Malware/Antispyware Implementation

seag33k · 25 May 2010

I've read and gained a great deal of knowledge over the last week. As a result I can't find the thread that offered a few suggestions regarding the use and deployment of anti malware & spyware tools. I've put together the following list of tools mentioned often:

Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.0
Superantispyware
Malwarebytes
Spy bot search and destroy

I am sure I may have missed a few, but these were mentioned often with high regard. I know you should not run 2 AV or FW installations, but many people run multiple anti malware/spyware tools (some live and some on demand). Are there any gotchas with any of these tools I should be aware of in combination with avast av & comodo FW?

Thanks for the help getting into the Win7 world!

surfasb · 25 May 2010

By far the best AV/Malware Tools are Microsoft's Security essentials, Windows Firewall and Sandboxie.

Run unknown programs in Sandboxie. Microsoft Security Essentials + Windows Firewall for everything else.

Anything else is not worth the trouble and money.

mitchell64 · 26 May 2010

Hallo Seag33k, are these the threads your looking for;

Security Basics - Windows 7 Forums

swarfega · 26 May 2010

All you need really is:

MSE
Windows Firewall
SuperAntiSpyware

malexous · 26 May 2010

Many believe that Spybot has passed its time.

Emsisoft is said to have the best detection but it can be high on false positives and its process runs all the time even when using the free version on-demand (uses less than 1MB). Edit: You can disable or change the service to manual.

Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.0, Hitman Pro, SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes are all worth using (I just use one).

I have never used any real-time.

Edit: It shouldn't be used as a reason for one being better than the other but it is interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enVc4tpIfkg

Corrine · 27 May 2010

Hi, seag33k.

You shouldn't have any problems with any of the four applications you listed. I suggest you pick one or two to add to your arsenal, not all four.

To add to your list, you may want to take a look at my favorite system monitor, WinPatrol. Some of the current features for Version 17 are described at WinPatrol Features . Version 18 is expected to be released fairly soon.

rvbfan · 27 May 2010

If you want real time and minimal footprint give Spyware blaster a try.
SpywareBlaster® | Prevent spyware and malware. Free download.
No cleaning features only real time protection.

seag33k · 28 May 2010

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

Layback Bear · 28 May 2010

IMHO most computer systems run a A/V and a F/W on auto. They start when you start your computer. Most keep them on auto update. So far so good. On demand anti malware and/or antispyware on demand are use to check things that the other auto run programs might of missed. No programs catch every thing. Yes I have ran on demand program that have caught things the other programs missed. When a program like Super Anti Spy Ware is down loaded (in most cases it is a ON DEMAND ONLY. You must tell it to update and to scan; Demand it to do it's job. If not it will just sit there on your computer system and do nothing. The two on demand programs I use are Super Anti Spyware and Malware Bytes Antimalware. They at times find things that the auto run A/V and F/W don't fine or stop.