Are these programs enough?

Hello,

I use Ad-Aware and Spybot and was laughed at by a friend for not using
enough protection on here. He says XoftSpy and another one (I cannot
remember the name at present) are also needed. I just wanted to ask people
here who are probably a lot more intelligent than this guy, do I need more
anti-spyware programs or are the 2 I use enough?

 

I've used the same two programs (religiously running and updating) and have
had no problems (I'll add a YMMV here for the sake of completeness). Keep in
mind that you could have all the programs in the world, but the first best
source of protection is being smart enough not to open attachments you're
not expecting or visit questionable sites.

Mike

 

Thanks for the reply. I am very careful with attachments and only open them
if I know who they are from.

Thanks though Mike.

 

Read the "Note on XoftSpy: " on this page, and you decide:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#xos_note

There are other known good ones. See:
http://k75s.home.att.net/tips.html#spyware

...but the most important one sits in front of the keyboard:
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

 

But does everyone who sends you email do the same thing with email that they
receive? The link to http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html that BTS posted
is well worth a visit by the look of it.

Hate to sound like a Linux Nazi, but if you really want to opt out of
spyware and viruses then this is what you should be using. Its not that
malware doesn't exist for this operating system, but it is astonishingly
rare given the prevalence of Windows in the marketplace and the fact that
Linux is inherently far more secure.

 

Laugh back at your friend XSoftSpy doesnt figure in the top category in the
review I looked at

 

Null

Just removed Xoftspy from a clients PC, runs better without it.
Research on the Web indicates it's ineffective at best, loaded with
affiliate clutter and other dodgy clingons at worst.

Best advice:

Up to date AntiVirus (not Norton, to bloated)
Stick to Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy, SpywareBlaster, Windows Defender
& Ewido.
Keep them up to date and scan, use your 'suspicious' meter (as you have
indicated)

Best
Paul.

 

All the other advice is good, but the most important thing about
web surfing is not using Internet Explorer/Outlook Express. 99%
or more of all the "trouble" enters via its welcoming
"features".

Try Opera and OffbyOne (it may appear extremely limited at first
but it is 100% secure and eliminates the worst of what I
consider pure web annoyances - popups, scripts, flash, Java,
etc. - by virtue of the fact it simply does not recognize them).

For Usenet I recommend XNews but there are dozens of choices.

 

They are most likely enough if you follow certain practices. Use
Mozzilla instead of Microsoft for browser and email. Stay away from porn
sites, free game sites, free anything else sites and always clean out
your cookies and temp internet files on a daily basis.

 

On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 22:34:31 -0600 in 24hoursupport.helpdesk a thought
sat on ProfGene <>'s chest like a vulture, I said "Pluck
It! And with the feather I'll tickle your throat and you can throw it
up to me" Said he "I shall" & thus puked:

And don't forget to avoid "cracks" sites!
And Warez stuff.