I had a HECK of a day yesterday dealing with the two. When I got rid of one, the other came running and then created a NEW problem. It was so bad that I couldn't access any of the sites on my server because of a DNS redirect that got installed in my computers registry.
I'm just sick and tired of having to deal with Spyware and Viruses. I love Linux and would use it daily, BUT I need a certain program for work that only runs on windows.
What do you guys use to PREVENT these things from getting on your computer?
i dont know if it works or how well, but i use Norton 360. it seems to be fine i havent had any major issues with my machine.
I use a mac at home so far I haven't had anything hit it. I have had two or three pc's crash and burn so I use Norton on them.
I've tried Norton in the past and always thought it worked pretty good till I ended up w/ 7 different virus' and Norton didn't even have a clue.
Currently I'm just using the McAfee security suite that comcast gives you...no real problems other than windows
I'm using Avast and it works good, but the progressive scanner wasn't doing it's job. I even scanned the files BEFORE installing them. If found the virus AFTER it was already installed. I know they can't find them all, but COME ON, I scanned it before hand.
Ok I am a computer tech by trade and heres some tips for all of you first off
Norton 360 or any of the norton products work but are resource hogs they make your computer run slow.....Not a big fan of the McAfee products either. Try AVG its a free program and does the same job as the paid one without the slowness
As far as spyware i have never seen anything get by either of these two programs
SuperAntiSpyware
Again another free program there is a paid version that will run all the time to keep you protected but not nessacary when you think you might have a problem run it
Spyhunter
This is a free to download program it will find problems but not remove them i can tell you how to make it the full version if you would like just message me and i would be happy to tell you whats needed to do so. just download the spyware scanner.
Another great program is Glary Utilities its a one click fix type program
again free program one that you can get a paid version but not needed
I always get a kick out of loading this program on peoples computers just to see what it comes up with as far as bad registry entries other day on customers computer it found 9456 problems in the registry thats one for the record books heres the links to all the sites to find these helpfull programs
All programs are 100% safe and tested
http://www.glaryutilities.com/
http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.enigmasoftware.com/products.php
http://free.avg.com/
And beyond anything that has already been said, one needs to dilligently watch any and everything coming into your computer, and if you don't personally recognize it and know it should be there and why, don't let it in. (Yeah, easier said than done.)
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Personally I use Macs locked down tight, very careful observation of everything in and out, on a LAN with both hardware and software firewalls.
Possibly a Mac for all your use would work for you, with the ability to fire up Windows (or Vista) for the one job you need it for - in a confined sandbox on the same machine.
(I don't know what you are running that is Windows only, but that is one of several ways to do it.)
Good luck.
Any experience w/ Counterspy? Our IT guys use it religiously.
I just downloaded and ran AVG on my mom's laptop. She's always had McAfee. AVG just found 6 viruses.
thats why i dont like mcafee......ill have to check out counterspy never herd of it but im not suprised there is about 1 billon programs out there for anything
alright do this.. go to
http://www.download.com and type on the search field.. Spybot download the latest version of it. this program is one of the best Free Spyware out there even for virus run the program and you will be surprise what is in your system.

spybot is ok but free antispyware hands down superantispyware is better download and install it and see how many more it finds over spybot you will be suprised
ok Shmoe, i took your advice DLed superantispyware and Glary Utilities.... neither one of them would open. when the DL box came up i clicked both run and save and neither one of them would open when done DLing. im not a comp nut but im not a dummy either. cant figure out why neither of them would run though. any ideas?
i just try to add a attachment for you but is not letting me do it i will try other way and i will let you k now .

I've worked in IT for years, about a decade, and in the past few years I've swore by AVG (for antivirus) and Spybot/Ad-aware (for spyware, malware, etc.) mainly cuz they are free and no too bad of resource hogs. Here more recently though I've stopped using AVG and Ad-aware because their newer versions have been completely revamped and now are much more resource hogs w/ AVG (running a handful of processes in the background when it used to be only like 3, I think) and Ad-aware (running some crazy process that even after I kill it it comes back two more times, lol. It used to have no processes running in the background). Also spybot S&D has a lot of crazy crap it will install if you don't watch out too.
Honestly I haven't used any virus protection since my, get this, "30 day trial" of AVG ended (since when was AVG not free). Well I've heard that Avast is similar to what the old AVG was, which actually was pretty good, so maybe I'll DL Avast and check that out. If your too concern w/ viruses, spyware, trojans, etc. then try to stop visiting and downloading from those "bad" sites, you guys know which ones I'm talking about, lol.
Also at work its always been Symantec Corporate Edition, which is pretty decent considering it doesn't bother you too much w/ stupid notices, but at work I'm not too concerned cuz I can reimage a PC and transfer a profile quicker than cleaning up a users virus/spyware mess.