Kind of dumb security question...

Is it necessary to have spyware programs running in the background (they take up SO much RAM) or can they just be used to scan the disk as desired...

I guess the real question is - do spyware programs (Ad-Aware, Spy-Subtract) PREVENT spyware downloads, or just detect them after they've happened?

Said computer also has an up-to-date Norton anti-virus and is protected by the Windows XP Home firewall and the firewall built into the wireless router that serves the internet to it.

ILGal

 

most on here recommend ewido as a back up, but run as a scan only uncheck the 2 options when you install

http://www.ewido.net/en/

 

I'm of like mind - I use a number of AS's as scanners, none resident.

If not run realtime, then its after. But the real question, how effective are any one of is. Runining multiple real time apps such as these causes more problems than it solves.

The exception is SpywareBlaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Not a scanner, beefs up the browser, which is the real hole in security, but provides permanent protection against over 6000 items of spyware, etc. Download, update and 'Enable all protection'. and then update manually every 2 weeks or so.

Ewido referred by Kieth in post#2 is also a ant-trojan, updates multiple times per day.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks, Pete and Charles. My boyfriend's computer is loaded w/anti-spyware all loading up on startup and he's down to about 20% RAM. I shut them all down and boosted him back up to about 65% - better, anyway.

You guys ROCK!

ILGal