What free anti-spyware program(s) do you use?

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
That site generally deals with known holes. What about the unknown ones?

Using Opera or one of the Free browsers can definitely be a piece of the puzzle, but if that's the only piece you have you aren't seeing the whole picture.

If one of the unknown (by Secunia) holes is exploited (on a scale big enough for them to notice), then I have confidence Opera will fix it faster than Microsoft. Look at each one's track record.

I mostly agree with you here, however IMO, the browser is almost 99% of the issue. I like solving the problem at the source.

You also have to look at experience, and I'm sure lots of people here will tell you they get much less if any spyware when they avoid using IE. The security does come at a cost however, when you remove (albeit holey) functionality. I'd say anything other than a drive-by install of spyware is user error. I actually haven't even gotten any messages asking me to install something though either.

It's like asking why Linux is more secure than Windows. Limited user accounts by default is to no ActiveX by default, IMO.

Opera/FF offer security through obscurity, is essentially what I'm saying. Yes, there probably is a hole or two, but I see a LOT less (in this case none) versus using IE and I can't fathom to think why it would be a dumb decision to switch.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
That site generally deals with known holes. What about the unknown ones?

Using Opera or one of the Free browsers can definitely be a piece of the puzzle, but if that's the only piece you have you aren't seeing the whole picture.

If one of the unknown (by Secunia) holes is exploited (on a scale big enough for them to notice), then I have confidence Opera will fix it faster than Microsoft. Look at each one's track record.

I mostly agree with you here, however IMO, the browser is almost 99% of the issue. I like solving the problem at the source.

You also have to look at experience, and I'm sure lots of people here will tell you they get much less if any spyware when they avoid using IE. The security does come at a cost however, when you remove (albeit holey) functionality. I'd say anything other than a drive-by install of spyware is user error. I actually haven't even gotten any messages asking me to install something though either.

It's like asking why Linux is more secure than Windows. Limited user accounts by default is to no ActiveX by default, IMO.

Opera/FF offer security through obscurity, is essentially what I'm saying. Yes, there probably is a hole or two, but I see a LOT less (in this case none) versus using IE and I can't fathom to think why it would be a dumb decision to switch.

The source of the problem is not the browser. You're trying to look too deep. The source of the problem is the companies making the spyware. So going to the source is useless.

Security through obscurity by itself is not security. There need to be other measures in place to make it worth while. Like limited user accounts.

That was basically my original point. Changing your browser by itself (whatever you change it from/to does not matter in this instance) isn't enough. There needs to be a culture of security built around the user.

 

[timswim78]

I downloaded this thing called Bonzi Buddy. It seems to do a great job of removing spyware. I read that it works even better if installed with Cool Web Search.



Actually, I like the MS Anti-Spyware. My only gripe is that it expires every 6 months. That is such a pain because it means that I have to reinstall it on all of the family's computers when it expires.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: timswim78
I downloaded this thing called Bonzi Buddy. It seems to do a great job of removing spyware. I read that it works even better if installed with Cool Web Search.

I tried that too. I asked me if it was okay to delete a file called "winsock32.dll", and clicked on okay. I can't get into the net anymore but that means I'm protected, right?