IMHO time again
If you are using IE it is more important to be running
Spyware Blaster
Spybot's SD Helper and Immunize
and a Hosts file such as MVPS hosts or HP hosts
also do some searching and find some posts on locking down IE
strategy
Update Spybot every Wednesday manually, re immunize and run a scan once a week if you want to
Re-immunize after an update of your Hosts file
THERE IS A NEW T-TIMER IN BETA HOLD OFF TILL RELEASED
try spybot t-timer for real time protection of changes to your registry and IE
there is a switch between low resources and speed of initialization name your poison
if you think it slows your system down- we'll they are working on it - put up with it for the protection
if unacceptable post in their forum
an alternative is WinPatrol but it is reactive not proactive
as far as I know there is NO FREE LUNCH
Counterspy and Spysweeper also take lots of cycles when run in real time
Here is an IE Tweek I use
go to spybot mode>advanced>tools> and select IE Tweeks and turn on all of the misc locks
now
if you are in IE and go to Internet Options IT WILL NOT WORK for you or from hacks by the bad guys
not to worry
go to control panel >rt click on internet options and put a shortcut to internet options on your desktop
let the damn hackers try and figure that one out
The other thing more important than which scanner is to keep all your software up to date
getting started I'd also run a MBAM scan just to provide a baseline
of course if it or spybot does find anything quarantine do not delete/remove and hurry right back here