For me, it's all of the above and a few more. My Anti-Malware Pro package contains everything I ever need. Starting with Spyware Blaster, CCleaner, CWShredder, About:Buster, Windows Defender, Ad-Aware, Spybot, ewido, and finish with HijackThis.

My Pro package comes with Thunderbird and Firefox itself, along with the defs as of the package build and Firetune to optimize Firefox.

always ad-aware and never had problem with it.
clean easy and understandable - no false/positives either

I'm using Spyware Blaster, it's a good anti-malware program. Ever since using it, never had any spyware problems on my pc

I have Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D installed, but I never use them because I'm always careful when surfing the Internet. Using Firefox, combined with my knowledge concerning Adware and Spyware and where it is usually located, I never get anything that could harm my computer.

Spybot S&D, a dash of common sense, and a healthy dose of FF with NoScript and a few other key ext's., and no IE, OE or WMP. However i very rarely run Spybot because i don't ever seem to have problems.

I use pretty much everything listed in the poll. Similar to About:Buster and CWShredder, I always keep Peperfix on my thumbdrive for the rare times I run into that.

I personally browse with Maxthon in order to maintain IE compatibility. It has a pretty powerful blacklist feature with support for wildcards and has never let me down.

For one of my clients I actually resorted to using whitelisting in IE. Basically I configure the restricted sites zone as you would normally configure the Internet sites zone and conigured the Internet sites zone as you would restricted. This way only the sites that the president of the company has approved of will receive normal access. Everything else is pretty well crippled. And even the approved sites are still subject to the blacklisting in Maxthon. Haven't had one problem there since this was implemented and some of the secretaries there could screw something up in a couple of seconds if anybody could.

Spy Sweeper and Spy Doctor is the best for me. Why isn't it included in this poll.

Spyware Doctor returns far too many false positives. Spy Sweeper has also had issues in the past. :\

SpybotS&D, SpywareBlaster, and Outpost's Anti-Spyware plugin for prevention. Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Outpost's Anti-Spyware for removal.


Oh... and not being stupid when surfing the web.

If you're advising someone in IE, use trusted zones, the HOSTS file, disable Java and ActiveX.
Ad-Aware, Spybot, M$ AntiSpyware & common sense.

Actually... if you've got Service Pack 2, Spybot S&D, and SpywareBlaster installed you only need a little bit of common sense not to get into too much trouble with your computer. Disabling Java and ActiveX isn't necessary, since ActiveX controls now need to be confirmed before they're installed, and Java applets aren't really the method of choice to infect computers.

Oh... and I just discovered Ewido Anti-Spyware... very very nice.

second that!

The best is hitman pro....

http://www.hitmanpro.nl

PestPatrol 4

oh like spybot, probably because it also includes other tools like a process killer and a tools simular to msconfig

Also the built-in spyware in outpost firewall. Haven't had any problems since installing these two proggies.

am i the only one only trusting on common sence.....

Not being Administrator
Ok, that's not an app, so DropMyRights instead

You may trust your own common sense. I certainly trust mine. I hardly ever have any sort of firewall or antispyware running since it all seems to take up too RAM, particularly when I'm using hogs like VMware or Visual Studio 2005. However, I am assuming that others here set up computers either for family or professionally. As much common sense as my family has and as well educated as they all are, "common sense" in the area of the Internet is not so common after all. And as far as a work environment goes, you'd be derelict to not provide the protection.

anti-malware:
- PCTools Spyware Doctor
- Sunbelt CounterSpy
- Ewido anti-spyware
- Kaspersky anti-virus
- HijackThis

protection:
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- Lavasoft Ad-Aware Personal
- Windows Defender
- "full DEP"
- AVG Free Edition or Avast!

On my PC, I just use AVG and Opera in terms of "protection". I've been online since 1999 and only experienced two boot sector viruses that came in through Outlook Express a long time ago. The programs listed above come from personal experience when cleaning up other people's PCs.

I use a combination of the above as well. I also found a significant reduction by using Firefox insteead of IE. I also tend to do more surfing using one of my Win200 boxes instead of my WinXP. It seems the hackers are not targeting 200 machines as much any more.

SpybotS&D + HijackThis + /me


And ewido reports some false positive; a friend of mine had problems with it. ;)





You are the only trusting *only* common sense. ;)

Iv'e had the odd false positive with most of whats listed, used them all
plus others not listed like spy sweeper,, currently using A-Squared free,
so far so good, no false positives & no nasties lurking in my machine..

