Ad-Aware, any risks?

[Texas Coyote]

I already have Malwarebytes and I was told that Ad-Aware would be a good compliment to it. Can anyone tell me if this is true or not and if their is a better match for it?

[Kari]

Ad-Aware is safe and sometimes finds things that Malwarebytes doesn't find...and vice versa. That being said, Ad-Aware has really become a bloated program (58MB).

Spybot is a much better option, in general I find it catches a lot more then Ad-Aware.

In either case, ensure that you download the software from the proper site as there some websites out there that look the same but will let download malware disguised as these 2 products.

http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Anniversary-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html
Spybot

[RuralSerenity]

I run both Ad-Aware and Spybot. I had read somewhere, that if one misses something, the other will "catch" it.

[Windy in Kansas]

I also run both Ad-Aware and Spybot but must say that it has been a really long time since either caught something the other missed.

I now use the Free Anniversary Edition of Ad-Aware it is seems to be a much better edition the they previous one. Quick Scans are indeed very quick. Others longer of course.

[Kung]

Malwarebytes is MUCH better than the other two; it has a higher detection rate of malware/adware, and finds stuff that the other two don't find that are VERY harmful.

That being said, it's not bad at all to have more than one malware program.

[Kari]

Originally Posted by Kung

Malwarebytes is MUCH better than the other two; it has a higher detection rate of malware/adware, and finds stuff that the other two don't find that are VERY harmful.

That being said, it's not bad at all to have more than one malware program. I'd recommend Superantispyware.

The OP mentioned that he already has Malwarebytes installed. My every day experience is not one product is successful at detecting and removing malware and many times I resort to some custom scripts and programs I have developed...along with plenty of manual detection/removal of malware.

As for Superantispyware, it is good...but this product can cause BSOD's that are unrecoverable. I have seen this more then once first hand and there is plenty of other cases of this occurring that can be found on many of the IT professional security forums and mailing lists. Due to this issue, I always recommend Malwarebytes.

[Kung]

Originally Posted by Karihwanoron

The OP mentioned that he already has Malwarebytes installed.

Ah, I missed that. Good catch.

My every day experience is not one product is successful at detecting and removing malware and many times I resort to some custom scripts and programs I have developed...along with plenty of manual detection/removal of malware.

That's why I said, and I quote, "It's not at all bad to have more than one malware/spyware program." I simply didn't have the time (at the time) to go into more depth. I simply recommended it because it DID indeed excel at spyware/adware/malware detection. I used to have to remove Antivirus XP by hand, and it was a PAIN. MBAM was the first program that actually was able to remove it.

This being said, I do not at all recommend using only one software program - we're definitely agreed on that point.

As for Superantispyware, it is good...but this product can cause BSOD's that are unrecoverable. I have seen this more then once first hand and there is plenty of other cases of this occurring that can be found on many of the IT professional security forums and mailing lists. Due to this issue, I always recommend Malwarebytes.

Really? I've not heard that - seriously. Mainly because I've not had the time in the last few months to browse the forums - I've got 12 years of experience in the IT world thanks to the Navy, but am finally getting the BS in MIS to back it up.

Guess I'll have to take that one off my list. I, too, personally find that the vast majority of malware/spyware removal is done by myself manually, with the occasional script and such, rather than by programs. 'Course, not everyone can do that.

Sad about SuperAntiSpyware, though. At one point it was actually a top recommendation by PCW and other mags. Thanks for the catch - the last thing I want to do here (especially as a mod/admin) is to make a bad recommendation.