At 1/29/06 03:28 PM, Rslegend wrote:
Eaglerock sir, this is sort of off topic, but i have a question for you.
Nothing is off-topic at the Barracks, remember?
I know you are pretty good at computers, but this is a simple question about a certain program. Is ad aware a good program for catching spyware? I have been using it for a while and I am not sure if it makes much a difference.
Ad-Aware is a good program to use, but it isn't good at getting all the spyware. Use at least one other spyware app like Spybot: Search and Destroy to maximize your protection.
Recommended layouts:
Use Lavasoft Ad-Aware and Spybot: Search and Destroy for your spyware needs. You can also you Microsoft Antispyware, as that is good as well.
When you search with Ad-Aware, make sure to use a smart system can and set it to scan for negligable objects as well. Delete everything you come up with. Spybot is simpler, as you just need to do a scan.
With Microsoft AntiSpyware, a daily scan isn't really necessary, but it's good to leave it if you can deal with it popping up 2AM every day. Make sure to turn on the resident antispyware agent that blocks spyware. You will be given alerts by MS AntiSpyware if there are problems.
If you don't want to use MS AntiSpyware, you can use Spybot's TeaTimer.exe scanning utility, which is just as good. For the resident scanner, I prefer AntiSpyware, though. Of course, this is just for spyware protection...you need many more apps to protect your PC from other things like viruses and popups.
Other recommended apps:
- Google Toolbar for IE - great for blocking shit, and it's spyware-free unlike most toolbars
- Windows Firewall - Surprisingly not bad for simple firewall needs
- ZoneAlarm Firewall - A good alternate to the Windows Firewall
- Norton SystemWorks 2003 (or AV if you can't get SW) - It's the only cost applications here, but it really is the best of the best which I recommend
- AVG Antivirus - Not my first choice, but it's a great free AV utility if you can't afford NSW
- PeerGuardian - Good to use if you use P2P apps
Do you know alot about this program? If not, then thats fine.
Does that answer your question? ;-)
Oh, by the way,
*private salute*
*Second Lieutenant Salute*