Which is better Spybot Search & Destroy or Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE?

Question

I was wondering if Spybot Search & Destroy blocks spyware from getting into your computer or does it allow spyware to get into your computer and then it deletes it? Does Spybot have active Anti-Spyware shields? same question about Lavasoft Ad-Aware Se, does it have active anti-spyware shields? or does it allow spyware to get into your computer then delete them ? Also, which one is better?

Then is there any free anti-spyware program that have active shields?

Answer 1

Only the tea timer when enabled in Spybot Search & Destroy offers any active protection.

You need both Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware SE.

NO program catches or removes all malware. All firewalls are easily defeated. They have you to download malware past them. Once installed, they can nag you or prevent other programs from running until you open a port (place a hole in your firewall) or allow them through the firewall as an exception. They can attach to and use your browser or other programs which have permission to go through the firewall to avoid needing your permission to get past the firewall. They can shut off the firewall, antispyware, or the antivirus.

Windows Defender (free) provides active spyware protection.
I use this in addition to my ATT Yahoo antivirus and antispyware suite.
Recommended settings: full time protection, update weekly, full scans weekly
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
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I recommend installing the following 5 malware detection programs on all systems.

Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)
Enable SDHelper, do not optional tea timer. After installation: update + scan + immunize
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”. http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)
http://www.superantispyware.com/

CCleaner: Set to run when computer starts. Removes tracking cookies.
Place cookies you want to keep in the save list. Do not run “Scan for Issues” (registry cleaner)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Ad-Aware SE Personal and SUPERAntiSpyware free version do not have any full time scanning and do not immunize from attacks.

Spybot Search & Destroy has an immunize function. This places sites in Internet Explorer’s (not Firefox’s) block list. You need to run immunize after every update.
SDHelper option - This is installed in Internet Explorer and blocks downloading programs from known malware sites.
TeaTimer option – This is a program will constantly run and notify you of any changes to system settings on your computer before they are allowed to happen. In a prior version I found the notification window lacked labeling of the yes / no keys, in addition whenever I updated software it would pop up and I found it to be a pest so I stopped using it.

Spyware Blaster works similar to this immunize function in “Spybot search and Destroy” but enhances this by providing ActiveX protection in Internet Explorer as well as protection in Firefox.

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I also recommend the following::

Microsoft update: Run in “Custom Mode”, Install everything. http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Microsoft OneCare Live, run “full service scan”
Updates windows, virus and spyware scan, disk cleanup, disk fragmentation (if needed), backs up registry and then cleans registry, and checks for open firewall ports.
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

PC Pitstop:”full tests”. http://www.pcpitstop.com/

Malicious Software Removal Tool (run “full scan”)
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

User Profile Hive Cleanup Service (An automatic service to help with slow log off and unreconciled profile problems)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

Rootkit revealer: (advanced) Close all programs first and then run.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/RootkitRevealer.mspx
Do nothing at this time with the results! Not all results will be malware! Google each result.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer v2.0.1 (for IT Professionals)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4b4aba06-b5f9-4dad-be9d-7b51ec2e5ac9&DisplayLang=en

HijackThis (advanced) http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php
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Offline scanners

BitDefender Online Scanner
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

Kaspersky Labs Online Scanner
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

McAfee online scanner
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?affid=294

Panda ActiveScan Free Online Scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan?

Symantic Online Scanner
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/ssc_eula.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=ALUFRHYTINMHDKDCWLL&vc_scanstate=2

Trend Micro: HouseCall Free Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Security guidelines/ assistance if all else fails
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Overview
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Prevention:_Prevent_Re-infection
http://www.castlecops.com/f67-Hijackthis_Spyware_Viruses_Worms_Trojans_Oh_My.html
http://www.castlecops.com/t102301-Hijackthis_Guidelines_Read_Before_Posting.html

Answer 2

Ad Aware Vs Spybot

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE

Answer 5

personally like Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE

Answer 6

I typically have BOTH Spybot & Ad-Aware on my system, since each program will usually detect some spyware that the other one will not. However, Spybot DOES have an active protection method which works to stop you from getting infected, while Ad-Aware does not (at least not in the last version I used). We use Spysweeper at work which loads into memory to actively protect your system.

Answer 7

You will be hard pressed to find one application that detects 100% of Spyware. None of them do. The results you state you got from the 2 applications is common, same with anti-virus software. I don't understand your question about Ad-aware Personal SE and downloading the free version? Ad-aware Personal SE is freeware and you already have it...

Answer 8

Spybot does provide blocking (active protection) if you activate the Tea Timer option. If not, it is nothing more than an "On Demand" scanner.

AdAware SE (free version) is an "On Demand" scanner only. This means no active protection.

AdAware Pro (pay version) provides active protection.

So, with Spybot you get what you activate. With AdAware you get what you pay for.

Answer 9

My friend, I had both of those things once, and guess what? They didn't help me at all, my computer had over 27 viruses each time, and when I get a virus, it starts to pop up porn and I don't think my parents would like seeing those stuff, so I had to restart the whole computer. My advice to you, is actually go out there and buy a good anti-virus.. I recommend Norton

Answer 10

I Like Spyware doctor. It workd great. Need to buy it for automatic scans and live protection Otherwise its free.

Answer 11

I use Spybot and have no trouble with it and my system seems OK