Anti-Spyware programs that are no longer needed?
- Thread starter Overkill
- Start date
Spyware today is not like it used to be. When spyware was the main form of malware, it silently installed without users permission (no EULA or any mention of it on the bundled installer) and ran in your system's background without users knowing about it. Could not be killed with Windows Task Manger if you were able to find the processes.
Now after many lawsuits, today's spyware is really just adware because EULA is on the installers, most bundled installers have opt-outs, the bundled programs allow users to change its settings, most bundled programs are easy to uninstall with Windows uninstall tool, they just don't run silently on your system and allow users to exit them when they want to.
Many companies that used to be the largest spyware distributors like Crawler for example are now helping to fight it. They now only make security products and simple adware instead.
So spyware isn't a big problem today and many of the programs that used to be the best to remove or block them are no more necessary.
Spybot, SpywareBlaster and Ad-Aware were the king back in those days because no other products to block or remove these troubled spyware infections.
Spybot and Ad-Aware has been replace by Malwarebytes and SpywareBlaster has been replace by browser extensions like Ghostery and Do Not Track Plus.
With advancement in browsers, Active X Controls, Add-ons, extensions and plugins are blocked by default where the user has to manually enable them. Therefore many of the blocking features of Spybot and SpywareBlaster are no longer needed.
The Anti-Spyware products that are still around had to move to Anti-Virus products to still be able to keep up.
CounterSpy became VIPRE, Ad-Aware added VIPRE AV engine, Spybot Pro added BitDefender AV, Webroot SpySweeper became Webroot Secure Anywhere after buying out Prevx, Giant AntiSpyware divided their access with Sunbelt to make CounterSpy and Microsoft to make Windows Defender and MSE, Ewido AntiSpyware was bought by AVG, Spyware Terminator added ClamWin AV on their older version then moved to F-PROT AV, Emsisoft first added IKARUS then moved to BitDefender, most of the other AntiSpyware products are discontinued except for SuperAntiSpyware and I don't know how it still is going without an AV engine.
So yes you no longer need a product dedicated to detect, block or remove spyware. Most AV's already detect spyware and you are most likely going to be exposed to just adware now days. Most of the common adware products are no longer detected by most AV scanners, they are considered to be (clean) adware.
Of coarse you can still get spyware if you don't watch what you download and install but it is not a big problem like it was in the past.
The main problem today is rogueware like fake AV's and fake security products which fall under the Trojan category.
So the main problem today is Trojans!! and MBAM does an excellent job removing them.
Enjoy!!
Now after many lawsuits, today's spyware is really just adware because EULA is on the installers, most bundled installers have opt-outs, the bundled programs allow users to change its settings, most bundled programs are easy to uninstall with Windows uninstall tool, they just don't run silently on your system and allow users to exit them when they want to.
Many companies that used to be the largest spyware distributors like Crawler for example are now helping to fight it. They now only make security products and simple adware instead.
So spyware isn't a big problem today and many of the programs that used to be the best to remove or block them are no more necessary.
Spybot, SpywareBlaster and Ad-Aware were the king back in those days because no other products to block or remove these troubled spyware infections.
Spybot and Ad-Aware has been replace by Malwarebytes and SpywareBlaster has been replace by browser extensions like Ghostery and Do Not Track Plus.
With advancement in browsers, Active X Controls, Add-ons, extensions and plugins are blocked by default where the user has to manually enable them. Therefore many of the blocking features of Spybot and SpywareBlaster are no longer needed.
The Anti-Spyware products that are still around had to move to Anti-Virus products to still be able to keep up.
CounterSpy became VIPRE, Ad-Aware added VIPRE AV engine, Spybot Pro added BitDefender AV, Webroot SpySweeper became Webroot Secure Anywhere after buying out Prevx, Giant AntiSpyware divided their access with Sunbelt to make CounterSpy and Microsoft to make Windows Defender and MSE, Ewido AntiSpyware was bought by AVG, Spyware Terminator added ClamWin AV on their older version then moved to F-PROT AV, Emsisoft first added IKARUS then moved to BitDefender, most of the other AntiSpyware products are discontinued except for SuperAntiSpyware and I don't know how it still is going without an AV engine.
So yes you no longer need a product dedicated to detect, block or remove spyware. Most AV's already detect spyware and you are most likely going to be exposed to just adware now days. Most of the common adware products are no longer detected by most AV scanners, they are considered to be (clean) adware.
Of coarse you can still get spyware if you don't watch what you download and install but it is not a big problem like it was in the past.
The main problem today is rogueware like fake AV's and fake security products which fall under the Trojan category.
So the main problem today is Trojans!! and MBAM does an excellent job removing them.
Enjoy!!
Tired and in no mood to fill username & password for login
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Just log in to give kudos to Littlebits
What would you suggest for rogueware like fake AV's? Make suggestions for tools below, in which
Trojans,adware and Ransom-ware? But I am trying to have a layer effect just in case my software can
not remove the malware.
Hitman Pro & Malwarebtyes Anti-Malware for all round removal.
Maybe ERA Remover (ESET Rogue Applications Remover)!
http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2372&locale=en_US
For Trojans maybe,
Trojan Hunter:
http://www.trojanhunter.com/
or
Trojan Remover:
http://www.simplysup.com/tremover/download.html
Kaspersky TDSS Killer:
http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/utility
Ransom-ware:
Not sure which one here?
Looking to your suggestions!
Trojans,adware and Ransom-ware? But I am trying to have a layer effect just in case my software can
not remove the malware.
Hitman Pro & Malwarebtyes Anti-Malware for all round removal.
Maybe ERA Remover (ESET Rogue Applications Remover)!
http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2372&locale=en_US
For Trojans maybe,
Trojan Hunter:
http://www.trojanhunter.com/
or
Trojan Remover:
http://www.simplysup.com/tremover/download.html
Kaspersky TDSS Killer:
http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/utility
Ransom-ware:
Not sure which one here?
Looking to your suggestions!
Moose said:
First you should create a new thread for your question as you are posting an off-topic question here.
As it becomes standard that AV programs include anti-spyware it will lead to the eventual extinction of pretty much all standalone anti-spyware solutions.
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