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Hi Jacques

Someone has posted .-

"Spybot and Adaware aren't as effective as they used to be. My impression is that the best free anti-spyware scanners around at the moment are AVG anti-spyware"

I presently use Adaware for spyware control, and AVG for virus protection.

Do you think it is best to just use AVG for both?

(Until I read this post I didn't realise AVG also did spyware protection for free).

Thanks for your advice.

PC

PC wroted "Do you think it is best to just use AVG for both? In Jaques absence


Liz recommends AVG Grisoft for ALL your needs, the rest are lightweights, AVG as is now, was the old Ewido company. and jolly good they were too.

[img]http://bgafd.co.uk/miscellany/images/lizard.jpg[/img]

AVG AS is the old Ewido. From my reading it is merely OK.
Right now I am using Spyware Terminator (comes w/ a separate AV) in conjunction w/ the Google DL version of Spyware Doctor, which is free but has a Scan & Fix function, unlike other free versions of it elsewhere.
Supplemented by Adaware of course.

I'm clearly not in the technical knowledge leagues as you lot regularly prove to be, but i use Spybot and Adaware (thanks to you guys) anD AVG and free McAfee because of a friend. I didnt know AVG did spyware either by just out of interest where's the real money for these companies offering free products

Have AVG Free virus scanner, AVG Anti-Spyware, Kerio Personal Firewall and scan with Wndows Defender also.

They're all free, pretty good, and with using Firefox as my browser, I've not had any viruses or really bad spy/malware in 2-3 years.

According to this month's Computer Shopper it suggests that AVG has a below average performance. They claim that the best AV protection is Steganos AV 2007 and Kaspersky AV6. Fair enough these are not free.

Check this out for the best free stuffy goodness:



Who's your daddy?

I can only reccomend my current set up to be Honest; AdAware, Spybot, Windows Defender, Spyware Blaster and firewall and anti-virus handled by Bit Defender.

There are good and bad to be said about all of them. It's how you use them that counts.

A good firewall is paramount and Kiero or Zone Alarm are two of the best.

Also ensure that your router is (if you use one) your first line of defence.

Do a 'Common Ports' check at Shields Up (easier to google than link as they change the addy fequently). You should be looking to get the following message:

Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet ? solicited or otherwise ? was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.

The most common ports with problems are 21, 23 and 443.

I also use Firefox with Adblock and NoScript.

Not a single problem other than Tracer Cookies in the last couple of years or so.

Lizard and everyone thanks for replying and advice offered.

Jacques, Thank you for the info to test my (wireless) router.

Shields Up and click on proceed.

Very re-assuring test result.-

Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet ? solicited or otherwise ? was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.

Port
Service
Status Security Implications
0

Stealth There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that a port (or even any computer) exists at this IP address!
21
FTP
Stealth There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that a port (or even any computer) exists at this IP address!
23
Telnet
Stealth There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that a port (or even any computer) exists at this IP address
443
HTTPS
Stealth There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that a port (or even any computer) exists at this IP address

etc...... !happy!

I have installed the AVG spyware application.... This works better than my Ad-Aware. I have two users on this laptop and you have to run an Ad-Aware scan on both users...... The AVG spyware scanner does both users in one go.

Thanks again.

PC