Spybot-Search & Destroy and Adaware SE Personal

My daughter, has both of the above software applications installed on
her computer and, having read their 'Help' files fairly considerably, I
am giving her some advice re- what to delete.

It is quite evident that in Spybot-Search and Destroy the red boxes
(Spyware) need to be ticked, and deleted, but I am not so sure about the
green boxes (Usage tracks).

Similarly, with Adaware SE Personal the Critical Objects definitely need
removing, but I am in some doubt about the Negligible Objects.

Any views would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Emrys Davies

 

Only you can decide that. If you are having trouble deciding,
and cleaning up usage tracks is not an issue, then ignore
the usage tracks and negligible objects -- you can set both
programs to ignore these.

 

Thanks Mike, I follow that and have made sure that the relevant boxes
are unchecked.

Now that we are on the subject, do you think that there is any merit in
closing down running programs (msconfig- Startup and Screensaver) when
running Skybot-S&D and other similar programs?

Regards,
Emrys Davies.

 

There is absolutely NO merit in closing programs with
msconfig; msconfig is a diagnostic utility, not a startup
manager. When you wish to prevent programs from
starting at bootup, use their options or preferences.

The only programs that need to be closed during spyware
scans are your browser/s...generally.

<snip>

 

Now that we are on the subject, do you think that there is any merit in

Msconfig is only disabling the items but is not stopping them.
You can do that from Windows Task Manager.

Its better that you use some good startup manager to do that if you
don't feel an expert. Look at InControl at
http://www.virtuoza.com/InControl/product.php

Close all Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer windows before
performing the clean-up by Spybot because some spyapps are explorer
plugins and may not be deleted if they are currently started.