Spybot, Adaware-What else?

[superslug]

Among friends, family and on many a forum post I see these two programs posted as the immediate answers to getting rid of net crap. I'm curious what other nifty things you personally use for security in addition to these.

For me it's AVG Virus scan and Zone Alarm...

 

[Dell19]

I'm using the two in the title, NAV (A virus scanner seems to be a must have nowadays...) and a popup blocker called popup stopper (original!)...

 

[Paalikles]

Right now I have:
Trendmicro internet security
Spybot
Ad-aware
Spywareblaster
Spywareguard
the nvidia card's extension to disallow popups - as in; a popup blocker
firewall of my router
firewall of windows XP
firewall of my virus scanner suite (see above) - this one set to the highest setting - meaning I manually allow/disallow programs access to the internet

in addition, I have configured IE and Firefox to be as secure as possible:
-manual configuration of cookies
-ask before accepting all activeX controls (disabled for unsigned ones...)
-disallow use of scripts in windows media player
-no storing of passwords in IE or Firefox
-clearing MRU-lists every 2nd or 3rd day
-temporary internet files cleared every second day

that's just off the top of my head

 

[funxus]

@Paalikles, do you need it all, or are you just paranoid?

A firewall in the router and either NAV or Norman antivirus on each computer... Also ad-aware, but that's just because everyone here keeps telling people to use it, not that I really have a need to use it.

I also let MS Outlook 2003 clean my incoming mails for spam. Unfortunately that's something I need.

 

[Paalikles]

Well - the virus scanner takes care of most things, spywareguard and spywareblaster does the real time protection when it comes to activex stuff, and the spybot-adaware combo deals with the rest.
I dont really do much with the firewalls

I havent had a hacker attack since...well...last year...
I have had my share of spyware, but I have been virus free all the time

so I guess I m more of a playing it safe kind of guy. I applied as many changes as I felt was necessary - too much micromanagement kind of unbalances the deal, as that would take too much time, increasing the cost of protection...

 

[eyrei]

Hijackthis is a useful program if you are either very knowledgeable or willing to perform experiments on your computer. It will, however, get rid of things that no other program that I have seen yet will...

 

[Jeratain]

Window Washer

 

[Goober]

I have a nifty little thingie called "RegSeeker", apparenrtly it cleans your Registry, which is apparently good, and makes things run smoother. Truth be told, I have no clue what it is, but it does seem to make things run better, and apparently it is good.

 

[Jeratain]

I have a nifty little thingie called "RegSeeker", apparenrtly it cleans your Registry, which is apparently good, and makes things run smoother. Truth be told, I have no clue what it is, but it does seem to make things run better, and apparently it is good.

Basically what you're doing is scanning your registry (which is: "A database used by Windows for storing configuration information.") for dead keys or invalid ones, and removing them. It will only find a few keys the first time you scan it and then everytime afterwards it will probably rarely find any at all - unless you are constantly installing and uninstalling programs. It's relatively safe to do as long as you backup your registry. Be careful however; if you don't backup, one simple mess with a registry key can mess up your computer, and if you don't have a backup you'll have to reformat or repair Windows - or certain programs, depending on the key in question. It's usually not a good idea to **** with your registry if you don't know what you're doing.

If you want to scan your registry for spyware and whatnot, AdAware and Spybot do a good job at that.

 

[Goober]

Hmm, interesting, thanks Jeratain. I will just stick with AdAware and Spybot, they seem to be decent. Dang it, Computers are too friggen complicated, all these things you need to learn!!!

 

[DreadCthulhu]

CWShredder is a must have. Some versions of CoolWebSearch, a very nasty piece of spyware, will stop Ad-Aware and Spybot from working(and it will redirect websearches for these products as well), and you need to use CWShredder to wipe it out.

Other than that, run Firefox(my favorite) or Opera, they don't have browser hijacks & activeX sercuity holes you find in Internet Exploder. They also come with a built-in pop-up blocker. And for Firefox, you can get the extension Adblock, which makes it easy to filter out ads, and Flashblock, which replaces flash items with a button you click to play. I also use Zonealarm and AVG.

 

[akillias]

Best Of All Firefox Browser Which Includes A Built In Firewall

 

[jeannie]

I have a nifty little thingie called "RegSeeker", apparenrtly it cleans your Registry, which is apparently good, and makes things run smoother. Truth be told, I have no clue what it is, but it does seem to make things run better, and apparently it is good.

(and Jeratain's explanation of what "RegSeeker" does)
I have Norton Systemworks, and it has a step in the "One Button Checkup" that 'scans the registry for problems" - is this, then, already doing for me what RegSeeker would do?

 

[Dell19]

Possibly although they might still find different things...

 

[Chieftess]

I also use ZoneAlarm, and the google taskbar (popup blocker).

 

[bobgote]

Agnitum Outpost (Firewall)
Firefox has built in ad blocking
for IE i have the google taskbar.

don't actually have an antivirus. haven't needed it of late.

 

[lord_yoshi]

I have:
Sygate PF
PCCillin IS 2004
Spybot
Ad-Aware
good old router

Browser:
Firefox with Ad-Block.

 

[Kingshaggy]

i have

Sygate Personal Firewall
avast! Antivirus
AVG 6.0 Anti-Virus System
Spybot
Ad-Aware
WinPatrol
iISystem Wiper
X Cleaner
SpywareBlaster
Startup Mechanic
PopupPopper
Spywareguard
Spy Sweeper
Bazooka
MRU-Blaster
Script Defender
SpySites
IE-Spyad
IE hosts file

Browser's:
Mozilla Firefox
Avant
Internet Explorer with yahoo anti spy (beta) toolbar