I got the Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware installed, but some weeks ago I install the Kaspersky Internet Security and it works great, got Antispyware, Firewall, Antivirus etc.. protection and no make that my system be slowly. Try it is a usuful program.

I tried them all... Now I'm using Spybot S&D, Spyware Blaster, BlackIce, CM DiskCleaner, EasyCleaner, Power Defrag, Reg Mechanic, and FP Win... and Eraser, is on the desktop as a last resort... Extreme Caution with Eraser!.. It's a POWERFUL tool, not a toy, it can kill your OS faster than you can say "oops"... Use it as a last resort, for when your PC has been hit by a bug you can't clean out, nor recover from...

I just dumped Norton AVS, and snapped the CD in half, after I found it's protect feature shutdown by some outside force, for the third time.. I've had ENOUGH of that garbage!.. Strike three, Yer OUT!

This "FP Win" seems to actually work like it says on the label.. and it found two nasty little bugs that all the others didn't.. plus it's fast and easy for scanning floppies... I'm almost ready to purchase the CD... Finally an AVS that really works...

_________________


P.S.: When I click on "Add Reply" in this forum.. I get "You do not have permission to post in this forum"... Maybe I was bad in another life?.. I get in with "Quote" only...

Hi all,
I only use NOD32 and it protects my PC to perfection. Only twice there is a case of BHO (malware) and HijackThis worked very well for this, the BHO's also come when i don't have the NOD32.
I think you don't need any other Anti-Malware because they take too much system resources and also doesn't provide protection against all threats (specially emerging threats).

I would never recommend using combination of Anti-Malware applications because you will still get malware on your system sooner or later, but it will be the case. So why wasting system resources?

I also like to mention here :

am i the only one only trusting on common sence.....

Yes you are absolutely right, you can also cure ur system if you have deep common sense of Windows. As most of the malwares changes your registery. I agree with you common sense of Windows working can also prevent your system from malwares.
Iam using regular internet and computers since 1997.

I use S&D , Adware and Spydoctor does the Job for me

Spyware Doc shows far more false positives than it does real problems. Ad-app unto itself .
I agree with you although SpySweeper with Sopohs AV beta is excellent.

Ive been using Adaware for quite some time with no issues. I also have been using Crap cleaner no probs.

A Combination: IE (anti-mallware setup) + CCleaner (clears TIF and Temp) + GMER + HijackThis + MWAV Free (to scan downloads) + nLite XP SP2 (no WinUpdates needed).

Using system account, browsing any pages I want without fear, no virus for 3 years.

I use Adaware, Spybot, and Ewido for my friends infections. and noone mentioned this
For myself:
ZoneAlarm Security Suite, includes Internet Firewall/ OS Firewall (that is awesome) Antivirus and Antispyware.
I love ZA, i only had to spyware attacks on my own pc, 1 of them ZA stopped before it executed, the other was that **** image meta file crap, didnt stop all of it.

but if i ever do get an infection, I unplug the pc, boot back up into safe mode, backup all my data files that have changed and restore my HDD Image on another Locked Hidden partition. I am backup and running in 15min (fast!), then i update my data and make sure all software is updates, and add/remove software. and overwrite the image.

That is the #1 sure thing protection is a HDD Image, its so simple and fast, all my apps, data, and settings are all restored.
And i bet people this format and start from stractch, That used to take me Hours and hours to get it back.

B

Instead of ZA, try Outpost Firewall v4.0.
I wouldn't recommend pulling the plug on your PC, rather just disconnecting the dial-up/ethernet cable from your PC, that's much safer hardware wise.
Also, harddrive imaging is the ultimate solution, yes. I use Acronis True Image Home Edition v10.0.

Common Sense Antivirus. And the best part is that it is completely free, but hard for many (including myself at times, lol) to acquire.

I haven't (ever) gotten any sort of malware, at least in recent memory, and I don't usually run an AV scanner. Sometimes Windows Defender, though. Two other tips are to reinstall Windows every month (like I do, but for other reasons [not because I run a pirated copy; I don't]) and:

and/or

Things I use

AVG antispyware (formaly ewido)
HijackThis
My professional tech mind...ok so not exactly a pro but if it's works then it's good enough for me.

I use nothing.

I'm like a virgin on a hot ride with the internet.

Vote: none of the above.

