Sunbelt CounterSpy - Anti Spyware Software Review
Due to the growing number of security incidents involving spyware on the internet today, it is now considered to be “common practice” to use anti-spyware/anti-adware software on every computer that connects to the world wide web. Spyware and adware usually installs without notice just by browsing to an unscrupulous website, using file-sharing programs or by downloading freeware. Since it is not a virus, most spyware cannot be detected by anti-virus software. Spyware can be extremely dangerous because it collects personal information about you and transmits it to the person who created it. The information collected can be as benign as the type of websites you visit, or as dangerous as sensitive personal information like passwords, account numbers or names/addresses. Adware normally collects information relating to your internet browsing habits, and spyware usually steals sensitive information. Spyware is often used to steal bank account information, credit card numbers or a person’s whole identity. If you have spent any time surfing the internet at all, chances are your computer is infected with adware and/or spyware.
In an effort to decide which anti-spyware product to buy, I decided to take Sunbelt Software’s Counter Spy for a free 14 day trial run. In order to really put this software to the test, I installed it on my work computer which is protected by an expensive Cisco firewall, Mcafee Antivirus (updated daily), and regular Windows updates. I do very little web-surfing at work and never download anything except technical software such as antivirus, spyware removers, firewall software, etc
Following my own advice never to download software from anywhere other than the manufacturer’s “official” website, I visited Sunbelt Software’s site in order to download the free trial of their highly recommended spyware remover software - CounterSpy.
The CounterSpy setup process is a super easy Wizard interface that requires simple “yes” or “no” answers. As soon as the quick installation is finished, the CounterSpy update service downloaded the latest spyware definitions and checked for software updates. Following installation, CounterSpy prompts you to scan your system for spyware. This process took about 20 minutes on my computer.
To my surprise, Counter Spy found one instance of spyware and 74 instances of adware on my computer. It provided me a very detailed list including the name of the suspicious item as well as a good explanation of the problem. You can drill down deeper by clicking on a “+” sign that appears next to each spyware item, and see all of the registry keys and file directories that the spyware has attached itself to. Upon examination of the spyware item found on my PC, I saw that pieces of it were attached to 60 registry keys and three directories. No wonder spyware is so hard to remove! All of the adware that CounterSpy found on my PC was in the form of cookies, and a detailed explanation is given about each one. Much of the adware was the cause of pop-up ads that I find so annoying. CounterSpy lets you choose what you want to do with all spyware and adware it finds, and the default choice is to delete it, which I did.
I have tried other anti spyware software such as Spyware Doctor, eTrust Pest Patrol, Spybot S&D, and McAfee. I found Sunbelt Counter Spy to be one of the easiest to install and configure, and it appears to use up less system resources than Spyware Doctor, which often hangs my home computer. At only $19.95 per year, with renewal rates just $9.95 per year, Sunbelt Counter Spy is the best value for the money. CounterSpy has won numerous awards by prestigious companies such as PC World, Tucows, and C Net - it is definitely an anti spyware program worth considering!
To learn more about internet security risks and what you can do about them,visit http://www.antivirus-firewall-spyware.com. Or visit my Spyware Removers page. My security blog: Computer Security for Everyone
Tags: adware, adware remover, security, spware blocker, spyware, spyware remover, sunbelt counter spyWindows Defender Released Today - Replaces Microsoft Antispyware
Windows Defender (formally Microsoft Antispyware) Beta 2 has been released. Downloaded, installed, scanned with it, first impressions are it looks a lot nicer, cleaner simpler interface.
Windows Defender needs Automatic Update service running to get definition updates, and downloads them directly through the network connection for Generic Host Process for Win32 Services. Not sure if I like that. It scans a lot slower, especially when scanning archives. It took forever to get through my Call of Duty 2 and Battlefield 2 program folders. Those game installs are loaded with huge archive folders for maps. Only 8.4 gigs on this drive and it took 23 minutes to scan with a full system scan, spending like 22 and a half minutes on just this drive. It went through my other drive with nothing but 9.5 gigs of mp3 files very quickly. Windows Defender REALLY wants to run all the time now like an anti-virus. Even when I disable Windows Defender real time protection, which it has loads of check points for, and close the window, it leaves no icon in the tasktray, but still has two running process’s, (MSASCui.exe and MsMpEng.exe), one using 15 megs of memory and the other 5.
I, personally, don’t want it running all the time. I don’t need it running all the time. It didn’t find a single thing because I never get any spyware. I just want it to do the occasional full scan when I tell it to.
