22 replies to this topic

[marko]

Jimbo, I'm sure we can appreciate the first post itself is nearly 3 years old, and even Ad-aware was a formidable contender at that time, though things do change and personally I wouldn't touch ad-aware any longer with a barge poll. However, I can't help feeling that Spybot is maybe getting an unnecessarily rough ride here - I have used it previously myself with good results as a compliment to other spyware programs, and in fact has picked up some traces of bugs that the others missed. I wouldn't necessarily install it as a matter of course, but it would depend on the level of infection we were dealing with on a PC which may lead me to believe it wouldn't do any harm to have it scan a system.

Spybot is, admittedly, geared more towards IE than the other browsers, but it does still offer some advantages for other browsers in regards to realtime protection - the immunize function for example, will stop tracking cookies and spyware installers and the tea-timer will stop known malicious processes and prevent changes to critical registry keys - other spyware applications will charge for this level of protection. I guess it really does come down to what we all consider to be the most important aspects of safety on our PC's and as I say, although I wouldn't necessarily install Spybot as a first choice, I certainly wouldn't dismiss it either.

Now the only thing I'm left wondering is, have I just recommended Spybot ?

[James (Jim) Hillier]

LOL. I did admit the quotes were getting on a bit mate.

You and I have bantered harmlessly about Spybot over the years mate. I remember when I first met you and, in those days you did mention Spybot pretty regularly (go on, admit it, you did). And I was playing a bit of the devil's advocate.

I see Spybot's immunize feature now also supports Firefox, which is definitely an improvement. And, as you say, the heuristics-based Tea-timer feature provides a little extra protection.

I actually do have a soft spot for Spybot, back in the day, when I was running XP, Spybot was always one of the very first programs I installed. I've even still got a copy on disc floating about somewhere. It was the benchmark AS way back then.

Almost all types of programs similar to Spybot have been made pretty much redundant these days per medium of vast improvements in AV software and browser security. On-demand scanning is the primary requirement now. I haven't installed Spybot for years, the one I always install now, and wouldn't be without, is MBAM Free. SAS also used to be one of my favorites but IMO it has deteriorated since it was acquired by Support.com. - not as good as it used to be.

Cheers mate...Jim

[marko]

No, you are right Jim, I know I have mentioned it in the past, maybe (but honestly can't remember) moreso than others but for me, I think I've always had a tendency to lean more towards those apps which offer the most comprehensive of protection, including realtime, but then that does bring us to the question of is SpyBot actually best at detecting spyware?. The answer to that would, for me anyway, have to be a resounding no, even when it is offering realtime protection, the protection itself most probably doesn't equal that of others these days and as you rightly say, with the advances in antivirus software's, etc, actual standalone spyware apps are gradually being phased out altogether, although having said that I've still seen plenty of machines running avast and other top names which have became infested with all manner of trojans and spyware so it does also then beg the question of how good our antivirus protection is these days (but then again, there's no accounting for what some people do to their machines!)

[Claw]

Marko,,I'm sorry ,I didn't intend to offend you . This was said all in good fun. Whe I joined in Nov. I asked about MSE and you said to keep using it if I'm happy with it, and to "alternately give Spybot a try". That's when Jim came in and said "don't get him started" and "we'll get you past Spybot yet,Marko"
When the dude said the words Spybot ,, that coversation was the only thing I thought of. Not that you really recommended it,,but that is the last time I heard Spybot mentioned,,in those post. I was just joking with you buddy,,no malicious intent.

[Gremlinn]

Although MBAM, Emsisoft and SAS are excellent programs and are among the best out there, they still will not catch everything. I don't see a problem in having multi layers for protection. Better safe than sorry

[Claw]

Hey Germlinn ,how you today buddy?? I agree with that layerd thing but you really shouldn't have all these programs running "real-time" all at once. But,,I'm pretty sure you already knew that,,Soooooo, I guess that was a totally useless bunch of words. Unless someone who didn't know reads this!!!!

[Claw]

I'll tell you something else too,,and this goes for anybody checking this out. There is so mch made over on and about "cleaners",",security" and every kind or "repair tool" you can think of ,,,,that people tend to "forget all the other useful ,
handy,easy and frequently needed and used "Freeware" there is out there. All one has to do is look at the "FreewareBB"
front page. Everyday new and updated freeware is listed. Or just look under the FreewareBB Searchbar, and " there you go",,
just click a category and expand it. If it's Freeware you need,,,,",If you can't find it (here),,they don't make it" !!!!

[marko]

Claw, you really need to stop apologizing mate, there's really not a lot than can be said which would offend me or most people here

[Claw]

I'm Sorry ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. JUST JOKING.

[Claw]

Let me clarify a misprint in an earlier post . It should have read "You SHOULDN'T have all these programs with "real-time" running on the same computer !!!!