I know some but not all commercial AV programs claim to stop spyware. Are these 'all-in-ones' any good or is it better to use specialist AV and a separate anti-spyware program?
2006-06-15 07:50:42 · 15 answers · asked by timpin1 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
No, they are different and need different programs to deal with them.
Layered protection, consisting of a seperate firewall, anti virua, anti trojan and anti spyware is better than a suite. The reason is that once a hacker has cracked the engine on a suite all of your security programs are open; with layered protection a hacker has to crack the code on different engines.
And the free firewalls, anti virus, anti trojans and anti spyware are as good as the paid for programs; with the exception of Nod32 antivirus which is paid for and the best.
Winpatrol is a handy utility that tracks cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com
Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to
I.E.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
The best antispyware is Spyware Doctor
http://www.pctools.com The free version will give you the file name and location so you can get help removing them without having to pay.
http://www.ewido.net Ewido anti trojan
Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
http://www.grisoft.com AVG Antivirus
http://www.avast.com Avast Antivirus
http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool
Remember to update and run all of you anti malware programs at least once a week.
2006-06-15 08:00:02 · answer #1 · answered by sarah c 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No there is no one that covers all the bases. For that you would need a combination of software or layered protection to have a reasonably secure PC.
The best advice I can give you is do not let anyone use your PC but you & only you if your useing a laptop this should be easy. Unforchnetly a lot of problems with PS's are caused by someone you would rather not have access to it makeing a mess of things. By downloading and intalling malicious software or messing with your OS ( Operating System ) compromising its security. The best defence for your PC starts with you.
Here are some links that may help you further to deside what security software you would like.
My pick Mcafee Internet Security Suite.
2006-06-15 08:53:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer your question directly the answer is typicall no.
They are coming out with suites that will cover all these areas, however becasue of the amount of things there are to protect PC's from these days those softwares are becoming bloated and often craete more problems then they resolve.
Being in the tech industry for a number of years here are my reccomendations to you.
Antivirus - AVG Antivirus - Cost: FREE - http://free.grisoft.com
Spyware - Windows Defender - Cost: FREE - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
This software is great because it actually stops spyware from getting on your machine, where many only take it off after it's already infected your computer.
Firewall - ZoneAlarm - Cost: Free - http://www.zonealarm.com
I have been running these three softwares for about 2 years and have had 0 viruses, it has never found 1 spyware item on my machine and I have never experienced a hack attempt.
Good luck, these will keep you safe.
2006-06-15 08:19:13 · answer #3 · answered by Kyle P. Johnson 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Download Windows Defender for spyware protection.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
2006-06-15 08:35:09 · answer #4 · answered by Weather Geek 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's an anti-virus suite it can, but don't trust it's effectiveness. Get stand-alone spyware protection for your PC, not something built into another program.
Adaware SE and SpyBot Search & Destroy are VERY good FREE programs. :)
2006-06-15 07:56:32 · answer #5 · answered by Abstract 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no anti virus that also excels at spyware. They make attempts but they don't do the job.
If you are looking for either here are links to both anti virus and anti spyware. They are all free.
Download AVG anti Virus free here –
http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_2-10503939.html?tag=lst-0-2
Download Microsoft Defender free here - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Download AdAware free here –
http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_2-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1
With those three programs your computer will be pretty secure from viruses, ad ware, spyware & malware.
2006-06-15 07:59:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most all in one's are good. But from experience, I use a separate spyware program. (free) "Ad aware" is free and finds em.
2006-06-15 07:56:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
click on google free downloads and there should be a free spyware program on there that is good and also download google earth as well that is another free down load which is good. i've got norton sercurity on my computer but you can never be sure so the more the better
2006-06-15 07:55:56 · answer #8 · answered by Kelly 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some do. The reason for not using separate programs is that it takes up system resources i.e. slows your computer down.
2006-06-15 08:04:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
not at 100%.... but somehow..... like spyware contains trojans... so anti-virus softwares.. blockes them showing error win32... or somethin found... torjan... type Spyware...
so better get own spyware guard... anti-virus alone is not enough. spyware doctor is best... http://www.download.com
2006-06-15 08:15:19 · answer #10 · answered by Umax 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