What OTHER program do I need?

**harrup** · 03-11-2008, 01:42 PM

Hi

I'm getting narked by having to - almost daily - remove malware/spyware from my laptop.

I have spybot and adaware ( and AVG antivirus & Zonealarm firewall, of course) and use them regularly....but are there any effective programs - paid or free - which prevents this pesky malware to be installed in the first place?

Also, question #2 : is AVG reliable in detecting Trojans? Yesterday I sent a pal a weblink saved in my "favourites" and opon opening it her AVG - same as mine - told her it contained a trojan. I had no alert and yet AVG is updated & run daily on both my systems. I went to the site again ( and opened the mail sent to her)...and still no trojan alert. Is there a specific Tojan checker program.

Many thanks for your help and my apologies if any of these questions have been debated to death. I did check prior postists, but couldn't find the right answers.

**Glaswegian** · 03-11-2008, 01:45 PM

Hi

Indeed there are such programmes - have a look here for details

PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need?

**harrup** · 03-11-2008, 04:11 PM

Cheers, Defender of all things Scottish and....haggis ( really? Haggis? )

I dutifully trundled through the link you advised. Very informative. Thank you.

Only question remaining ( apart from the one why I can send a trojan that my punctilliously updated AVG can't detect on MY system): why one of the spyware preventer programs is LESS likely to slow my computer down.

Spyware Guard? Or Spyware Blaster?

Since installing Skype recently - my sister inconsiderately moved to New Zealand - my poor laptop's performance has taken a sharp nosedive....and if those spyware prevention programs slow it down further, I no longer need to bother with trying to use it.

Any recommendation?

regards

**Glaswegian** · 03-11-2008, 04:30 PM

Both SB and SG use little resources - they sit in the background and prevent infections reaching your computer. I would use both and the Hosts file - then scan on a regular basis with Adaware and Spybot, plus a check at an online scanner. Don't forget - no one AV will detect everything. It's the combination of programmes that works.

**harrup** · 03-11-2008, 04:33 PM

Great help, thanks Iain. Most appreciated.

Wishing you a most pleasant evening.

Regards

Michaela

03-11-2008, 01:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
harrup I helped the forums. Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 58 OS: win xp	What OTHER program do I need? Hi I'm getting narked by having to - almost daily - remove malware/spyware from my laptop. I have spybot and adaware ( and AVG antivirus & Zonealarm firewall, of course) and use them regularly....but are there any effective programs - paid or free - which prevents this pesky malware to be installed in the first place? Also, question #2 : is AVG reliable in detecting Trojans? Yesterday I sent a pal a weblink saved in my "favourites" and opon opening it her AVG - same as mine - told her it contained a trojan. I had no alert and yet AVG is updated & run daily on both my systems. I went to the site again ( and opened the mail sent to her)...and still no trojan alert. Is there a specific Tojan checker program. Many thanks for your help and my apologies if any of these questions have been debated to death. I did check prior postists, but couldn't find the right answers.

03-11-2008, 01:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,559 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: What OTHER program do I need? Hi Indeed there are such programmes - have a look here for details PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need? __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

03-11-2008, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
harrup I helped the forums. Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 58 OS: win xp	Re: What OTHER program do I need? Cheers, Defender of all things Scottish and....haggis ( really? Haggis? ) I dutifully trundled through the link you advised. Very informative. Thank you. Only question remaining ( apart from the one why I can send a trojan that my punctilliously updated AVG can't detect on MY system): why one of the spyware preventer programs is LESS likely to slow my computer down. Spyware Guard? Or Spyware Blaster? Since installing Skype recently - my sister inconsiderately moved to New Zealand - my poor laptop's performance has taken a sharp nosedive....and if those spyware prevention programs slow it down further, I no longer need to bother with trying to use it. Any recommendation? regards

03-11-2008, 04:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,559 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Re: What OTHER program do I need? Both SB and SG use little resources - they sit in the background and prevent infections reaching your computer. I would use both and the Hosts file - then scan on a regular basis with Adaware and Spybot, plus a check at an online scanner. Don't forget - no one AV will detect everything. It's the combination of programmes that works. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

03-11-2008, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
harrup I helped the forums. Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 58 OS: win xp	Re: What OTHER program do I need? Great help, thanks Iain. Most appreciated. Wishing you a most pleasant evening. Regards Michaela