webRoot SpySweeper do I need it?

I have SpyBot, AdAware and Windows Defender. Do I need more?
I really like Spy Bot.
I am running it every night. It seems to pick up about 4 spyware items everytime.
Maybe I need to tweek the firewall which is Zone-alarm Free version.

Thank you,

Kelly

 

Hello Kelly,

Could you specify what SpyBot is picking up? I suspect its tracking cookies which are harmless as malware - its a privacy issue. If you object, tweaking the Browser is called for, not the firewall.

Plus, there are free small programs that screen/block cookies.

You can try a first step by blocking 3rd party cookies in IE's options: Internet Options > Privacy tab. Move the slider up will tighten up cookie control. There is also a way to makes exceptions by site.

Regards - Charles

 

I would say no to SS. You're already well protected with regards to a\s scanners. Especially if you're running TeaTimer with Spybot.

I'd add a couple more passive apps:
IESPY ADS
WinPatrol v10.0.5
MVPS Hosts File

Another thing I would suggest, is to install SiteAdvisor. It gives sites a few different 'ratings' and while not fool proof, a good additional layer of information about many sites.

 

Thanks, I'll run Spy-Bot tonight and report what it gives me.
Kelly

 

Charles,
Spy-bot picked up this TagASaurus.
Kelly

 

Was it a file, a cookie, or a registry entry that was flagged? Specifics would be great in letting us determine how much of a threat it actually is.

You can find the last log generated here:
Go into Spybot > Mode > Advanced mode > Tools > View Reports > View Pervious reports. Look for the Checks.yymmdd-hhmm or Fixes.yymmdd-hhmm file that contains the desired information. Open it. Give us the specifics from Tagasaurus.

 

Nothing like reaching a conclusion in advance of the evidence

Regards - Charles

 

Will do!
Boy, I am on a fast learning curve!
Kelly

 

kellyinkc--The title of your thread is "webRoot SpySweeper do I need it? ", but little mention of SpySweeper so far.
You are already running Windows Defender. I believe ratings in popular magazines put SpySweeper above Windows Defender. Of course WinDef is free, and you pay for SpySweeper (yearly).
If you were to use SpySweeper, I would like to hear comment whether it is desireable to run two "active" antispyware programs at the same time. Perhaps you should then uninstall WinDef. But the experts can tell us.

 

Hi Jim,

Generally its accepted that running two AV's is not desirable because of the potential for conflicts, I think the same principle operates with AS's - possible conflicts, the symptoms of which may not be obviously tied to having more than one AS running, and degradation of performance.

And lately I've noticed that some AS's will not install if another is detected.

On a case by case basis, it may work, just as some users get away with two AV's.

Regards - Charles

 

Jim lots of people run multiple a\s apps. I for a long time, ran Ad-Aware w\AdWatch, Spybot w\TeaTimer and Spy Sweeper, along with WinPatrol. Making any homepage changes or other registry monitored parts of the system was a barrage of alerts, but beyond that, no other conflicts. And I am only running 256RAM.

Oh, and until recently, also ran Norton apps as well.

Now with my current level of security sense, I only have WinPatrol and av, fw, hosts file and IE-SPYADS with SpywareBlaster, excluding its IE restricted site protection.

It really will depend on your system configuration as to whether or not you can run more than one a\s app, and which ones will work together.