Redundant trojan removal tools?

[megaman04]

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.

Thanks for the clarification.

Is Ad-Aware SE, AVG Anti-Spyware, Spyware Blaster, and CWShredder a good set-up to have?  Thanks, Megaman

[DavidR]

That would be fine in combination with avast. Personally I don't think CWShredder has a deterrent value as it is only really looking at the Cool Web Search and you would look at this single purpose tool if your searches, etc. were getting hijacked.

AdAware may also detect some of the variants of CWS but may not be able to remove, in that case the CWShredder tool could be run, but it isn't something I would run on a periodic basic, only if symptoms (above) were present or suspected. It does no harm having the tool to use 'if required.'

[Lisandro]

Is Ad-Aware SE, AVG Anti-Spyware, Spyware Blaster, and CWShredder a good set-up to have?  Thanks, Megaman [/color]

Yes it is. They're not redundant, they could allow you a good on-demand protection and immunization.
Like David, I don't use CWShredder.

[megaman04]

That would be fine in combination with avast. Personally I don't think CWShredder has a deterrent value as it is only really looking at the Cool Web Search and you would look at this single purpose tool if your searches, etc. were getting hijacked.

AdAware may also detect some of the variants of CWS but may not be able to remove, in that case the CWShredder tool could be run, but it isn't something I would run on a periodic basic, only if symptoms (above) were present or suspected. It does no harm having the tool to use 'if required.'

Thanks for the info about CWShredder - both you and Tech do not recommend using CWShredder.

I installed SpywareBlaster 3.5.1, but I have a question about the protection tab.  When it's selected, four  buttons appear: status, IE, restricted sites, and mozilla firefox.  After clicking on the IE button, a block list is shown with tons of entries that are already check marked or selected.  At the bottom there are two buttons: protect against checked items and remove protection from unchecked items.

My question is this, do I click on the "protect against checked items" button or the other button or neither?  Thanks, Megaman

[DavidR]

It isn't that we don't recommend it, simply that it isn't in the anti-spyware category but a single purpose tool, I have a copy on my system but I have never had to use it (so it is well out of date), using Firefox you are also les vulnerable to the CoolWebSearch hijacking.

There is a list on the left and you shouldn't need anything other than the Protection on highlighted. The four buttons on that just show current status and what is blocked/protected against. The Status is the most important it tells you if any items have protection disabled and how many items are in the databased (being protected against).

Also on that view, there is Download Latest Protection Updates, this will get any updates if available, on completion of the download you enable/apply the protection and it is done. Forget about it until the next time you check for updates.

[megaman04]

There is a list on the left and you shouldn't need anything other than the Protection on highlighted. The four buttons on that just show current status and what is blocked/protected against. The Status is the most important it tells you if any items have protection disabled and how many items are in the databased (being protected against).

I don't see a list on the left...Megaman

[megaman04]

Also on that view, there is Download Latest Protection Updates, this will get any updates if available, on completion of the download you enable/apply the protection and it is done. Forget about it until the next time you check for updates.

What are the "Download Latest Protection Updates?"  Are the updates for a specific spyware program?  Megaman

[DavidR]

Downloading the latest protection updates isn't for a specific spyware program it is a little like virus signatures, you are downloading the latest batch of updates.

Click the Internet Explorer, Restricted Sites or Mozilla/Firefox to see just what the program is trying to protect against. That will give you an idea of what the Updates consist of.