Should I Buy Anti-Spyware or Anti-Virus Software?

I just bought and installed Norton's latest (2008) anti-virus protection and my system now is tied up trying to open processes that I have not asked be open, nor did I have this problem before with the 2006 Norton anti virus. I have to get to the task Manager and close them out one by one. what a mess. Don't buy this product until they work out all the bugs. And if anyone has an answer for this I'd appreciate it.

Every year when my paid spyware and anti-virus program subscriptions run out, I re-research through all the top pc magazines for their reviews of those products. (ConsumerSearch, by the way, does a lovely job of compiling all the reviews from all the reviewers, as well as summarizing and helping to analyze all the reviewers' conclusions. You can search for reviews there for anything, from vacuum cleaners to anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/anti-spyware-reviews/index.html )

Going by the major PC magazines/reviewers, the answer as to which anti-virus or which anti-spyware program is best will vary from year to year. Software companies will ongoingly create new updates and tweak their interfaces...so what may be top on the list this year might not be next year.

My story is that I had CounterSpy on my computer last year, along with the whole Zone Alarms Security Suite. I bought both based on the PC magazines' recommendations. Counterspy seemed to do a great job...but when the subscription ran out, I didn't renew it, because my ZA Suite had an anti-spyware program included with it. At some point recently, I started having problems with my Yahoo IM--it wouldn't let me log in. I tried accessing it from my laptop, and had no problems...so it HAD to be an infection on my desktop. I ran EVERYTHING I could get my hands on. I installed Spyware Blaster (which I still run, in hopes of preventing this from ever happening again...). I did PrevX, Spybot, Ad Aware, Spy Sweeper (paid version), and re-ran my ZA anti-spyware. Spy Sweeper and Ad Aware found a few items, but removing them did NOT resolve my problems (and in fact, in the past, Ad Aware would detect spyware, but did a lousy job of REMOVING it...had problems with lop.com consistently re-infecting my computer, which was why I bought CounterSpy in the first place, and did ultimately resolve it, btw).

In researching all the PC magazines for spyware solutions to my Yahoo IM problem, I found the highest rated performer, consistently across all reviews, was Spyware Doctor. All reviewers agreed it removed THE most bugs, on an average of 94%-99%. But not all reviewers made it their top recommendation because its interface was supposedly not as intuitive, and it often caused the computer to restart. I found a free download of it (a free version is available if you download the Google Pack...just make sure you have plenty of RAM...it requires a lot to download, for some reason). Folks, Spyware Doctor was THE only product that found and removed my Yahoo bug. I do now have problems with it rebooting my computer every night...but it's a very small price to pay for solid security, imo.

As for anti-virus, I haven't been horribly impressed with the Zone Alarms Suite. It fights viruses just fine...but the interface is complicated and the popups annoying, imo. I have a free version of AVG on my laptop that my employer downloaded on there (as I was doing work-related stuff on there), and I like it MUCH better. So when my ZA subscription runs out, I'll be switching to AVG as well.

I'm probably gonna stick with Spyware Doctor for a while...but I'll keep checking the reviews regularly to see if they recommend anything new. As I've shown above, you can't go with those reviews blindly...but the reviews--like Bob's site here--do help to steer you in some good directions.

I use Avast! (no that is not me being ubber excited, its part of the name) At one point I used AVG Free and I was fairly happy with it. It did the job at a fantastic price, FREE. But, I then discovered Avast! and I fell in love. It was love at first block. I set up both of the programs on 2 separate computers. Both EXACTLY the same from dell. I performed the EXACT same steps on both of the computers. Downloaded the EXACT same files at the EXACT same time. I purposely went to files that I knew were infested. The computer with Avast! caught the virus right away and saved the day. The computer with AVG Free became pop up central. Now I have been using Avast! for maybe 7 months to a year without a single virus, ad-ware, malware or any of the sort. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. You wont be disappointed.

Hey bob.. i got this virus the other day on the interenet somehow. And it seems like everytime i go on the interenet it goes to the "about: blank" page. And then it dissapears and goes to a site called www.puresafetyhere.com.
I tried to go to system restore but it only lets be go back 1 day, which wasnt when i got the virus. Any suggestions on what i should do???? please help =[

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would get a good anti-virus program and let it scan and fix any problems on your system. See the suggestions in the article above.

HELLO BOB RANKIN,
I, BONNIE LOU, NEEDS YOUR FEEDBACK & SECURITY TECH SUPPORT. I'm a novice user with computers and the Internet. And I need HELP!! I'm so totally lost so I do greatly appreciate your help. I have WINDOWS XP\SP2 Home Edition. I have DSL high-speed internet. My browsers are IE6 and MSN Explorer. For security, I use WINDOWS FIREWALL, WINDOWS DEFENDER, AVG FREE EDITION and WEBROOT SPY SWEEPER and IE6 POP-UP BLOCKER with WINDOWS LIVE TOOLBAR. When I use my MSN it provides a popup blocker as well. I'm now using IE6 and have a security problem. In the lower right corner of the page; The Privacy Report Icon (Eye, with the red circle and the white minus sign in the center of that red circle) is present. I don't understand any of the Internet Options settings so I need step-by-step Instructions on all settings and how to remove the Privacy Report Icon. It's eerie, I feel like someone is watching me.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Just ignore the Privacy Report Icon. It does not indicate any security or privacy problems -- only that the website you're visiting has not published a machine readable privacy policy.

as an old skool type ime not computer literate but ive gotta say since installing norton my computer slows-freezes-restarts-overheats-sounds like an old fords loose fan belt on startup... its outa that window gonna get some other anti virus will trawl your site for ideas fanx for info -very helpful-you remind me of my mom

Hi Bob-- I have ridden the Bus since Win 95, always appreciated the quality information. So here is my 2-bits: I have been running (at home) XP Pro with CounterSpy (CS)($20/year) and AVG Free behind a D-Link hardware firewall for the past few years (since CS was beta). I have had zero problems with infections, no problems with AVG and only handful of problems with CS (all fixed promptly by Sunbelt Software support). Before CS I was using four different anti-spyware programs in rotation (Ad-Aware, Webroot, one with a Scotty Dog icon and something else less memorable)--each caught some but not all the junk. CS got it all, and my younger daughter was still at home surfing the web for two of those years.
Sunbelt just came out with their "Vipre" product in Beta that combines CS with an antivirus engine-- I am running it now and the Beta is working fine doing both jobs.
BTW: I do use the Google Toolbar popup blocker and have the Microsoft one turned off.

Hey Bob! Your website is really helpful! I do have a question however. I downloaded the CA anti-spyware (the 3 month trial), and it scanned for me, however in order to remove it, it says I have to subscribe. Is there a way around this? Let me know, thanks!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Try the AVG Free Edition that I mentioned here: http://askbobrankin.com/free_antivirus_programs.html

I just bought the kaspersky 7.0 {KIS} although my IP is road runner which comes with free CA as you use Bob but my windows vista ultimate {64 bit} is not compatable with CA therefore I am forced to buy my pc security I think kaspersky works great for us vista ultimate {64 b} users

I got a virus that nothing I had would get rid of. Finally, I stumbled upon Spyware Doctor and it not only zapped it, but has since kept my pc clean. The only time I have to reboot is after an update, so that's ok. I also run AVG and Spybot as backups, but they don't have much to do anymore. Bottom line, I highly reccommend Spyware Doctor.