Problem with Spyware Doctor

Message

BikerGran · #1 Post by **BikerGran** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:14 pm

Some time ago after having some computer problems I installed PCTools Spyware Doctor, which seems to do a good job. But after some more probs the computer went to the local computer shop and when it came back it was running better but my AVG free had been removed.

I didn't feel very safe without it so I installed it again.

Since then my computer has sometimes been running very slow, tho at other times it's quick. I kept getting a problem with something not closing so I googled it which took me too PCToolos forum and I thought I'd found the problem, which should be fixed by uninstalling SD and downloading the latest version.

Well I've done that (keep reading, I'm getting to the point!) and during the install it told me there was a conflicy with AVG and that I should uninstall it. This is where I came in!

So the question is, can anyone tell me either, what free AV does not conflict with SD?
Or, and possibly better as I trust AVG - what anti spyware tool does not conflict with AVG?

Phew! That's it.

#2 Post by **Kwackerz** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:28 pm

Ive always used ad-aware free

has worked fine for me with AVG

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

The download is here, to save you the annoyance I just had checking the link was still ok

http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Free- ... l&tag=top5

BikerGran · #3 Post by **BikerGran** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:42 pm

Cheers, I may get that, though at the moment the re-install seems to be ok - may be a different story next time I boot up tho!

joecrx · #4 Post by **joecrx** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:26 pm

i found my avg running slow , i know use avast i think its better

Samray · #5 Post by **Samray** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:30 pm

I run AVG with the link scanner disabled.

FlyingKiwi · #6 Post by **FlyingKiwi** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:31 pm

We had AVG Free on our laptop. But recently the laptop has been running slower.
So I uninstalled AVG and have installed Avira AntiVir which was recommended on the WHICH site. Laptop is much better now.

#7 Post by **Kwackerz** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:56 pm

I think the latest AVG Free 2011 version has bulked out somewhat over previous releases.

There's a lot more to it now. Still a much smaller footprint than Norton or McAffee, but definately it's taken on a few more things into it's arsenal, which in standard settings are eating up the RAM somewhat..

Im running Vista home premium, 1Gb of Ram and it does take longer to start up now it's on 2011, as it scans various things before it loads. It's a lot more comprehensive than AVG of say 6 years ago, when it used to be simple but highly effective. It's now slightly more complex but highly effective!

Ive not disabled the link scanner as the kids use my pooter, but if it was mine alone, it'd deffo get the boot as my general net habits are founded around known sites.

SAYING THAT.. Ive also got rapport installed (HSBC and other banks have sent it out 'to increase security') and I would say that THAT has slowed the system slightly. It works with AVG fine though.

The latest release of Ad-aware has porked out slightly too.

Just looked at task manager, AVG's services on there when at an idle consume 2018k
but I note Rapport (which is meant to be a link checker type arrangement) comes in at 27584k, which is a lot porkier!

BikerGran · #8 Post by **BikerGran** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:30 pm

Well Spyware Doctor will get the boot anyway as the free version finds the baddies but doesn't get rid of them - it did before but I guess that's because the man at the computer shop had, as he said 'tweaked it a little' so I'll try Ad-aware.

I won't disable the AVG link scanner as my husband uses my computer which is pretty much the equivalent of Tim's kids using his - Mike has no instincts at all about what not to click!

I don't mind it being slow to boot up, I just turn it on and go and do something else, but it's annoying when it's so slow to open pages that I give up!

Really what I need is a new computer with new everything!

BikerGran · #9 Post by **BikerGran** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:12 pm

Got Ad-Aware now, so far so good.

I must say I got a bit narked about the 'free' Spyware Dr - it finds the nasties but won't get rid of them, for that you have to 'upgrade' ie buy the full version. That's not free in my book. Also have to wonder that it was finding an awful lot more nasties than before to encourage me to upgrade........

Only thing I think with Adaware - it expects me to know what I want it to do and when! So I've asked it to do a smat scan daily and will see how that goes.

Aladinsaneuk · #10 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 12:05 am

adaware is good

i prefer spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html but little between them

both are free and work

MartDude · #11 Post by **MartDude** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 12:51 am

Running AVG 2011 and spybot (thanks, Pete, for recommending that). No apparent conflict, but does seem slightly slower now with AVG 2011

BikerGran · #12 Post by **BikerGran** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 12:41 pm

Now I've ditched Spyware Dr for AdAware, and hooked up a new keyboard and new mouse - it's like having a new computer! Yay!

BikerGran · #13 Post by **BikerGran** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:06 pm

Well there;s an odd thing.

Ad-aware has disappeared from my computer. No, I haven't uninstalled or deleted it. I noticed the icon had disappeared from the bottom try so I looked in the 'all programs' list - not there.

So I asked the computer to search for it - nothing found!

Very odd.

However, now it's gone I might give Spybot a go. I had it before and ditched it cos I found it not very user-friendly (when the user is a computer numptie) but I found the same with Adaware and anyway it was a long time ago, it may be easier now.

But how on earth did Adaware disappear?

Aladinsaneuk · #14 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:11 pm

BG

i think you are going to have to be a little careful

first off, back up every file that you want to keep - to cd or usb stick

second, download spybot or what ever and install it - do the updates and let it search away - do NOT let it restart

next, make sure avg is upto date and do a FULL or COMPLETE scan = it will take a long time

there are some nasty rogue virus' that behave as you describe..... and one of the give aways is where some programs vanish or do not appear to be running.....

BikerGran · #15 Post by **BikerGran** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:21 pm

Ok but if I do the backup, might I not be saving the file with the virus in?

And I prolly have to restart to get Spybot to work after I've downloaded it?

STOP PRESS! Def something strange going on - the Adaware icon has reappered - after a search couldn't find it? Sounds nasty.