Best Anti Spyware or Spyware removers?

I searched for a thread that went over this but didn't find anything very new. I wanted to see what type of spyware people used on here, paid or free. If it's paid, maybe a link to the program and how much they paid for it.

Here's what I use so far:

Ad-Aware SE: It's free and is very simple to use. The drawbacks is that it doesn't automatically update or scan.

Spybot S&D: Basically just like Ad-Aware SE. I use this in hopes that if Ad-Aware SE misses something, this one will get it.

Hijackthis: When all else fails, I use Hijackthis. I wouldn't recommend it to someone that didn't know what they were doing. Unless they actually knew how to follow directions and weren't too proud to ask for help.

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I wanted to see what type of spyware people used on here, paid or free

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I dont use any :D not intentionally anyways!

I use spybot S&D and adaware (both of which I think you'll find recommended by most here).
Those 2 + some AV and a good (properly configured) browser should go a long way. And ditch the P2P.

there is a list here of both free and some paid for progs that I've used.
also the thread contains others that people seem to like.

Ad-Aware and Spybot primarily (SOB). I've been using both for over three years, if not longer. They've been consistent performers over that time. I was impressed with MS's Antispyware, despite their supposed omission of Claria defs. The new Windows Defender doesn't seem as thorough though.

HijackThis. I was floored a couple of years back when I first used it. I thought: this is it, the ultimate AS app. But around the beginning of '05, I noticed it was missing stuff, about the time of the rise of the Windows rootkits. Recently I found it to be totally useless against rogues like Spyaxe and Spy Falcon. IMHO, it's slowly fading into obsolescence, but still a primary tool.

Increasingly I rely on manual removal of rogue apps in conjunction with the SOB stuff.

If I have Spyware blaster; SB S&D; and Adaware on my computer at the same time, should I disable blaster before running the other two? Reason I'm asking is because from what I've read, blaster runs interactively and I want to avoid any type of conflict.

I haven't had any problems with Hijack, so far. I only use it if I'm stuck in a rut and absolutely need to.

I haven't ever worked with registry cleaners before.

Here's a quote from the tutorial. I would reply to it directly, but I know how people get about digging up old threads. I've been negged a few times for it.

<i>"Registry Cleaners:
I use Registry Mechanic, and I’ve recently discovered Macecraft, and their RegSupreme. Both work well, but I find that RegSupreme to be the easiest of these to use."</i>

I didn't see RegSupreme listed. Is RegSupreme part of Registry Mechanic?

I usually do my spyware removal in Safe Mode. How many of you use this practice and for those that don't, is it needed? I usually only do the Safe Mode version once a week as well as run my AV software in it.

Spyware Blaster doesn't run interactively.
It simply loads redirections into your host file and a couple other things. Once you exit, Spyware Blaster does not run.
I have never seen Spyware Blaster ever cause any trouble and I've cleaned so many computers of junk I'll never remember them all.

I don't do Registry Mechanic. A long time ago it was a kludgy program and one time more recent it ATE my clients registry. Never again, although other people's mileage is better.
It used to be marketed (still might be) on their website showing an aluminum diamond pattern toolbox with red top, which always reminded me of the toolbox of the appliance repair man who bends over to show his hairy butt crack. (shakes head vigorously).... whoa...not for me.

Running from Safe Mode is a good practice for unusually infected computers. Normally, you can get your cleaning all done in standard mode.

Here's three good (maybe really good) spyware programs, other than what you already have.

1) Spysweeper (I own this product)
2) Spyware Doctor (have used this alot)
3) Windows Defender (Free, and it works okay)

Watch out that you don't have a spyware program running with your antivirus spyware feature running too. Panda's anti-spyware feature seems to have problems with Windows Defender.

As for Registry cleaners, I've probably tried all the best, a couple years ago.
I finally settled on Registry Healer.
In simple mode it's great, but in expert mode you can eat a few "empty" entries if you go checking off everything it finds. It performs a restore point before making changes, for the faint of heart.

Windows rootkits are another issue. I'm still adding to my toolkit on this one. I've cleaned 4 different rootkits so far and one machine that had two rootkits stacked one upon the other.
Every rootkit killer I tried could not wipe them out. I had to manually rip-em up then allow the rootkit removers to finish off the job.

