Spyware prevention programs

[fustercluck]

I went though a long period of time without getting any spy/adware. That was because I use Spywareblaster, which had prevented spy/adware into my system, instead of most programs that just delete it after searching for it on the hard drive. Spywareblaster hasn't been working well though lately it seems, I keep it up to date, but now i'm getting a fair amount of spy/adware again. I do ad-aware/spyboy S&D scans a lot, but i want to try another program that actually prevents the bad stuff from ever getting on my system in the first play, like spywareblaster used to do. I used firefox with Adblock, never use IE unless i have to. All the spy/adware is getting in through firefox anyways. I do have adblock too. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[corkyg]

Download and install Windows Defender Beta 2. It is free and does a great job of running in background blocking malware. I cross check it with WebRoot's SpySweeper (today's consensus Editor's Choice) and it finds nothing. Defender works.

 

[mechBgon]

1) keep your Windows updated

2) keep your browsers, IM programs, media player programs, Office software updated. Including Firefox, it's got security vulns too. As of now, you should have FireFox 1.5.0.5 to be current.

3) use a current-generation antivirus software and fully configure it

4) fully enable DEP like this pic shows

5) and use a Limited account instead of being a newbie and using an Administrator account for daily-driver stuff. This is the important-est thing... don't hand over unlimited power to a bloomin' Web browser.

6) ???

7) Profit!!

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Download and install Windows Defender Beta 2. It is free and does a great job of running in background blocking malware. I cross check it with WebRoot's SpySweeper (today's consensus Editor's Choice) and it finds nothing. Defender works.

I'm pretty sure I installed it, but i don't know where the hell it is. Does it just start running invisibly in the background after installation?

Been using Antivir for a few months now, seems ok, hasn't found any infections yet though =p - So i don't know how well it works, but it doesn't bother me much, and that's the most important part.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[corkyg]

Yes it does - but it is right in your programs list. Start\Programs\Windows Defender. I put a shortcut to it on my Start Menu. It does its thing invisibly to me every night after I retire. That includes a scan and updates.

Once a month I disable it and enable WebRoot SpySweeper - a consensus "Editior's Choice" currently. Spy Sweeper has found tothing in a detailed scan to indicated Defender was not doing its job.

 

[fustercluck]

Couldn't find it on my programs list, and I don't think see it in the task manager, i'm pretty sure it installed though. Any idea what directory it's in?

 

[Medea]

Originally posted by: jacktackle
Couldn't find it on my programs list, and I don't think see it in the task manager, i'm pretty sure it installed though. Any idea what directory it's in?

That's the newest version's name. Prior versions were called Microsoft Anti-Spyware, so maybe that's what you installed...

 

[fustercluck]

Couldn't get Windows Defender to work. Any recommendations for other spyware prevention programs?

Don't know why Spywareblaster isn't getting the job done recently, used to work real well.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Please see Section D of The Consolidated Security Thread.