Which is the best anti-spyware cleaner?

[Paul Laudanski]

That is just what I was wondering -- from a community perspective. We've
been running a survey and after 5,414 unique votes, the tally is in:

Source:

http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=30

1) Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal 25.36%
2) Spybot Search & Destroy 22.42%
3) Microsoft AntiSpyware 14.79%

This is from a list of 19 choices:

Adware Away
Aluria Spyware Eliminator
Intermute SpySubtract
Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
McAfee AntiSpyware
Microsoft AntiSpyware
NoAdware
OmniQuad AntiSpy
PC Tools Spyware Doctor
Pest Patrol
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spycop
Spyware COP
Sunbelt CounterSpy
Tenebril SpyCatcher
Webroot Spy Sweeper
Xblock X-Cleaner
XoftSpy
ZeroSpyware

Pollbooth http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&pollID=30

This is very interesting for Lavasoft. Our previous poll with 2,605
unique votes on:

"Do you trust Lavasoft's Ad-Aware after they delisted WhenU as Spyware?"

Shows 60.31% said "No".

Src:
http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=29

The WhenU/Lavasoft survey ran right after WhenU was removed from their
dictionaries. But we all know what happened afterwards. Since then,
folks still trust Lavasoft as their number one choice.

What is not surprising are the results from the Aluria survey we also ran,
with 1,777 unique votes:

"Do you trust Aluria's Spyware Eliminator after the WhenU Deal?"

Src:
http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=28

86.04% said "No". In our head-to-head survey above, 1.07% of voters
picked Aluria as "the best".

Internet users still opt for Lavasoft's free spyware cleaner.
--
Sincerely,

Paul Laudanski .. Computer Cops, LLC.
Microsoft MVP Windows-Security 2005
CastleCops(SM)... http://castlecops.com
CC Blog ......... http://blog.castlecops.com
Staff Blogs ..... http://busterbunny.castlecops.com
Our Vision ...... http://castlecops.com/postt63382.html

http://cuddlesnkisses.com http://justalittlepoke.com http://zhen-xjell.com

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[Paul Laudanski]

Post by Paul Laudanski
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There I go forgetting to drop that bit again! :oops!:


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[Ben Vaisvil]

I use a combination of Ad-aware, Spybot S&D and Hijack This (when it is needed).

Hijack this is the most thorough if you know what to look for.

But any one tool usually will not clean completely in my experience.

Ben

Post by Paul Laudanski
That is just what I was wondering -- from a community perspective. We've
http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=30
1) Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal 25.36%
2) Spybot Search & Destroy 22.42%
3) Microsoft AntiSpyware 14.79%
Adware Away
Aluria Spyware Eliminator
Intermute SpySubtract
Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
McAfee AntiSpyware
Microsoft AntiSpyware
NoAdware
OmniQuad AntiSpy
PC Tools Spyware Doctor
Pest Patrol
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spycop
Spyware COP
Sunbelt CounterSpy
Tenebril SpyCatcher
Webroot Spy Sweeper
Xblock X-Cleaner
XoftSpy
ZeroSpyware
Pollbooth http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&pollID=30
This is very interesting for Lavasoft. Our previous poll with 2,605
"Do you trust Lavasoft's Ad-Aware after they delisted WhenU as Spyware?"
Shows 60.31% said "No".
http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=29
The WhenU/Lavasoft survey ran right after WhenU was removed from their
dictionaries. But we all know what happened afterwards. Since then,
folks still trust Lavasoft as their number one choice.
What is not surprising are the results from the Aluria survey we also ran,
"Do you trust Aluria's Spyware Eliminator after the WhenU Deal?"
http://castlecops.com/modules.php?name=Surveys&op=results&pollID=28
86.04% said "No". In our head-to-head survey above, 1.07% of voters
picked Aluria as "the best".
Internet users still opt for Lavasoft's free spyware cleaner.

_______________________________________________
Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html
Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/

[Paul Laudanski]

Hi Ben,

This survey only included those applications which use dictionaries to
clean their systems. HJT is an involved tool that is best used with
experts.

Ad-Aware and SpybotS&D can be used safely thanks to their reference files.

This is why HJT and others like Winpatrol were left out of the poll.

And for the last statement, you are right. Look at download.com and how
they use three products today to test files on their site.

Post by Ben Vaisvil
I use a combination of Ad-aware, Spybot S&D and Hijack This (when it is needed).
Hijack this is the most thorough if you know what to look for.
But any one tool usually will not clean completely in my experience.
Ben

--
Sincerely,

Paul Laudanski .. Computer Cops, LLC.
Microsoft MVP Windows-Security 2005
CastleCops(SM)... http://castlecops.com
CC Blog ......... http://blog.castlecops.com
Staff Blogs ..... http://busterbunny.castlecops.com
Our Vision ...... http://castlecops.com/postt63382.html

http://cuddlesnkisses.com http://justalittlepoke.com http://zhen-xjell.com


________ Information from Computer Cops, L.L.C. ________
This message was checked by NOD32 Antivirus System for Linux Mail Server.

part000.txt - is OK
http://castlecops.com
_______________________________________________
Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html
Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/