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Win 7 x64, IE9, MSE in my Dimension 9200 and would this system benefit from having the SUPERAntiSpyware free version scan from time to time?
I am sorry if this had been discussed before.
One has to be very careful with one's habit while surfing the net and opening the e-mail attachments, I understand.
I have the Malwarebytes free version as on demand scanning for eventualities.
What about having the SUPERAntiSpyware the free version for scan. Is it over kill as the modern IE 9, Win 7 x64 and MSE are save enough.
Regards
ky331
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March 16th, 2012 14:00
It has long been stated here that having TWO ON-DEMAND ANTI-MALWARE SCANNERS is generally a good idea, as it's possible that each one could find something that the other misses (or more precisely, doesn't target).
I have more confidence in MBAM, and would consider it my primary anti-malware scanner. But I keep SAS around as well, considering it secondary. [Some people (Joe?) use (or used) Emisoft Anti-Malware among their scanners.]
SAS scans for tracking cookies, MBAM does not. So SAS will find (lots of) tracking cookies, that MBAM does not target at all. Tracking cookies are text files, and so are not malware/viruses in and of themselves. But they can contain information, which can be read by others --- and on that basis, some people like to remove them (for privacy).
SAS also offers a nice "toolbox" of REPAIRs --- which, if you happen to be in need of them, can be very handy to access. Personally, I believe the REPAIR options by themselves justify keeping SAS (free) around.
Both MBAM and SAS FREE are simply scanners/removers, that help clean-up problems "after the fact". Neither free version offers you resident protection/prevention "up front". For such realt-time protection, you'll need to purchase one of the paid versions. In my opinion, MBAM PRO (paid) nicely complements ANY anti-virus program you're running on your system --- it can often catch the rogue/tough malware that "slips by" an anti-virus program. And as the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
ky331
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March 16th, 2012 15:00
"To my surprise I got a report of some 70 spyware..."
Since you didn't mention having any overt signs of "real" malware, I'm willing to bet they were ALL "tracking cookies". Depending on how you configured SAS, it might have saved a log-file of what you removed: Open SAS, click on View Scan Logs , highlight the desired log (you can choose it by knowing when you ran the scan), and View Selected Log. If you find the log there, let us know if it was indeed all tracking cookies... or if it indicated anything else.
On a machine that's running well (i.e., no overt signs of malware [popups, browser redirections] nor slowness), if you practice safe-surfing, it's debatable how often to run routine scans [keeping in mind that on a clean system, there's always the danger of acting upon a False-Positive detection]. I no longer run complete anti-virus scans, except for when a new PROGRAM version is released every few months. I run anti-malware scans once or twice a week, not because I fear there being actual malware on my system, but rather, because I like to test specifically for false-positives, to help out the companies by reporting my findings to them. If your goal is to look for and remove tracking cookies, then I think once a week [or even once in two weeks] should be more than enough.
[And if you're not interested in finding/removing tracking cookies, you can UNcheck them in SAS, so it won't report them any more: Preferences, the Scanning Control tab, UNcheck the box to "Scan for tracking cookies".]
Other people will offer different opinions about the "needed" frequency of scanning... whatever works for each person, without interfering with their productivity, is really up to them.
Let me stress that I'm distinguishing here between routine scanning on seemingly clean systems, vs. warranted scanning on seemingly infected systems: whenever an actual problem is suspected, I would scan immedidately.
EDIT: Let me also (re-)emphasize that SAS finding tracking cookies that MBAM didn't should NOT be taken as an indication that something is wrong with MBAM. Its authors have simply made a decision that tracking cookies aren't a sufficiently strong malware threat to warrant including them in their database --- rather, MBAM chooses to focus its attention on "real"/"tough" malware. It's a valid perspective, considering that cookies are text files, not virus/malware in and of themselves.
joe53
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March 16th, 2012 15:00
Hi snowshine:
Assuming your system is working well otherwise, and a recent MBAM scan was negative, they are likely tracking cookies.
snowshine
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March 16th, 2012 15:00
Hi KY331 You are very helpful as you have always been. Thank you.
How often you generally run the SAS scan?
I ask this because I just downloaded the free version and scanned my computer. To my surprise I got a report of some 70 spyware and I clicked to remove them... I do not know what they are but was taken aback to say the least..
Regards
dalem29
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March 16th, 2012 19:00
I am pretty sure those are cookies. I get a batch if I fail to scan on schedule. Listing my security programs, which all seem to work well together. :
Outpost Security Suite 7.1 Free....This is my firewall and it includes a malware scanner
Avast AV....Still using version 6.0.1367
Windows Defender....Comes with Windows Vista
MBAM....Wouldn't be without it
SAS.....For those pesky cookies
The scanning schedule I have worked out is based on the lack of problems I have had so far (knocking on wood!), I do a full scan on one program once a week, on a rotating basis, and quick scans on the others. Perhaps I should scan oftener, but this schedule works for me.
I have Hit Man Pro 3.6.0 and Spybot S&D. I have Hit Man do the quick scan a couple of times a week and Spybot perhaps once a month. Have Avast set to automatically update which it does about every four hours. The others, including Windows Updates, I do every morning as soon as I fire up the computer in the morning.
snowshine
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March 17th, 2012 01:00
You were all correct. They are cookies.
Thank you once again for your time in answering and it is very much appreciated.
Regards