Does a free Antispyware program like this exist?

[darkfiber1010]

I do house calls on the side, 85% of my house calls involve spyware in some way. I try my best to educate the people about safer habits but I know that it will only go so far and that’s where anti-spyware software comes in. I know there are a lot of commercial programs out there but the problem with that is money. Many people just don’t want to spend money. So that leaves me with giving them free software.

The problem is that a lot of the anti-spyware freeware only does a specific thing. Ad-aware (the free version) for example is great for getting rid of spyware but it doesn’t do anything to prevent it. Spyware Guardian has real-time scanning and other protections but no removal. Spybot S&D kind of does a mixture of these but not everything. Then there is cache cleaners like CCleaner and Hijack programs like Hijack this. So in the end you have to use a combination of programs. Even then there's drawbacks such as manual updates and scanning etc.

After a lot of thinking I determined 6 main requirements that an anti-spyware program should have in order to properly clean a system of spyware and keep it protected.

1. Scanning and removal (meaning it scans for and cleans spyware already on the system)

2. Real time scanning (meaning that the program stops new spyware from being executed etc.)

3. Automatic scans and updates (Pointless?, not really most users aren’t always going to remember to run scans and updates)

4. ActiveX, Download, hosts and browser hijack protection (basically browser/internet settings protection)

5. A cache cleaner (the temp folder)

6. A restore feature (fix internet settings in the case of browser hijacks etc.)

Microsoft Anitspyware is the only one I know of that meets or comes very close to meeting all my requirements (it does have a cache cleaner built in you just have to run it manually). One major problem with Microsoft Antispyware is it only works for Windows and more specifically 2000 and XP.

Some of my clients still use Windows 98. Some people are just stubborn, so in the end I'm stuck using a combination of programs and relying more on them to "do their part".

Anyways thanks for indulging my long rant, I realize that free is free and beggars can’t be choosers, but does anyone have an opinion on this? Do others feel the need for such a program or know of any?

I want to hear opinions but before I start getting bashed, I know people could just use firefox…They should know better…They should spend money…They should upgrade to a newer version of Windows…etc. I know they should do all these things but they don’t.

[Martin Zugec]

Well, I dont think so there is any quality antispyware for 9x... Product that covers your requirements are for w2k/xp - Microsoft AntiSpyware, Sunbelt CounterSpy....

The best idea is IMHO installing MS AS + setting SAFER restrictions...

[Win2k3EE]

At least get them to surf using Firefox. Use Spybot Search&Distroy and Lavasoft Ad-Aware free edition and MS Antispyware.

[Ghostrider]

As a technician myself i would leave them to it... advise them so much then fix it later... lets face it, trying to prevent infection puts you out of money later....

Edit... Firefox does not prevent infection, you can get infected just as easily if you go to the wrong places or install the wrong program...!!!!

[Tarun]

I tend to recommend CWShredder, Spyware Blaster, Ad-Aware, Spybot, Microsoft Anti-Spyware, CCleaner, Firefox, Avast AntiVirus, and a good firewall be it Outpost Free, Windows XP SP2's Windows Firewall or ZoneAlarm.

It's hard to stop infection altogether, but education is the best prevention.

Using a computer is like safe sex. Know it, practice it, and learn from it.

[sheiksoft]

hi

i will suggest microsoft antispyware beta and zone alarm pro... to my knowledge microsoft is the best...

regards

sheik...

[Tarun]

hi

i will suggest microsoft antispyware beta and zone alarm pro... to my knowledge microsoft is the best...

regards

sheik...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One Anti-Spyware utility alone simply will not cut it.

[oneless]

by mistake i put my system dat with a month in advance (5 july 2005)

and microsoft antispyware beta said me that it is expired !?

[Martin Zugec]

Yes, it is the date, when beta will expire and will be replaced by full version

[chilifrei64]

When you go to their house to clean up their computers, make them restricted user accounts and tell them to use those and if they need to install an application to log on to the administrators account. A person in the "Users" group or Limited account (XP Home) will have one hell of a time trying to install spyware that way... and this way it is quick and simple and easy to explain to them. Plus you can show them the cute pictuers you can make for them and make it sound like it is an advantage to have this account.

As far as windows 98, Firefox is gonna be your best bet or tell them to upgrade to XP or 2k then create limited user accounts

[Rayza]

I've done loads of spyware removal and the 2 best apps i've found are:

Microsoft Antispyware Beta

Xoftspyware 4.x

What i've found is that Xoft will find some stuff that MSA thinks is safe and visaversa, but using them together works well. The MSA is a live scanner, so you just leave it to do it's own thing and just run a scan about once a week. With Xoft you have to do everything manually and it has to be registered to remove anything, but in my line of work it's worth paying for it. I also use Hijack this as a backup if i still suspect an infection.

The best antivirus packages are:

Avast! Pro

Anti Virus Kit - made by some German company called GData

[Tarun]

I've done loads of spyware removal and the 2 best apps i've found are:

Microsoft Antispyware Beta

Xoftspyware 4.x

What i've found is that Xoft will find some stuff that MSA thinks is safe and visaversa, but using them together works well. The MSA is a live scanner, so you just leave it to do it's own thing and just run a scan about once a week. With Xoft you have to do everything manually and it has to be registered to remove anything, but in my line of work it's worth paying for it. I also use Hijack this as a backup if i still suspect an infection.

The best antivirus packages are:

Avast! Pro

Anti Virus Kit - made by some German company called GData

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've said it before, I'll say it again. You really need to use Microsoft AntiSpyware, Ad-Aware and Spybot to get them all.

[RogueSpear]

I've all but completely lost faith in Microsoft AntiSpyware after the recent sillyness involving Claria (Gator). It was bad enough that MS downgraded the threat level of this slime, but then their reaction to the whole thing when they were called to the carpet on it showed their true colors.

Also I have seen so many conflicting reports on whether or not MS AntiSpyware will remain free or become commercial after it leaves beta that I don't know if I really want to become dependant on it now.

[svasutin]

Get people off Win98, it just isn't updated, sure IE and olx are, but for the most part, Win9x support has ended. Hopefully soon Msft will release Starter Edition in the US.

chilifrei64 has the right idea. Force them to log on as an admin when they want to install. Education is the best, I personally don't use av software, but when I did, I really liked Trend Micro.

Msft Firewall or Zone Alarm

Spyblaster, Spyguard, Spybot

Firefox

Everything in IE set to high restrictions.

Giant/Msft Anti-Spy

Of course, a customized XP slip with kill bits, hosts files, and other registry security settings set is really a good start.

As for "I think stuff is still there"

Always start in safe mode.

end the explorer process, just use the task manager to navigate.

delete system restore, temps, cache, cookie, conent, history, config.sys, autoexec.bat.

check the HKx\Software\Msft\Win\CurrVer\Run...

install in safemode, always run after installing and never reboot until all products have been run.

You need to ensure everything is unchecked (advanced mode), before you run. I've found some spyware/viruses that allow anti spyware to be installed, but change settings to make products ignore them (maked as ok)

Also, set your download directories to each folder in the root drive, and not just the whole c drive (some anti-spy fail at system volume info folder and never get to windir).