AdAware SE free support ends Dec31, 2007

[PrntRhd]

Just so you are not caught unaware, Lavasoft is discontinuing updates and support for their AdAware SE version tomorrow unless you have a paid license (Plus or Pro). This means you will no longer have any updated protections and will have increased risks the longer you continue with the SE version.
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showforum=1

[tommy]

Any suggestions for a replacement?

[PrntRhd]

They suggest AdAware 2007.

I would suggest other software.
I have personally stopped using their software ever since they allowed Claria (Gator anyone?) software from being detected as a threat.

Spybot Search & Destroy, maybe even SuperAntispyware (I did have a booting issue with certain releases of SAS).

[Budfred]

There are a number of other problems over at LavaSoft that convinced me to stop recommending them completely... I suggest Spybot, Windows Defender or any number of others... SuperAntispyware is not consistent or stable enough for my taste...

Check here before downloading/installing any that are not recommended on a security forum, there are rogues out there who can be worse than using no protection at all:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

[Fred_Flintstone]

AVG Antispyware (Free) works for me.
Stopped recommending Adaware ages ago for the reasons above, and uninstalled it from my machine.

Also use Spybot for regular on demand scans...;)

[awaj]

I thought AdAware's latest version had some problems anyways.

[dafink]

So Lavasoft's programs aren't as good as they were? When I first joined the forum they were one of a few programs recommended besides Search & Destroy and Spyware Blaster.

What happened that they've fallen so far?

[mjc]

Any number of things, really. But it boils down to personality issues among the main people involved.

[dafink]

What programs would you suggest using?

I'll be installing Comodo again once I see they fixed the newest version of their program. I installed the upgrade and it instantly brought my pc to a halt. Couldn't understand what was going on and why it was using 98% system resources.

When I saw others having the same problem I was happy it wasn't just me.

[Budfred]

I hope you at least have the Windows firewall on in the meantime...

For anti-spyware... I would go with Spybot, AVG Anti-spyware, Windows Defender or any number of others that are still reliable, but most of them cost money... Use the resident protection if you go with Defender or Spybot, but only run one resident protection for each type of protection software...

[pentachris]

What programs would you suggest using?

Maximum PC magazine recently recommended ThreatFire (http://www.threatfire.com/):

ThreatFire's patent-pending ActiveDefense technology offers protection against all types of internet threats - both known and unknown — spyware, adware, keyloggers, viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, buffer overflows, and other malware.

Any experts here have any experience with or thoughts on that software?

[dafink]

Actually we just switched to FIOS and their router has a firewall on it...pretty nice too.

I will be using Comodo again...just been watching their updates and fixes for that glitch.

Do you know which i'm talking about?

[Budfred]

Maximum PC magazine recently recommended ThreatFire (http://www.threatfire.com/):



Any experts here have any experience with or thoughts on that software?

I don't know anything about the program, but the description suggests that it will probably have a lot of false positives since that is the main drawback to the approach they describe...

[PrntRhd]

I Googled the program, saw some reviews of it on Download.com, reviews varied all over. Not the most stable approach to security.

[tonysolomon]

I use and would recommend spybot and spyware doctor. I think that they do a great job. I would also recommend McAffee Site Advisor, which is also free.