Best Free Adware/Spyware/Scumware Remover
The internet is a dangerous place to be in the 21st century, with many people using increasingly ingenious ways to part you with your hard earned cash, whether it be by exploitation, surreptitiously harvesting your credit card and bank details for their own nefarious purposes, or tempting you to spend money on products and services that you neither need nor want.
During the latter years of the 20th century, and the early years of the 21st, Spybot S&D and AdAware were kings, protecting you from all manner of malware that tried to infect your computer with the sole intention of parting you from your wallet. But as technology improves, so do the malware writers, and the kings of yesterday in terms of protection may no longer be up to the job.
With every new generation of malware, there will be a new generation of software to combat it, and in my own tests, there are none better than SuperAntiSpyware. How can I be so confident? Because to save you the trouble, I went hunting around the seedier side of Hong Kong websites, picking up as many infections as I could find in a 30 minute surfing session, and then seeing how today’s anti-malware software coped, and without a doubt SuperAntiSpyware was the best.
During my surfing session I managed to acquire nearly 200 nasties, and SuperAntiSpyware found 176 of them. Compared with the second best performer, this was an amazingly high figure, but not quite perfect. However, there are more plusses here. Installation was quick and painless, with scanning time at the default settings impressively quick, and the cleanup process effective. However, it was when I cleaned up that the only fly in the ointment appeared. Whilst SAS did clean every infection it found, on the first attempt it left some behind. A second scan and clean cured this.
The final cleanup was done with a full scan, rather than the quick/smart scan used for testing the software reviewed here, though this took three times as long to detect a single additional threat. Nevertheless, nothing else even came close to the detection rate of SAS.
The runner up in my test was MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, which detected 104 threats, though the time taken to detect them was a little longer than SAS. Having said that, scanning again after I let SAS clean up my system, Malwarebyte’s offering still found an additional 28 threats that SAS had failed to detect. Most of these were Trojans, which suggests the two are aimed at slightly different threats. Anti-malware happily removed these with no troubles at all.
Surprisingly, despite being much maligned of late, AdAware 2008 came third in my tests, finding 86 of the original threats and finding 3 that both SAS and Malwarebytes had ignored, suggesting that the former champion isn’t quite prepared to roll over dead just yet.
Perhaps the most disappointing test was A-Squared, which if you ignore the 10 tracking cookies, only detected a paltry 3 threats from the original infection, and none of these were malware as such, but simply mechanisms by which malware may operate. These remained even after cleaning with the previous three products.
More disappointingly, A-Squared gives no real indication of scan times, having just a progress bar which shows 100% complete long before the scan was actually finished.
Both Spybot S&D and Spyware Terminator were ineffective against the infections on my test system, detecting approximately 5 – 8% of the original infections. After cleaning, there was nothing left for these to claim any glory at all, and I find it hard to recommend either.
Prevention is, however, better than cure, and none of the free products already mentioned offer prevention.
Enter stage right Comodo BOClean and Threatfire which both aim to stop malware entering your system in the first place. It’s difficult to assess the effectiveness of both products with any degree of accuracy, though both seem to have a place in our systems.
Employing different methods of protection, Comodo’s software will attempt to monitor changes to your system and block those presenting a threat using, as far as I was able to tell, a heuristic approach. ThreatFire, on the other hand, uses aggressive behavioural analysis to prevent unwanted applications installing.
My own experience suggests that Comodo can be a little resource heavy, and may also introduce instability to some systems, whilst ThreatFire can be a little too aggressive, preventing perfectly safe and legitimate software installing and running. However, there are many more people using both products without difficulty, and both are certainly worth considering as a part of your overall protection.
Arovax Shield is starting to gain support from users, though despite the current version number (2.1.103) appears to be newly available to users. At first glance, Avorax Shield appears to be competent and vigilant, asking for permission to allow other software to make modifications to your system without being too "in your face". However, I did notice an annoyance after a few days of use, and appearing to be caused specifically by my own system tweaks. The annoyance was that every 2nd boot (oddly) Avorax would stop the boot process complaining that a system service was not running. I can only assume that Avorax was launching before the service did, hence the complaint. What was especially annoying was that, at this point, Avorax refused to acknowledge user intput to it's warning, and so the window could not be closed. Since Avorax was halting the startup sequence, the only recourse was a hard reboot. Hardly ideal, and in my mind indicative that Avorax is still very much a beta version. However, if you are running a "standard" Windows system without the various tweaks many of us use to maximise performance, Avorax looks like it could be a useful first line of defence. I will certainly re-visit the software a few versions down the line.
