SpywareBlaster 4.3 Released

[Airbot]

April 14th, 2010

Javacools Spywareblaster 4.3 is available. Changelog below-

   Information

New in this version:
-SeaMonkey 2.x support
-Improved Firefox (and other Gecko-based browsers) support
-Improved high-DPI support
-Misc IE Settings enhancements for Windows Vista/7
-Fixed incorrect "not enough free space" message on large hard drives
-Numerous additional bug fixes, tweaks, and optimizations

SpywareBlaster

 

[Aimbot]

Thanks, I'll try this out. I love that it's free.

 

[gregrocker]

How does this compare to Spybot? Have used it for years especially for its Safe Mode scan which can flush viruses hiding in memory at restart and get them where none others can/could.

However, recently this failed me on fake virus scan Trojans that MSE was able to get from the desktop where Spybot in Safe mode, Avast in boot mode (no services) and Malwarebytes could not.

 

[Airbot]

Spywareblaster isn't like an active anti malware scanner, such as Spybot or Malwarebytes. It's just a little passive program that just adds entries in the registry to block certain malware. It doesn't run in the background, there are no active processes running. Just enable all protection, and forget it basically. Has updates every 2 weeks or so. Manual though with the free one. You can view the lists it has of what it blocks from the program. Has a few other options like protecting your homepage (making a snapshot) from un warranted changes, backup host file, etc.

 

[gregrocker]

I only used Malwarebytes and Spybot for their scan feature anyway. Spybot's browser protection and goofy Teatimer have gummed up my system several times. When it missed the latest fake virus scan Trojans I was ready to wave bye-bye to the scanner too.

Have you had any experience with SWBlaster and the fake virus scan Trojans which have now foiled Spybot, MWBytes and Avast here, but not MSE?

 

[Corrine]

If you have SpywareBlaster installed, although you can install the new version "over-the-top", a clean install is recommended (after first disabling all Protections) by javacool.

 

[Airbot]

I only used Malwarebytes and Spybot for their scan feature anyway. Spybot's browser protection and goofy Teatimer have gummed up my system several times. When it missed the latest fake virus scan Trojans I was ready to wave bye-bye to the scanner too.

Have you had any experience with SWBlaster and the fake virus scan Trojans which have now foiled Spybot, MWBytes and Avast here, but not MSE?

Not that I can say, no. Don't specifically know what you're meaning by fake virus scans Trojan.
Have you used SuperAntiSpyware in your comparison as well?

Myself, I don't use SpyBot SD. IMO, it's poorly updated and designed, and the program itself practically never gets updated.

 

[Jacee]

I don't ever remember cleaning malware from a computer running SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard ... do you, Corrine?

Here's a very good tutorial about how to use SpywareBlaster http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial49.html

 

[Corrine]

I agree, Jacee. SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard are preventative software, not cleanup tools.

 

[antharr]

I don't ever remember cleaning malware from a computer running SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard ... do you, Corrine?

Here's a very good tutorial about how to use SpywareBlaster Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers, and Malware

I am running SpywareGuard and SpywareBlaster as well. I run Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware once or twice a week and may find a couple of tracking cookies if that.

 

[Jacee]

Good deal antharr

 

[AussieGuy92]

so does it have realtime protection in the free version?

 

[Airbot]

Pretty sure the one you would pay for only gives you automatic updates basically, when it updates every week or two. Other than that, the main program is free, and what it does, you can read my post here -

http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/78270-spywareblaster-4-3-released.html#post684261

Doesn't have Real Time Protection in the sense of an active scanning program like paid Malwarebytes, or paid Superantisyware, etc.

 

[AussieGuy92]

oh ok thanks so it will do a good job on protecting me from spyware?

 

[Airbot]

It's just a basic stop-gap procedure. Gives you another layer of protection while browsing the interwebz, and being that it doesn't really get in the way, or run anything, it's not a bad thing.

Not a stand alone substitute for an active AV program, and/or running a manual scanner here and there every once and a while though. Having it installed and enabled won't interfere with your AV or AS program/s.

 

[Victek]

Spywareblaster isn't like an active anti malware scanner, such as Spybot or Malwarebytes. It's just a little passive program that just adds entries in the registry to block certain malware. It doesn't run in the background, there are no active processes running. Just enable all protection, and forget it basically. Has updates every 2 weeks or so. Manual though with the free one. You can view the lists it has of what it blocks from the program. Has a few other options like protecting your homepage (making a snapshot) from un warranted changes, backup host file, etc.

.
Something to be aware of is the impact of a long list of sites in the restricted zone of Internet Explorer 8. This wasn't a problem in versions of IE up to 7, but in IE8 performance really suffered. I had to erase the list to get IE 8 working decently. I stopped using SpywareBlaster and also the immunize function of Spybot S&D as a result. YMMV though. I'd be interested to hear what others are experiencing.

 

[Airbot]

Myself, haven't had any performance impact on IE8 with it for me.