkt=en-us

Works great, tight intergration with XP/Vista/7 and you can't beat the price!

[Cokebottle]

Thanks for the tip on MSE.

I'll add it to my current triple-layer AVG/Spybot/Adaware

Seems that one will always pick up something that others missed.

[mdouglas1980]

go to download.com and search for Ad-aware and Spybot. They have both free and pay versions of their software. I use the combination of both on my computer and never have a problem. Also there is a free version of AVG anti-virus software on there too. The AVG is also available in free or pay versions.

[gunn]

Every so often, I run the following programs to clean out my system. Its kind of like a colonic for your PC.

Malware Bytes - I've had good success recently with getting rid of annoying spyware that the others wouldn't touch/remove completely
Spybot S&D - seems to take forever to run but I do NOT use their two resident programs (teatimer)....
Ad-Aware - don't find it as useful as the first two but worth running
CrapCleaner - not necessarily an anti-spyware program but cleans up old registry entries and whatnot.

Whenever a friend/relative wants me to clean out their PC, I usually download these programs and run them sequentially as a "tune-up." It's amazing how much crap can be found. After that stuff is run, I'll install AVG Free or Avast! Home as the program that stays resident and blocks any obvious trojans.

My personal anecdotal experience is that the classic "I'll corrupt files or trash your HDD" infection doesn't happen as much anymore -- the most annoying programs now are the ones that infest your machine so that someone can use it for their own purposes like DOS attacks (example: Vundo). For some of these, once I found an infection (and I refused to give up and just wipe the system), you may need to find a specialized anti-rootkit program. Malware Bytes worked the best for an especially invasive Vundo variant I managed to get a few months ago (if you didn't remove it completely, the stupid program would replicate itself all over again during the next reboot).

-g

[AgentAK]

Not free, but probably the best out there...

http://www.eset.com/

[BlackViper]

I've used damn near everything, but have settled on Avast! and never looked back. I have also heard the new MS stuff coupled with win7 is good though.

[paul0660]

Malware Bytes worked the best for an especially invasive Vundo variant I managed to get a few months ago (if you didn't remove it completely, the stupid program would replicate itself all over again during the next reboot).

I got a Vundo from a game torrent downloaded by my grandson. Malwarebytes and spydoctor found it but could not get rid of it, even when in safe mode and rebooting. Superantispyware eliminated it. It is free. Grandson will be out of the doghouse after the first of the year.

[lazyworm]

I am not sure what lazyworm is talking about, since [...]

What I meant is run an Operating system (OSX, linux, BSD etc) that is not
vulnerable to sypware/malware. Then you don't need to search for
protection software and keep it updated.

Finding the best app is great, but they can never offer 100% protection.
It's easier to take the plunge and run a non-MSFT OS than to wonder
if some malware/spyware got through because your neighbor's kid
touched your computer.

[ocabj]

My policy for any Windows computer I control is to nuke the drive if it's infected, even with AV installed. Even you have AV and install other AV to scan the drive, there's the likely chance there's a rogue program installed that isn't a 'virus' that opens a backdoor into the computer that AV won't see/remove.

Nuke = reformat the drive and install. Reformat includes zeroing out all sectors including the boot sector / MBR.

In my organization, we try not to install Windows in a server capacity on bare metal, either.

[bg]

If running Windows, I use Hijack This to help find suspicious bugs
as far as weird files, [Be careful as once you delete a file with
Hijack This..it's gone !]

Avira for the anti virus, Malwarebytes for malware bugs and
Super Anti Spyware to find even more bugs. All have served me
well for the past few years and the best part is, they're free.

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/_download/HJTInstall.exe

http://www.free-av.de/en/trialpay_download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam-download.php

http://www.superantispyware.com/downloadfile.html?productid=SUPERANTISPYWAREFREE

there's the likely chance there's a rogue program installed that isn't a 'virus' that opens a backdoor into the computer that AV won't see/remove.

SO very true !

Watch out for a weird download that you will really jack up for PC called
Computer Associates Anti Virus program. It literally takes over control
of your PC and can be real bear to get rid of.

[whobob]

I don't care what anti virus you have, ALL anti virus are junk.

I ditched Windows and could not be any happier. Linux and Osx are similar, while Windows is left outside of the window. Chances of getting a virus/malware with Windows is like 90%. With Linux/Osx is < 1%.

If you really have to run Windows apps, you can run WINE or VirtualBox through Linux.

Cost break down for each OS.
Windows 7 $300
Snow Leopard $30
Linux $0

[sevensix2x51]

i have had avast! and lavasoft adaware for about 5 years at least, and my pc's have run flawlessly since. i dont even have to run adaware anymore, just 2 times after a fresh install or an install for a friend/coworker, and it's clean. avast takes care of everything after that. my personal experience only, yours may vary...

avast home edition-free
adaware-free
pc that doesnt have "the AIDS"-priceless.