Being neither a malware scanner, nor prevention, HiJack This is an excellent tool for helping to protect your system from uninvited software, but it isn’t for the faint hearted. HiJack This will analyse your system and offer a comprehensive log of installed software, startup items, registry keys etc. Reading the logs requires a good understanding of the system, though fortunately there are some very helpful forums where some very knowledgeable people are willing to help.
Generally, more is better, and it is well worth installing more than one product. Some will detect threats that others will miss, and different products will be more effective against different types of threat. However, the best protection is only as good as the user, and you should always exercise common sense when surfing the web and installing software. Only be sure to visit sites and install applications that you trust.
Website: http://www.superantispyware.com/
Download link: http://www.superantispyware.com/downloadfile.html?productid=SUPERANTISPYWAREFREE
Author: SuperAnitiSpyware.com
Current version: 4.21.1004
Version date: September 5, 2008
License: Freeware
Download File size: 6.33 Mb
Operating Systems Supported: Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, Vista, 2003 and XP Home/Pro.
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit Capable: In 32Bit mode
Portable Version Available: No
Non-English languages supported: Unknown
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
Website: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
Download link: http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html
Author: Malwarebytes
Current version: 1.29
Version date: October 16, 2008
License: Freeware
Download File size: 2.24MB
Operating Systems Supported: Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 2003 Server
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit Capable: Unknown
Portable Version Available: No
Non-English languages supported: Yes
Spyware Doctor Starter Edition
Website: http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/google_pack/
Download link: http://www.download.com/Spyware-Doctor-Starter-Edition/3000-8022_4-10704508.html
Author: PC Tools
Current version: 6.0.0.362
Version date: August 27, 2008
License: Freeware
Download File size: 12.69MB
Operating Systems Supported: Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit Capable: No
Portable Version Available: No
Non-English languages supported: Yes
- Best Free Anti-Virus Software
- Best Free Trojan Scanner/Trojan Remover
- Best Free Rootkit Scanner/Remover
- Best Free Intrusion Prevention and Detection Utility for Home Use (HIPS)
- Best Free Browser Protection Utility
- How to Secure Your PC
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I personally like malware bytes as it provides complete protection to my system and the review is available at.
http://anishlj.blogspot.com/2008/11/malware-remover.html
Check out new KASPERSKY'S totally FREE and updatable anti-Malware, with RESIDENT-SHIELD included!!!
Is called AVZ Antiviral Toolkit 4.30. It can be downloaded here:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/AVZ-Antiviral-Toolkit.shtml
i just downloaded it. how do you use it? i'm getting nothing but question marks with a bunch of numbers.
It's not that hard; press "start" (green button).
I've been using it for a while and it works great; the scanner is fast, it's low on resources, update quickly, and it has lots of tools bundled (that I will probably never use, but you never know). Not sure about detection rates though. But my first impression is very positive.
nevermind. updating it will fix the problem. follow the link to screenshot 4 and go to database update, then restart.
updating it just fixed the problem.
nevermind. i just updated and fixed the problem.
Doesn´t have a resident-shield, sorry my mistake.
I think Spybot is great. Now I don't have a test system, just a lot of computers, and help people with their computers all the time. I find the Spybot is one of the few scanners that gets rid of the real bad stuff, not just cookies. One of the biggest problems that I find with friends and family is that they don't ever run scanners, or update things like SpywareBlaster free edition. So I really like the fact that you can (in advanced options) schedule spybot to update, immunize, scan, and clean. There are tons of options, and you can set it up so that it only does it when the computer is idle, and stops when it becomes in use again. I have found that its very necessary to get the schedule setup right, and it works a lot better when uncheck the run only when logged on, and enter in the windows password.
Like I said before, I don't have a test system, just a lot of real world experience, and I'll tell you this
SuperAntiSpyware works good
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is the only thing that I have found that removes Antivirus Pro 2009, and thats in its self makes it rock.
Spyware doctor gets stuff that the others don't, and it gets stuff other than cookies, but it makes your computer horribly sluggish. I only use it as a scanner, which is kind of a pain, because after you do a scan you have to shut it down, and all it services.
I have never had A-squred work
AdAware 2008 sucks, never finds anything, and is horribly slow.
Spyware Terminator is cool because its even free for businesses, but I have always ended up removing it from systems because it never seems to find anything, and it just makes everything sluggish.
Personally I think the future is in Black Lists. I have a black list on my IPCOP linux firewall, that also has a hack that was given to me from the creator of URL filter to add MVP Hosts file to my black list. I also use Open DNS to block Phishing sites. Along with safe browsing habits I have not had any problems on my home computers in a long time.
AdAware is good to find cookies.