DropMyRights for IE(v6) and only using Opera are enough to keep all that crud off my system.

You are not your #$#%&^ khakis!

LOL!

i use anti-virus (regularly updated) and its anti-spyware, adaware, spywareblaster, firewall, up-to-date patch of OS, firefox (or dropmyrights with ie), low privileged account, and of course, my professional tech mind

AVG Free 7.5+Ad-Aware 1.06+Windows Defender 1.1.1593
I use Opera for web browsing

I don't really use anything, I use a squared a-squared Free and one of various anti virus programs (depending on what I have installed at the time) to check my computer after I've downloaded viruses to make sure I don't have anything loose on my system...

that reminds me, I need to back up my stuff before downloading more viruses...

Combination, full list of stuff below:

Anti-Spyware: Ad-Aware SE Personal, SpywareBlaster, Spybot
Anti-Virus: Avast Home Edition
Browser: Firefox
Disk Management: CCleaner, Disk Cleanup (Included in Windows), Disk Defragmenter (Included in Windows)
DVD: AnyDVD, Daemon Tools, Nero 6 Reloaded, Power DVD, UltraISO
File-Sharing: uTorrent
Firewall: Comodo Pro
Graphics: Paint.NET
Instant Messenger: Windows Live Messenger with A-Patch
Media Player: Windows Media Player 11 (audio and streaming videos), Media Player Classic (downloaded videos - included in K-Lite Mega Codec Pack)
Office: Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise
PC Visuals: LClock, XPize
Tech Tools: Dial-a-fix, HijackThis, Unlocker,
Utilities: Everest Ultimate Edition 2006, Foxit PDF Reader, K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, PowerArchiver 2006, TuneUp Utilities 2007, Tweak UI, UPHClean

Only the following cost money from the list above; AnyDVD, Nero 6 Reloaded, Power DVD, UltraISO, Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise, Everest Ultimate Edition 2006, PowerArchiver 2006, TuneUp Utilities 2007

if you're using CCleaner, then why are you using TuneUp Utilities?

For the most part, I use my mind. Just being careful on the web. On top of that, I do have AVG free antivirus installed, CCLeaner, Ad-Aware, and ZoneAlarm firewall + a hardware firewall in my router.

I haven't had a virus in the 10 years I have been using a computer (I have been using since I was 6 [I feel like a drug addict ]) nor have I had any malware garbage on my computer, or anything of the sort. I've been fairly lucky in all my years experience.

If your careful, and don't let any questionable things on your computer, you should be good. It is a good idea to have some cleaner programs on your computer just in case, so you don't lose any data, but it is a good idea to reload a system after getting a virus. It would just ensure the computer runs good. I've seen many computers that have had a virus on them and then been cleaned with software. They don't run right at all. Usually the virus does some damage to files and it doesn't work right afterword.

Anyway, I'm out for tonight I think.

oh my god...all these tools
guys give me a break
for some one new like me..what should I choose *screaming*
LOL

I distribute an All-in-one tool pack, called the Anti-Malware Pack.

Simple, the ones most people are recommending!

It also depends on your needs, skill level and preferences.
If you're cleaning many other peoples PC:s, you probably need to have most of the progs mentioned.

Some basic tips (also pass them on to friends/family/co-workers/anyone):
-Don't use IE as your primary browser.
-Never accept or run anything you don't know and fully trust (in dialog boxes, software, single exe-files).
-Try to stay out of warez and porn sites.
-Regularly run Spybot S&D (make sure to update it).
-Keep your OS and apps fully updated with all the latest hotfixes/patches.
-Use some sort of firewall, a router is preferred.
-You can manage without an Antivirus program, just be careful and maybe use some free online scanner every now and then.
-Use email with built in virus scanner.

Even if doing all these things you may still get some unwanted malware/virus/similar, but it won't be very often and then by using a few of the tools recommended you'll get rid of 'em very quickly.

Because TuneUp can do way more than CCleaner, but CCleaner is much better than TuneUp's DiskCleaner.

The key problem with CCleaner is that bugs often go ignored for a very long time (many months) and often are not even fixed.

Thanks for the full time job post DL
but I'm just have little comments When I download all critical updates only from MS website I've realized that the machine is slow and not the same performanceI'm using PLANET ADE-3110 ADSL Modem Router but it seems that it does not has any firewall, so what do you suggest then, and I'm using PC in my own and on other one share it with me.I used to use NOD32, is it enough then for persoanl home user?