Best firewall / Anti - Virus / Anti - Spyware?

GameMaster said:
Well Windows Defender is there just so you can say you have some protection. Personally I wouldn't suggest you to depend on Defender. Get sth better.
Ask a professional. Oh, sorry I already answered :P
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I'm swapping it for Spyware Doctor after reading a few reviews. What's sth?
 
_simon_ said:
Out of interest where does MS's own Windows Defender rate in all this? (I know it doesn't detect viruses and is not a firewall)

I currently use my routers firewall, AVG free and Windows Defender.

Edit: Just trying that Spyware Terminator. It uses an insane amount of memory. 50MB for resident protection and 70MB to have the control centre open.
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Insane amount of memory? Not really! This finds more crap in the browser folders then Ad-Aware 2007 and puts up a form of mild firewall to alert you to "any" changes on your system. When running the scanner it finds data miners that Ad-Aware 2007 and previous versions pass right by.

As far as the Windows Defender that works in title only! :rolleyes: Another MS flop seen with that one. For a retail antivirus program Kaspersky along with AVG Pro and Trend Micro's PC-cillin make the top ten list easily! The AVG free edition is run along with Ad-Aware 2007 and Spyware Terminator side by side where now it's rare even to see a browser hijack attempt and the usual cleanup of data miners. Seems like a winning combination.
 
Well I swapped from Windows Defender to Spyware Doctor this morning. It seems pretty thorough, confirmed I didn't have any nasties so I tested it by visiting a "dodgy site" which worked just fine. Memory usage is acceptable averaging about 27MB with real time (OnGuard) turned on.
 
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I knew enough not to even count on the WDefender from the start here when first seeing the retail version of Vista. I looked over Spyware Doctor and passed on it. Several others have also been tested over the years here where I siffted the long lists down to just a small number to even consider.
 
PC eye said:
I knew enough not to even count on the WDefender from the start here when first seeing the retail version of Vista. I looked over Spyware Doctor and passed on it. Several others have also been tested over the years here where I siffted the long lists down to just a small number to even consider.
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really? I read many really good reviews of spywaredoctor.. haven't actually tried it but you know the comparison type of reviews, usually it made top spot. Why don't you like it?
 
Try $29.95 over a totally free program found with Spyware Terminator that sees regular updates as well as providing an active alert system similar to a firewall. http://spywaredoctor.free-try.net/?OVRAW=spyware%20doctor&OVKEY=spyware%20doctor&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=12770525012&OVKWID=152377367512

Most of the programs will see pros and cons for each. The shareware version of Webroot's SpySweeper will place an adware so when running and finding a number of things you have to buy the retail version to see them fixed. On the other hand Spybot Search + Destroy gets great reviews but lacks the active protection shield to allow or deny any software changes even using an uninstaller.
 
PC eye said:
Try $29.95 over a totally free program found with Spyware Terminator that sees regular updates as well as providing an active alert system similar to a firewall. http://spywaredoctor.free-try.net/?OVRAW=spyware%20doctor&OVKEY=spyware%20doctor&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=12770525012&OVKWID=152377367512

Most of the programs will see pros and cons for each. The shareware version of Webroot's SpySweeper will place an adware so when running and finding a number of things you have to buy the retail version to see them fixed. On the other hand Spybot Search + Destroy gets great reviews but lacks the active protection shield to allow or deny any software changes even using an uninstaller.
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interesting, I just had a look at spyware terminator - sounds good! But I also read on their website that it provides antivirus protection, wouldn't that conflict with your regular AV?

I also just read that it is made by crawler, which used to be classified as an adware vendor because their products came bundled with the crawler toolbar without the users consent or displaying a license agreement. Is this still so? It makes me a little suspicious...

After a little more research, I found this review. I know many people aren't too keen on these mainstream mags, but the tests they did sound quite thorough and reasonable. Interestingly spyware terminators awards page claims to have gotten a five star rating from pc magazine... After reading all this the only real plus point I can see for spyware terminator is that it monitors changes to browser plugins, startup entries etc. But Winpatrol, for example, does the same things and more - and it is made by a company I know I can trust. I don't mean to bash spywareterminator, but it doesn't sound too good anymore in my opinion...
 
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If you get the download (legal) of Spyware Doctor then it's a lot cheaper. I paid £7.50 from a reseller. (approx $14.89 USD)
 
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The Crawler toolbar is an option I usually uncheck as well as constantly seeing the Google toolbar and other things seen already with check marks in the box when going to try out other downloads. For the most part "any" addon bars certainly open you up for adbots, spybots, and other crap if you are still using IE 6!

The only thing of possible worth found with the Crawler toobar was the web guard if that could ever be found tested to work. The ST programs works well with or without any antivirus program installed like AVG from what has been seen here so far.

While that may catch viruses programs like AVG catch trojans forms of spywares. Malicious code recognition is the main thing found in any good program since that will recognise the large variety of bugs floating around.
 
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