Is there any reason to have the free version of SAS load at startup? As far as I can tell, it is not preventing any spyware from loading but it does a great job of removing sypware. If this is the case, I will just run it on-demand.
I also see no good reason either. I think this question comes up every once in awhile, and I've still yet to hear a fully explained argument for keeping it running. I have no clue why protecting itself from termination is important, so I personally never have it load at startup.
According to the developer, it's recommended that you leave it on because it protects itself from termination.
I see no reason at all. I've been using SAS for over a year. I run on demand only. I also use MBAM on demand.They never find anything. But I keep them just in case.
After all is said and done, there is a great need for more and better anti-spyware/malware applications. I have used Spyware Doctor and Webroot's SpySweeper, both of which I gave up on a year ago, due to "freezing" problems with my XP, and a distinct fall-off in quality. I tried Sunbelt's CounterSpy, but had problems from that 72 MB monster as well. SpywareBlaster has been on my PC for years, but I am totally unaware of its efficacy. I now have AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 (the paid version) and SUPERAntispyware Pro. As I mentioned above, although I purchased MBAM, I am unable to use it. What the Dickens else IS available for us to protect ourselves with against the ever-increasing quantity and sophistication of malware? Why are there so few good apps available? And why are the rogue apps proliferating? Is there no control authority? Spybot Search & Destroy is no longer effective and Ad-Aware 2008 seems to be a waste of time. If I wasn't bald I'd be pulling my hair out... There are just no worthwhile apps available except SAS and MBAM. I have ThreatFire installed, but it is also an unknown quantity.
I would have to disagree with you. I think if users took took the time to learn about computer security, they would find its easy to protect themselves. Most computers I've cleaned are infected because the users don't have a clue about how to protect their computers. It's all about preventing infection. If you expect some program to do it for you well good luck. There is a great article on this site here's the link
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how-to-secure-your-pc.php
I used to be paranoid about my computer. Ran anti-virus, spyware program, HIPS program,a firewall with HIPS, and SpywareBlaster. What a drain on my computer,
all this real time protection.
Now I just keep my computer updated with Secunia (free)Run a light Internet Security suite (Paid),use Sandboxie (Paid) I'm using less than 18 MB. I surf where ever I want with in reason. Nothing gets on my computer. Not even tracking cookies. I just wonder are you being paranoid,or are you doing things that cause you to get infected. You say "There are just no worthwhile apps available except SAS and MBAM" I disagree there are several very good AV that do an excellent job, some even free. http://www.av-comparatives.org/ Check out these tests.
Thank you Anonymous. In fact, I agree with all you say and I am a registered member of Secunia and keep my programs up to date security-wise. I am also very careful which web sites I visit. So I very seldom get spyware/malware on my PC as a result. But I don't want one of these Security Suites, as they are by all accounts heavy on resources. I like to run separate AV and Anti-Spyware applications as a single PC home user. All I was saying is that there are so few Anti-Spyware programs available. There is hardly a choice. Let me mention again that Gizmo's article on keeping safe on the Internet is an excellent guide and I try to follow it. I use Avira AntiVir Premium as AV-Comparatives put it at No. 1. Enough said.
Why not follow this guide?
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how-to-secure-your-pc.php
The protection you have is probably, at the moment, about as good as it gets. Threatfire does work, though as I mentioned in the review, I found it a little too aggressive for my liking.
As for the "why", that is simply because the anti-malware programmers are permanently playing catch-up. Until a threat appears, they can't protect against it. Short of a crystal ball to tell them what's coming.
Maybe when quantum computing arrives adaptive behavioral protection with no zero day flaws will become a reality, but I suspect that adaptive malware will also apper, plunging our PCs into an eternal battle, for which there can be no winner.
Steve
Thanks JonathanT and Steve. Actually I read Gizmo's excellent article when it first appeared, but lack the know-how for that seemingly complicated stuff. But what Gizmo has written that I DO understand, I can only agree with. Due to his article I drastically reduced my multi-layered AS protection and my PC boots up and shuts down very quickly and its responsiveness is vastly improved. I understand that this AS/Malware subject is very tricky, and what I have found is that "good" apps lose their high rating as time passes, and drift into oblivion. It must be an extremely onerous task maintaining a security application year in and year out, and I would certainly not want the job! So no criticism intended, just a cry against the paucity of good applications.
Thanks guys. (The post from 'anonymous' on this matter is from me too, but I forgot to log in!)
