How come Spybot isn't detecting all the spyware my computer has?

Question

I downloaded this other software that detected certain malicious programs but I can't remove them because I have to pay, it isn't free, and when I run Spybot it doesn't detect them, just tracking cookies and stuff like that, that aren't that malicious.

Is there another freeware similar to Spybot and Adaware that removes everything for free, because seems that those programs aren't doing anything and I know I have spyware hidden in my computer.

Norton products sucks man. Been there, done that.

Answer 1

There is no shortage of good antispyware software programs. Unlike antivirus programs, you can install multiple antispyware programs, as long as you scan one at a time. Besides Spybot and Ad Aware, there a number of other decent antispyware I recommend. You can try: Microsoft's Windows Defender and Grisoft's AVG antispyware. Both programs can be found at http://www.filehippo.com/software/antispyware/. The webpage contains other antispyware programs but they are specialized and do not work like the conventional spyware scanner.

There are other free antispyware programs beside the 2 mentioned above. I hesitate to recommend them since they have not been broadly tested. There is ability to detect and remove spyware is unknow. They include Tenebril's Spycatcher Express, Spyware Terminator and SuperAntispyware.

1. Spycatcher Express www.tenebril.com/consumer/spyware/spycatcher-express.php

2. Spyware Terminator www.spywareterminator.com

3. SuperAntispyware www.superantispyware.com

I conducted my own tests for these 3 programs and found them to be inferior to the 2 I mentioned above (i.e. Windows Defender and AVG antispyware).

Answer 2

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!
Make sure after you download any of these, that you update them.

*Be sure to come back to Yahoo Q&A and vote for one of the answers as best answer!

Answer 3

http://spywareterminator.com is a great tool for this (free) and you need more than one or two tools because no one spyware or virus protection detects all problems.at same time.it takes them time to know of the new threats and then make a fix for them.

Answer 4

attempt an total device experiment with your anti-virus to boot. My sister had a malicious software virus on her laptop that saved telling her she had secret agent ware, even as she clicked on the interest it began to receive some variety of document on line. Do an total device experiment and observe if it facilitates. some viruses are sneaky.

Answer 5

not all spyware will get them all sorry to say. but a realy good one is Ad-Aware SE Personal. try it for free and you might fine as i have that it gets almost all if not all out. nouther thing might try is typing in the name of the spy-wear you pick up. fine in in search on your p.c.....good luck

Answer 6

No one anti-spyware app (sometimes not even two) will clean EVERYTHING. Look for more ideas at the following link from download.com ...

Hope something there helps.

Answer 7

download http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx to remove the spyware. Good luck. Mikie.

Answer 8

Try updating you Spy-bot, it helps. Also try the Anti-spy program provided in the Yahoo toolbar. That also helps. And it is freeeeee.

Answer 9

AVG Anti-Spyware
AVG Anti-Virus
SUPERAntiSpyware

Few more here http://www.freebyte.com/anti-spyware/

Answer 10

What do you expect for FREE?
Buy Norton, case closed.