spyware removal with avast??

[drjoeshmoe]

I have had the free home edition for a long time,
I just installed the pro and was curious,
will avast pro find spyware just as simple as scanning for virus's?
Do I need to do anything to scan for spyware or is that taken care of with a simple virus scan?
thanks for any help

[DavidR]

avast! has anti-spyware scanning built into the application and you don't have to select it specifically.

I would still suggest a specialist on-demand (free) anti-spyware application as these specifically scan the registry looking for spyware entries as avast is looking for files infected with spyware and then it will look for associated registry entries, but only for that file.

SUPERantispyware On-Demand only in free version.

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware freeware version http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/malwarebytes/mbam-setup.exe, right click on the link and select Save As or Save File (As depending on your browser), save it to a location where you can find it easily later. Also Try this tool, RogueRemover, available here http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php

[Lisandro]

will avast pro find spyware just as simple as scanning for virus's?

Yes. There is no difference in detection between Pro and Home versions. The differences are on other features.

Do I need to do anything to scan for spyware or is that taken care of with a simple virus scan?

No, the antivirus scanning does the antispyware one at the same time

[drjoeshmoe]

thanks for the help,
I have already given superantispyware a try, it found 26 infected tracking files.

[Lisandro]

thanks for the help,
I have already given superantispyware a try, it found 26 infected tracking files.

Do not direct delete them but send to Chest. Better if you can get the file path/name and submit it to www.virustotal.com to avoid false positive detections and then removing a legit file. If you're sure you don't 'need' the files, let them into SuperAntispyware quarantine.

[DavidR]

I think you are talking of Tracking Cookies are a minor issue and one of privacy (but can only be view by the web site they belong to) rather than a security issue. In the preferences of SAS I have mine disabled from the scan, I don't allow third party cookies (those not from the site you are visiting) and periodically clear all cookies anyway.

[Lisandro]

Yeah... haven't noticed the word tracking. Thanks David.

[DavidR]

you're welcome.