I have a strange problem indeed. I wrote this to Windows Secrets: "The patch 958644 was duly installed by Microsoft this morning, as I said, and my PC was rebooted. It rebooted fine, but was "frozen solid" on reboot, and nothing worked. Not even the Start menu would respond. I tried shutting down and rebooting a number of times, then my active desktop disappeared on one of the reboots, and my PC was still frozen solid." By a process of elimination I found Malwarebytes' AntiMalware (purchased) was the culprit, and on uninstalling it, my PC returned to normal, and I had no further issues. About twenty days after this event, I again installed Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, with exactly the same problem rearing its head. Even the mouse arrow moved jerkily. On again uninstalling MBAM, my PC returned to normal. Can anyone suggest why MBAM conflicts with patch 958644 ? I would love to know why MBAM conflicts with this "critical" security patch from Microsoft. Thanks.
The best thing for you to do is report this to the MBAM forum, here:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showforum=41
(Note: A preliminary search of that forum does not show anyone else having reported the issue.)
One other thought: we have no idea what else is running on your system... is it possible that you're already running some other real-time anti-spyware program which is "fighting" MBAM... and that, rather than a conflict with the Microsoft security patch, is the true source of your problem?
Thanks Anonymous. The only other Anti-Spyware I have on my XP Home SP 3 is SUPERAntispyware, and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware ran happily on my system for many months. The trouble began IMMEDIATELY after Microsoft installed the automatic update critical security patch, which required a reboot. On reboot the problem presented itself immediately, and was resolved on uninstalling MBAM. My AV is Avira AntiVir Premium. I bought Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, but now I am unable to use it!
Has anyone tried AVZ Anti-Viral Toolkit ? Can this be tested ? Looks like it's crafted by a Kaspersky engineer, it uses KIS 2009 engine and signatures (unlike AVPTool), it's portable, and has an update feature bundled (unlike AVPTool).
Check out the awesome interface and features:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=179806
Also reviewed here:
http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2008/10/31/free-portable-and-powerfu...
"AVZ enables you to automatically or manually locate and remove spyware and AdWare programs and modules, rootkits and other software tools intended to conceal running processes, files or system data from the operating system, network and e-mail worms, various trojan applications including password stealers, malware downloaders, Trojan-Spies, and Backdoors (tools allowing remote control of a computer), trojan dialers, keyloggers and other means of tracking user’s activity."
any reason not to examine SpyCatcher Express 5.1 ?
http://majorgeeks.com/SpyCatcher_express_d4492.html
-Shane-
http://4Einc.co.cc
A quick check around the web reveals mixed feelings regarding Spycatcher Express, though there seem to be more negative experiences than positive, with reports of instability, incompatibility with established software, breaking internet connections etc.
If there's demand for a thorough test, I'm prepared to go ahead, although early research doesn't look good.
Steve
It is interesting to read about the poor test results in regard to a-squared Free. It would be interesting to run this test again with the a-squared Command Line Scanner (http://download1.emsisoft.com/a2cmd.zip). I noticed that when I installed a-squared Free, the "signatures" folder is only 28MB but the a-squared Command Line Scanner contains twice as many signatures at 56MB. The product description for the a-squared Command Line Scanner states, "All features of the Anti-Malware scanner are included", so I guess the free command line version has the same detection rate as the full-featured a-squared Anti-Malware that costs $39.95/year? It is interesting that when I installed the trial version of Emusoft's full-featured a-squared Anti-Malware, I noticed it contains the exact same a2cmd.exe and Ikarus T3 antivirus engine as the free a-squared Command Line Scanner.
Here is a batch script that works nicely with the a-squared Command Line Scanner:
echo off
a2cmd /u
a2cmd /smart /m /t /c /h /r /a /n /l /q /s
if not errorlevel 1 goto end
echo Suspect files have been detected during the scan
:end
echo End of batch program
To enable a daily/weekly system scan, just save the above mentioned batch script under your a2cmd program folder as a2cmd.bat for example, and then select it when you create a new task with Microsoft Windows Scheduled Tasks (Start->Run->control schedtasks).
Correction to the above mentioned a2cmd batch script (I forgot to designate the logfile name. If this is not included, it crashes the program):
echo off
a2cmd /u
a2cmd /smart /m /t /c /h /r /a /n /q /s /l=a2cmd.log
if not errorlevel 1 goto end
echo Suspect files have been detected during the scan
:end
echo End of batch program
That's an interesting post - and something I will explore more deeply during my next batch of tests (I need to rebuild my test rig - see my post further down regarding a dead system) but you can be sure I'll do a side by side comparison. I'd really like to see A-Squared doing better.
Steve
Just a question for steve:
What was Spyware doctor's detection result compared to SuperAntiSpyware?
You didn't seem to mention SD's performance in your article, and I couldn't be bothered flicking through the many pages of comments if it has been discussed there.
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