It took me a couple minutes to figure out how to shut Windows Defender down. It installs a whole new service, Windows Defender Service. Maybe if I just stop the service and set its startup type to Manual, and remove the startup entry it created too, ok rebooting to try it, ok not starting with system. Failing to start service when running it, must manually start the service. Ok I manually started the service, running ok now, must manually stop the service to shut it down again, and then end task on the 1 process it still leaves running (MSASCui.exe, using 5 megs of memory) even after shutting down its service.
I’m gonna have to manually start Windows Defender service everytime I want to use it, and then manually stop its service, and kill the extra process it still leaves, when I’m done. Cause I just don’t need it or want it running all the time if I’m gonna scan with it once a month at most.
It really wants to be integrated and run all the time. I don’t think I’ll mind when its preinstalled into Vista, but this aint Vista, and it should shut down when I want it to. Thats ok I know how to shut it down and how to get it started again when I want to use it.
Pretty impressed with Windows Defender even tho I don’t like how badly it wants to always run. Its Software Explorers thing in its Tools section, and also places a shortcut for in the windows control panel, is pretty impressive. Gives loads of info about everything, every startup item, every running process, every open network connection.
I like Windows Defender, now that I figured out how to tame it. It has no license expiration date anymore in its about box either.
Ken Savage is a Webmaster who writes about what is going on in the Tech industry usually days before it breaks to the rest of the world. He can be found at http://www.kensavage.com
He’s also a leading writer within the technology aspects of Diabetes on http://www.battlediabetes.com
Online Marketing Your Security Risks And Prevention
As an online marketer my computers security is always in the back of my mind. My computer is the heart of my business, so keeping it safe should be prioty number one. Although sometimes it does slip to priority number two, which could as a result have a devastating effect on both myself and my customers. So this is a gentle reminder to be really aware of your online security. Ask yourself the question, Do you have a firewall? Do you have antivirus? Do you have antispyware software? You have…fantastic. You haven’t got all three protectors then start too panic just a little. However there is an easy solution.
Visit expert websites such as Microsoft etc www.Microsoft.com and view their online security sections. There are amazing resources available offering full expert advice and links to applications and scans that will help you patch all the gaps in your computers security.
I am quite aware of Internet security issues at most times, but lately have been a little lazy when it comes to important issues, like keeping all of my security applications fully updated. What brought my attention to this issue was the current threat, the ‘Sober’ virus, although a medium risk it is still a threat. It is just one of hundreds that have appeared before and that will appear again in the future in many different forms. The pointer of this current threat for myself, started as usual by getting emails with attachments, addressed from such sources as the FBI and Paris & Nicky Hilton.
From experience of virus threats before, I deleted then instantly, even though it was so tempting to open them. But resisting the urge, they were instantly deleted. Then I checked all of the current virus threats doing the rounds, and there the information instantly was before me. Had I opened those emails, the result would have been, that my full email list would have been sent out too, with the virus attached, thus replicating the ongoing effect of the virus. And secondly it would have turned off all my computers antivirus protection. Such are the penalties and the effects of opening a simple email attachment from someone whom I did not know, which may have had as a result, a devastating effect to my whole computer system and online business activities.
There would have been no excuse for myself if this result had of happened. Because there is no valid reason or excuse on the planet available at all for me to not be aware of security issues. The range of information and software available to combat any security problems are readily available and mostly free. Ad-aware as one example combats spyware and adware and is available in a free version. Zonealarm is another example which is an Internet firewall and is available also in a free version. And most antivius companies offer free trial versions of their software as well.
All of these company names given are as a guide only, always make your own individual provider choices. And there are so many choices available out there online, so do the research, and make your decisions on your own computer security requirements. Although as a note, I would advise you to only visit expert sites and use the companies that they recommend. There are issues with certain products pretending to be what they are not. So check the information only through valid expert sources and search all your options from there.
Your computers security and your online surfing safety, using available security applications is a paramount action. But as always the action to protect is solely up to you. Be exactly aware of what is happening online with ongoing security issues and react always accordingly. Update your available security software always and check that it is always enabled. Because it will only ever save you time, money and your own piece of mind in the long run.
Michael J.Keenan (CEO-SitePromotionNow) Acheiving High Online Sales Turnover For Over 5 Years. Visit me at http://www.sitepromotionnow.org Also visit me at my new online marketing information blog at http://sitepromotionnow.blogspot.com/
Tags: advertising, antispyware, antivirus, business, firewall, marketing, online selling, security
