Free Anti Spyware software for Vista that isnt bloated?

[seriouscat]

Basically im a control freak and hate having programs running automatically.

I just want a program that I can startup manually whenever I want and do manual scans. I dont want monitoring and learning crap. When i want it off, i want it off.

I used to use Ewido but that got bought or something. It was pretty much what I wanted because I could store "profiles" also so it would scan certain folders or files I had setup in a profile.

Anyone know of anything similar? Also is Windows Defender better now or is it useless?

Cheers.

(btw, i know you get what you pay for so I dont expect it to be 100% preventive...well none are.)

 

[mechBgon]

Windows Defender isn't very good. SuperAntispyware's free version has a good reputation, give that a try.

Also, spyware doesn't just fall from the sky... with a decent defense-in-depth, I personally find antispyware is a solution to a problem I don't have in the first place.

 

[sswingle]

Spybot SD and malwarebytes

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Spywareblaster (immunizes) combined with Superantispyware or malwarebytes.

 

[seriouscat]

Sorry, I forgot to mention. Its Vista 64. I see that SAS will run in 32bit mode...will that make it any less effective?