While running more than one antivirus (or firewall) program at a time is a recipe for trouble, the same is not true for antispyware applications. Experience suggests that you can run multiple programs with real-time protection without conflict, or even a noticeable degradation in your computer's performance.
Recommendations are
- Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)
A well-respected, user-friendly program. Spybot S&D features a built-in tutorial that is a godsend for anyone new to the antispyware game. You can also configure it to check for updates automatically. Real-time protection is available through its Immunize function. New signatures usually released every Friday. Free download.
Setting up Spybot in a VPN envrionment.
- Ad-Aware SE Personal (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)
Another free download. Excellent in detecting and removing tracking cookies. A post-scan summary provides descriptions of threats found, their location in your computer, and their relative risk rating. Like Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware SE boasts an excellent help file that gets you up to speed in no time. On the down side, real-time protection and automatic updates require upgrading to Ad-Aware Plus. You can always configure the free version of Ad-Aware to remind you to check for updates manually. Lavasoft releases new signatures frequently, often every few days.
- Windows Defender (Beta 2) (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
Like Spybot S&D, Windows Defender offers real-time protection and automatic updates. In its present incarnation, this program does not scan for tracking cookies, though the capability will be added later on.
Beta programs are "works in progress," and as such might have some bugs and odd features. Overall, Windows Defender is stable enough to be recommended even in its beta stage.
Windows Defender excels in recognising and blocking program attempts to change settings, edit the Windows registry, or add items to startup. As such, it complements Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware SE quite well.
There are other worthy antispyware utilities available, and most of them cost about $30 a year. Before you part with your money, consider the following:
- Given the lacklustre performance of antispyware programs as a group, there is little reason to pay for something that will offer little or no extra protection relative to the free utilities. The $30 might buy you speedier scans and improved aesthetics, but hardly any more security. Even with these products the recommendation is that you back up your premium antispyware utility with a freebie, often Spybot S&D;
- The pricier software tends to yield more false positives (items that are not truly spyware) - and even some questionable detections. For example, files identified as "key loggers" might actually be legitimate components that allow you to open a program by clicking on its desktop or taskbar icon. This aggressive scanning might be built in by design, probably to give the impression of better protection. Because the files in question often have obscure names, it can be challenging to find out their identity, and even quarantining them can lead to problems;
- As previously mentioned, Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware Plus, and Windows Defender complement each other quite nicely, and without slowing things down or software conflicts.
4. Once you become comfortable with antispyware software, you can always explore other titles to see what suits your needs best.
There is also antispyware software available as part of security suites, personal firewalls (e.g., ZoneAlarm Pro 6) or antivirus software tend to be significantly weaker than their stand-alone counterparts - even the free versions.
