Free adware/spyware that is reliable

[Bill Geiger 2]

Just wondering what is the "best" adware/spyware software that i can get free?

 

[D Knx]

Dont' know if it's the "best" but for my money AVG has been very good. It's free!



They have a trial version of anti-spyware that I'm using that works well also.



D-

 

[blksn8k]

I have been using Ad-Aware SE, SpyBot - Search & Destroy and SpywareBlaster for a few years now. They all seem catch or prevent different nasties and they are all free. You can download them at majorgeeks.com

 

[Dale Carlson]

And despite the number flames that are forthcoming, Microsoft Defender (previously know as Microsoft Antispyware, is free and available at microsoft.com) is actually very good, also.



Using Firefox 2.0 or Internet Explorer 7 as your web browser will also help from getting a lot of those nasties in the first place.

 

[Casey B]

Lavasoft Ad-aware SE

 

[Jake Levin]

I'm with blksn8k and kefguy. I use Ad-aware, Sypbot, SpywareBlaster, and windows Defender. None of them seem to catch everything by themselves, but together the have it pretty much covered. there are some other good ones out there, spyware Dr being one of them, but they aren't free.

 

[Richard L]

I have been using Microsofts Defender since it first came out in Beta version about 2 years ago. I used to run AdAware and SpyBot as well as back up but found that Microsoft kept their spyware signatures more up to date and I eventually stopped using the other two.



Since I have been using Microsoft Defender, I have never encountered any spyware on my PC's. When I got my laptop from work, it picked up spyware within the first week I had it. I downloaded and installed Microsoft Defender and it cleaned off the spyware and has prevented any further infections.



...Rich

 

[Greg Stuhlsatz]

Your silly Q. :lol:

 

[Aaron Yarbough]

I use Lavasoft's FREE Ad-aware SE and it seems to work very well for me to.

 

[Mark S 3]

I've always been nervous about using Microsoft's Defender. Since microsoft has been known to have their own spyware included in apps in the past I just don't trust them to be the ones to monitor the situation. A bit too much like asking the fox to guard the hen house.



Adaware and Spybot are the two I've used in the past with a lot of success.

 

[Mark S 3]

This is where your definition and mine of spyware would differ. Give us an example of Microsoft spyware please.

Here you are Q. Just the first article I grabbed. There was also an uproar about WiMP containing spyware a while back too...



The point is that if we're going to trust Microsoft to protect us from spyware, what prevents them from adding their own in and not reporting it? I'll stick with a 3rd party that will provide at least a sense of impartiality.

 

[Dallas Starr]

I run AVG, Adaware and Windows defender. By the way, Spybot will think some of the scripts in Adaware are spyware and remove them (learned that through my programming prof last year), then you'll have to reinstall Adaware all over again to make it run properly (although it will seem to run fine). Running both is like running the same program twice in a row anyways.

 

[TJ Laubach]

Two problems with free adware/spyware. They have their own adware/spyware embedded(even if they claim they don't) and they don't really block the latest and greatest viruses even if they update themselves. Do the math. Your computer cost between $1000 and $2000 bucks. Spend the 20 or 30 bucks on the full version of a a decent adware/spyware program. Trend Micro PC-cillin kills and blocks everything. You gotta pay for it but PC World and Cnet highly recommend it. I've been using it for years and it's the real deal.

 

[Rick T 2]

I protect with Avasts free antivirus, Windows Defender ad/spy ware, and Google toolbar popup blocker. I plug peoples harddrives into my computer to save their data. My choices have no trouble cleaning their problems while protecting my computer.

 

[blksn8k]

Not claiming to be any sort of geek. I also use Mozilla Firefox as my web browser and Avira AntiVir for virus protection. May not be the ultimates for anything but they have kept my stuff clean for several years and it's all free. No math involved.