[psaulm119]

I would like a freeware antispyware ap that provides resident protection. I have installed Windows Defender (XP Home), and it seemed to get above-average reviews in a few compare-reviews that I saw online. But I notice that its almost never recommended here or in web pages that deal with cleaning up the computer. In these same tests (PCWorld or PCMag did one), it even outdid Adaware and Spybot. But I have heard very little about Spyware Guard. Which would be the best, to provide resident protection from spyware? Or is there another app that can do this better?

[telecom69]

We did have a thread about Spywareguard a few weeks back and since there had been no updates or support since 2004 it was considered to be no longer viable as a useful program...its sister program Spywareblaster still does update though so is a better option ....

[psaulm119]

Thanks, telecom. Yeah I heard about the slow updates--although I didn't know it was 2 years plus! Thanks.

OK...then I guess I can refine my question. Is there any freeware antispyware app that provides better resident protection than Windows Defender?

[telecom69]

One springs to mind that Im using at the moment since I uninstalled Spywareguard is Winpatrol you can download that here its free http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...scription.html try it I think you will like it ...

[psaulm119]

OK I'll look up reviews/comparisons. I wish there was a site like Virus bulletin for antispyware, but there doesn't seem to be. The only reviews I've seen are from PC World-Mag, but IIRC they weren't always up-to-date. Thanks for the link.

[telecom69]

Have a look throgh this little lot when you have time,you might find something here to help ...

http://forums.techguy.org/malware-re...elp-tools.html

[psaulm119]

Thanks again. I wasn't able to find in-depth reviews of WinPatrol, even at PCMag PCWorld or CNET. They had very brief ones, they all seemed to like it, and they mentioned good features, but I'm really interested in seeing a comparison between itself and the competition. Its not that I'm unsatisfied with WIndows Defender, but I'd just like to recomend one that's better, if one exists. You feel that WinPatrol is?

[telecom69]

Its all down to personal opinion at the end of the day isnt it ? there will always be differing opinions on whats best ....plenty of free stuff out there that do the job just as good as paid ones ...Windows Defender is just Microsofts offering,who is to say if its better or worse ? pesonally I dont use it because I dont find it any better than anything else ...I just use a combination of programs,because they all do things in a different way ...My choices are Adaware,Spybot,Spywareblaster,and now Win Patrol along with AVG free as my antivirus and Sygate personal firewall ....all free stuff and I find they work for me very well,and have done for the last 7 years with the exception of Win Patrol of course,time will tell on that one I suppose ....I have seen it in action and know it works ok ....