Redundant trojan removal tools?

[megaman04]

My computer runs on Windows XP.  I run Avast Home Edition, Ad-Aware SE, Spybot-S & D, and CWShredder.  Will adding AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware be redundant to what I am already using?  There are so many free programs on the web to protect one's computer.  I don't want any overlapping or unecessary programs on my hard drive.

Should I download, install, and use AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware as well?  Thanks, Megaman

[Marc57]

Hey megaman,  Of the programs you mentioned I use A-squared and Ad-Aware, but the others are OK as well. I don't believe you need all three(AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware ) as one should be enough. But that's just my opinion so lets just wait and see what others think.

Another program I use is SpywareBlaster. once your  system is clean, It's a good way to keep spyware out.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/index.html

[Lisandro]

Should I download, install, and use AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware as well?  Thanks, Megaman[/color]

Something makes me think this is a doubled post... If I remember correctly I've already seen your question before

[DavidR]

You should you replied to it in another topic, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26206.msg215337#msg215337.

@ megaman04
There is to my mind the saying you can get too much of a good thing. With multiple applications you also have to do multiple signature updates, etc.

Never more than one resident on-access anti-virus, the same if true of anti-spyware or a firewall application. With on-demand anti-virus/spyware there is no limit but I would tend to keep it at no more than two, some would say one simply as a back-up to your resident program.

Now if you don't have a resident anti-spyware program (and I don't) then two on-demand anti-spyware programs, currently I have AVG-AS and AdAware. I used to have Spybot S&D added to that list but felt that is was not adding much to the overall protection levels and the updates were large, slow and at times difficult to access, so it got the chop.

I like the interface in avg-as, it has relatively good detection rates and I haven't had any issues with the updates (touch wood), so I have no need to check out a-squared, which would be the next one I would try. I have tried many of the others, like SuperAntispyware, SpywareTerminator (ST) and I didn't like the interface at all and some of the ST options it wasn't clear what they would do I don't like not being in control of antonymous actions.

[megaman04]

Should I download, install, and use AVG Antispyware, A-Squared, and SuperAntispyware as well?  Thanks, Megaman[/color]

Something makes me think this is a doubled post... If I remember correctly I've already seen your question before

The reason why I posted my question again is because you didn't really answer my question in the other category.  Instead, you posted a list of spyware programs and their percentages.  So I thought perhaps I'd get someone else to try to answer it.  Megaman

[megaman04]

Now if you don't have a resident anti-spyware program (and I don't) then two on-demand anti-spyware programs, currently I have AVG-AS and AdAware.

What are examples of a "resident" and "on-demand" anti-spyware programs?  I've shared the ones I'm using currently but I don't know which is which.

I'll uninstall Spybot-S & D and delete it from my computer.

I like the interface in avg-as, it has relatively good detection rates and I haven't had any issues with the updates (touch wood), so I have no need to check out a-squared, which would be the next one I would try.

I'll try AVG Antispyware and not A-Squared and Super Antispyware.  I just don't want a bunch of spyware and other programs on my hard drive, so I'm trying to find out what are the best free programs.

Also, is Spyware Blaster a good one to install too?  This was suggested by marc57.  Thanks, Megaman

[DavidR]

SpywareBlaster is fine as it is a passive application, it is neither on-access nor on-demand, it blocks known spyware sites, etc.

SpywareBlaster is the original anti-spyware protection solution!

Developed in 2002 to help users prevent spyware installs, SpywareBlaster pioneered the effective use of prevention techniques to reduce or greatly eliminate spyware-related problems, as well as problems related to other potentially unwanted software such as dialers, browser hijackers, and adware.

Today's SpywareBlaster is greatly enhanced - protection is still the foremost purpose of the program, but it also provides unique utilities like the exclusive "System Snapshot", and various useful tools. The interface has been upgraded to provide easier access to all of the new options, including Restricted Sites Protection, and Mozilla/Firefox Protection.

Help keep your system safe and secure with SpywareBlaster. We hope you like it!

This help file outlines many of the functions and features in SpywareBlaster. If you need any other assistance, please see the Javacool Software Knowledgebase.

[Lisandro]

Also, is Spyware Blaster a good one to install too?  This was suggested by marc57.  Thanks, Megaman[/color]

Like David explained, it's good to install Spyware Blaster too. It's immunization (a little different from the others on-demand scanners).

[Happy-Dude]

Well, I have seen AVG Anti-Spyware miss something while A-Squared Free catching more while doing an on-demand scan. It was on my sister's computer.

Anyway ... While that did happen, Yahoo! Toolbar's intergrated Norton Antispyware (which hasn't been updated in a while) caught another something else while Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy didn't (and their on-demand scanning is great). I can't recall what infected files they were, but that was a funny thing.

Well, this proves too much security (as long as not conflicting resident scanning) can't be too bad. I recommend both A-Squared and AVG Anti-Spyware, but you definatly don't need them both. Try them out, and take a look on how you like the features, interface, and preformance. On the side note, AVG AS has a 30 trial period (with resident scanning) and after it gets into a limited free version, without resident scanning, and then isn't any different from A-Squared Free.

----Also, you may consider a worthy resident scanner antispyware program. I find that it helps in certain situations.

[DavidR]

It is also possible to use on-line scanners as a back-up as opposed to having more programs installed. On-line Virus Scanners and other useful Links Security-Ops.eu.tt

On-line spyware scan, http://www.pestscan.com/.
http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/xscan.php

[megaman04]

It is also possible to use on-line scanners as a back-up as opposed to having more programs installed. On-line Virus Scanners and other useful Links Security-Ops.eu.tt

What is a "resident" anti-spyware program and an "on-demand" anti-spyware program?  Can you give some examples?

Also, are these a good mix of anti-virus and anti-spyware programs to have on my computer?  Avast Home Edition, Ad-Aware SE, AVG Anti-Spyware, Spyware Blaster, and CWShredder?  Thanks, Megaman

[Lisandro]

What is a "resident" anti-spyware program and an "on-demand" anti-spyware program?  Can you give some examples?

The free SpyBot has TeaTimer as resident, an on-access provider that watches your computer in background and avoid infections.
SpywareTerminator has a free resident as well.

Other antispywares have resident part, but not the free version, Lavasoft Ad-aware, AVGas, a-squared.
So, if you don't have an activated resident, you're using the on-demand part of the program, it will scan when (and only when) you said so.

Others, are immunizators. They're static, they do not scan, but act in the background, like a closed door.
Spyware Blaster and WindowsAdvancedCare are some of them.

[DavidR]

avast is a resident AV program it scans files (depending on your settings) as you access them (on-access), so the scanner is always active. There is also the avast Simple User Interface where you can initiate scans (on-demand) for flies, folders, or hard drives.

That is the basic distinction between on-access (often called a resident scanner) and on-demand (scans you initiate) scanners, this can also be applied to other security programs. So when looking at choosing an anti-spyware program look at the features that will tell you what type of scanner it is, if it has on-access functionality.

[MikeBCda]

Slightly off-topic, but please fill in a gap in my knowledge.

I thought a-squared and AVG A-s (formerly ewido) were mutually exclusive in the sense that what OS you have determined which of the two you'd have to use, there was a fairly sharp cutoff somewhere along the line.

[DavidR]

AVG-AS can only run on winNT, win2k and winXP, where as a-squared can run on win9x and above, so it can be used for most win OSes. So the only OS restrictions are on avg-as.

Usually we have mentioned avg-as if you have XP, etc. and a-squared if you have win9x, winME, but can also be used with XP.