That's my .05¢

Thanks ZT. I'd give you some points, but I gotta wait and spread the wealth.

Registry Mechanic is one reg cleaner

Macecraft's Regsupreme is another brand
I use regsupreme on other peoples boxes after a clean install to 'wash' the install
then I set a restore point.

I use registry mechanic on my system, as it is a paid for tool
regsupreme has a 30 day free trial, and I found it to be be quick to install and use.

[edit]
Care to put links to those please ZT3000 :)
I like to try out new stuff [to me it's new ]

CCleaner has a great registry cleaner. Easy to use, too.

ZT, I'd be curious as to your methodogy for handling rootkits. Thanks for the plug on Spy Sweeper and Spyware Doctor. I've used both too, but usually limit myself to the free stuff. They're both very good products.

Hi

I've been using Spywareguard and Spywareblaster along with Adaware SE and Spybot S & D for quite some time now, and have not had any conflicts with any of them.Spywareblaster works silently in the background thing to remember is to get updates often....

I have Registry Mechanic Pro 5, and am really not that impressed with the registry cleaning options, very seldom use it anymore as I find WinXp does a good job of keeping the Registry structure secure.(unlike Win 98).

For "cleaning" (hate that word really) I use CCleaner, is simple and allows for restoration of cleaned entries.

For the registry I use NTREGOPT useful for compacting the registry..

I like the Windows Defender, liked the MSAS Beta moreso...but hey it's free....

Just remember, whatever you decide is best for you, beware of fakes......Rogue Antispyware Programs

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Originally posted here by Nokia
I dont use any :D not intentionally anyways!

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rofl XD

warrior, I use the same stuff you have, there are many different options (as you can see), however, the three that you are using should be just fine.

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Originally posted here by brokencrow
Recently I found it to be totally useless against rogues like Spyaxe and Spy Falcon.

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I believe that Spy Falcon is a trojan, isn't it? and I also agree that Hijack This is useless against these programs...

Foxy,

Registry Healer: http://www.fixregistry.com/index.htm

Some other good tools: (from Sysinternals.com)

Filemon: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Filemon.html
Registrymon: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Regmon.html
Diskmon: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Diskmon.html
among others on their site.

I'm looking at a program called MultiMon. I think I may pay for it. http://www.resplendence.com

Rootkits:
I place the harddrive into an enclosure, attach to super secret toolkit (..ahem..laptop) and scan for hidden or weirdly named directories/files using a program that uses its own file drivers to access NTFS, because the rootkits are invisible from the normal windows file access method. Then I use another program that can delete some or all of those files. Once I reattach the drive and reboot, the rootkit's system32 files scream bloody murder with popups about "cant load this, can't load that", then I use the standard Rootkit killers/cleaners.

Using monitoring programs (to find rootkits) may not "show" the invisible rootkit but rootkits cannot hide all their actions and when you see file writes with no process name and/or other weird behaviour then you know somethings up.

I had an AVI file recently (I picked up somewhere off the net) which shows the Hacker Defender programmer modifying his program to elude the current offering of anti-hack kits.
He would bind certain files to exe's and use programs like Icesword, Unhackme, even Sysinternal programs which could not find the infection. Interestingly, he was using Norton Command (with macro'd menus) to edit/bind, etc. (I used to religiously use Norton Commander with macro'd menus so I was interested).

Don't have the names of those programs I mentioned right now. I'm writing between building a computer and going onsite on a call. Give em to ya later.

Later.

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...rootkits cannot hide all their actions and when you see file writes with no process name and/or other weird behaviour then you know somethings up.

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Interesting, I've been playing with an app that catches writes to log files (designed to detect keyloggers). I've been relying on online AV scans and apps like rootkitrevealer to find rogue files. I rely heavily on Knoppix-type cd's, so I never thought to remove an hdd and hook it up to one of my laptops. I'm not real anxious to do that, I've lost patience with all the junk computer mfg'ers turn out now. Files on an NTFS or FAT partition can't hide from Midnight Commander in my experience. I've had beaucoup files invisible to Windows show up under Linux.

Thanks.

For me, i'll rather try other method instead of worrying was the software free? was my anti-spyware database up-to-date? can my anti-spyware get rid of trojans or rootkit? annoyed by the slow performance by using all those software~

For instance, i used a tool called 'WormRadar' to suck up all the viriis & malware for me. You also can used 'VMWare' (it's free now for Player) to test on some software or visit to some malicious site(just take a snapshot before & after). You can also try 'Software Virtualization Solution' (free for Personal Use) to inspect application that you install or just roll-back(reset) in a single click.

Further more, some extra configuration might avoid you to all those malicious code/ware, like configure your browser for disallow some source (activeX, javascirpt...), avoid cookies/cache storing, etc.... get yourself a personal firewall, so that each and every inbound & outbound is not beyond your notice. Inspect every outbound connection(might be dial-home or download stuff) and deny it if look unfriendly.

Lastly if you really want a virus/spyware-free OS, try use (Trusted)Live-CD each and everytime you do your stuff (surf net, send mail, test apps, etc...). Once you have done your stuff, reboot, everything goes back as clean as NEW~ (of'cos u need to figure out how to save your file/doc in another media,etc..) Or, alternative optive will be a Hardware-based Reboot card( JustReboot or Innov8) to restore your PC back to normal everytime you reboot.

Hope you will enjoy the world of Virus-free realm~ ^_<

ZT3000 is right:

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If I have Spyware blaster; SB S&D; and Adaware on my computer at the same time, should I disable blaster before running the other two? Reason I'm asking is because from what I've read, blaster runs interactively and I want to avoid any type of conflict.

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It is passive not interactive, and will only take effect when required. It is compatible with SpyBot, and is even integrated on the immunisation page of SpyBot. Adaware is basically looking for different things and scans on demand using a pattern file. I cannot envisage the two running together unless you deliberately provoked the situation possibly by updating Spyware Blaster in the middle of an AdAware scan :D

EWIDO is worth looking at, as it is pretty comprehensive http://www.ewido.net/en/

The interactive bit only runs for 14 days but you can continue to update it and use it as an on demand scanner after that (for free).

:)

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Lastly if you really want a virus/spyware-free OS, try use (Trusted)Live-CD each and everytime you do your stuff (surf net, send mail, test apps, etc...).

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Yes! I'm big on the live cd's, too. I believe them to be much more secure for this fact...

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Once you have done your stuff, reboot, everything goes back as clean as NEW~ (of'cos u need to figure out how to save your file/doc in another media,etc..)

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I save everything to a usb drive when using these OS's. There are obvious drawbacks, primarily speed and the loss of any custom setting or installs upon rebooting (client-based email, etc.). But I think these are great OS's for light internet users and give one the option to turn an abused, multi-user Windows PC (typical home PC) into a second computer w/o investing in any new hardware.

As for viruses and spyware in Windows, I very seldom suffer from them. I don't even run antivirus apps anymore other than doing online scans via IE (I do not reco this though for most users). Once in a while, a piece of spyware makes it into one of my machines, but that's easily dealt with.

I'm still on THIS side of the learning curve with linux though, and keep thinking I need to run an AV app of some kind for it. If nothing else, just as a learning experience...

I have been using "Spy Bot Search and Destroy" and "Ad-Aware" for years....
They work very Well....
I have been using "RegScrubXP" as well... Works very well...
I have started to use "CCleaner", and I am real pleased with that utility.
I have used "Hi-Jack This" when I get into a rut.....
But be careful.... It can screw you up...

I have been using "AVG Free" for the last year
It is not a resource hog like Norton and McAfee...
And it works just fine as an antivirus program.

The easy fix for most short term problems is "System Restore" in XP
but if your restore points are infected, you are screwed!!!

Last resort is a clean install... I ususally stick the drive into
my shop box and scan it with AVG and then grab the data files
like word docs and other needed stuff.

F-Disk is the big fix on a damaged system.
and yes F-Disk is a dos command but I
use the term when I do a clean install
of Windows and delete the partitions
as the first step.