[DKTaber]

I've have some questions about the mix of malware programs on my PC, and would like TSG visitors' opinions.

The programs (all free versions) are:

· Spyware Blaster
· BOClean (Comodo)
· Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition
· SuperAntiSpyware (SAS)
· Avira AntiVir

Spyware Blaster, BOClean, and Avira AV load fully at startup. Ad-Aware (because it's the anniversary edition) loads Ad-Watch at startup. SAS puts an icon in the systray that allows me to bring it up quickly, but is not a TSR.

My questions are:

· What exactly does BOClean do (says it's a "trojan" blocker; it takes the largest amount of memory of anything in Task Manager: 54.5MB)?
· Specifically what does Ad-Watch protect against?
· Is it redundant to have Avira, Ad-Watch, BOClean and Spyware Blaster all loaded? Does having them loaded create conflicts or performance issues? Observation: I'm annoyed that my HD runs pretty steadily for 1.5 minutes AFTER the Desktop appears, and doing anything during that time often results in long response times.

Other major programs that load at startup are Google Desktop, Secunia PSI, and RealTek sound drivers.

PC is a JNCS custom with Intel mobo, 3.0GHz E8400 Core 2 duo w/6MB cache; 2GB RAM; 500GB Segate SATA HD. OS is Win XP-SP3. Firewall is Comodo (free).

[rainforest123]

DKT:
Are you using C FW only, or C FW with their AV enabled? You were given an option, during startup [ probably ] to use their AV. I have no experience with C FW's AV component. I stopped using their FW because it continue to ask, during every program update & program installation, if I wanted to continue. Too complicated for me. Merely my opinion.

I suggest that you check the web sites of the programs you have installed.

I think it is important to have Real Time, TSR protection provided by ONE AV program, ONE FW, and 1 or more antispyware [ AS ] programs. The more programs that load at startup: 1. the longer it will take for your pc to be ready [ as you have experienced ];
2. the longer it will take for certain things to occur, because the AV & AS may want to scan, for example before you are allowed to view a document or image, or listen to a song; 3. the less ram you will have available for your browser[s], media player, et al.

Your PC certainly has the hardware resources to provide happy computing.

I apologize for not knowing all of the answers to your important questions.

FWIW: I use AVG Internet Security and a modified hosts file from mvps.org . I avoid gambling sites; naked people sites; and free stuff sites.

I have used SpywareBlaster & SpywareGuard in the past, with no problems, but no increase in problems since discontinuing their use. 5 to 7 yrs ago, I swore by Spybot S & D and Ad-Aware, but they are effective for < 60% of all malware, according to a study I read a few yrs ago. I know that many people swear by SS&D and A-A. Again, merely my opinion.

Best of success.

RF123

[Elvandil]

There definitely can be conflicts when multiple, driver-level programs performing the same task are running together. It's best to have only one real-time spyware monitor and one AV running, and then use the others just for occasional scans. If your AV includes anti-malware, then just that should run. They all catch different things (except for the AV which is usually pretty inclusive), so multiple ant-malware apps are really needed since there is no one database for all those bad guys.

To prevent the drivers from loading, it's best to turn off the real-time scans from within the app rather than jst removing it from startup.

[DKTaber]

Originally Posted by rainforest123

DKT:
Are you using C FW only, or C FW with their AV enabled? You were given an option, during startup [ probably ] to use their AV. I have no experience with C FW's AV component. I stopped using their FW because it continue to ask, during every program update & program installation, if I wanted to continue. Too complicated for me. Merely my opinion.

I suggest that you check the web sites of the programs you have installed.

I think it is important to have Real Time, TSR protection provided by ONE AV program, ONE FW, and 1 or more antispyware [ AS ] programs. The more programs that load at startup: 1. the longer it will take for your pc to be ready [ as you have experienced ];
2. the longer it will take for certain things to occur, because the AV & AS may want to scan, for example before you are allowed to view a document or image, or listen to a song; 3. the less ram you will have available for your browser[s], media player, et al.

Your PC certainly has the hardware resources to provide happy computing.

I apologize for not knowing all of the answers to your important questions.

FWIW: I use AVG Internet Security and a modified hosts file from mvps.org . I avoid gambling sites; naked people sites; and free stuff sites.

I have used SpywareBlaster & SpywareGuard in the past, with no problems, but no increase in problems since discontinuing their use. 5 to 7 yrs ago, I swore by Spybot S & D and Ad-Aware, but they are effective for < 60% of all malware, according to a study I read a few yrs ago. I know that many people swear by SS&D and A-A. Again, merely my opinion

I downloaded only CFW, no AV. Having two AV's on one's system (or two firewalls) can raise havoc. BTW, I tried the Comodo AV beta about 3 months ago and had to uninstall it, because for every Access database I opened, it caused the system to replicate that database and save it as "dbN.mdb", where the N was a number that got larger each time it replicated. Serious bug. I've not even thought about retrying it until I see some reviews. In any case, I tried several other AVs, and settled on Avira, which I really like and is well rated.

You are one of apparently very few people I've conversed with that believes Spybot is poor. I absolutely agree! I ran tests with many free AS programs to see what each found, and Spybot was the least effective of the bunch. Over time, Ad-aware also seemed to lose its effectiveness, but the new Anniversary Edition (in which Ad-Watch is enabled for the first time in the FREE version!) is way more effective than the old SE versions. I have tested it against SAS, and it actually finds one more tracking cookie (live365) than SAS does (although I've now put live365 in the 'ignore' group because it's impossible to avoid if you listen to radio via the Internet).

Appreciate the feedback.

[DKTaber]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

There definitely can be conflicts when multiple, driver-level programs performing the same task are running together. It's best to have only one real-time spyware monitor and one AV running, and then use the others just for occasional scans. If your AV includes anti-malware, then just that should run. They all catch different things (except for the AV which is usually pretty inclusive), so multiple ant-malware apps are really needed since there is no one database for all those bad guys.

To prevent the drivers from loading, it's best to turn off the real-time scans from within the app rather than jst removing it from startup.

The only programs doing "real-time" scans for spyware are SB and BOC. The system has never indicated that they conflict. Avira is AV only, so I need some active AS. Questions are, is it worth having both, or is it redundant, and will Avira block the same things that BOC does, in which case I don't need BOC.

I can tell you this: I tested the system with EICAR, the European 'fake' virus used to test AV programs. Avira not only detected it in a nanosecond, but prevented it from running at all (vs. having to run a scan to get rid of it after it got in). Not a peep out of BOC. But I'm not sure what BOC actually looks for. It says "trojans", but seems to me that Avira would do that also. . . in which case, it would be redundant.

[macro_scoop!]

actually , i do not recommend several antiviruses running at the same time ,, these will cause some faults to happen ... my recommendation is to use just 1 antivirus , 1 antispyware ...

and by the way ,, on some otehr forum , somebody was mad when he switched from AVG to Avast ... as the last one couldnt recognize Comodo**

[DKTaber]

[QUOTE=macro_scoop!;6532488]actually , i do not recommend several antiviruses running at the same time ,, these will cause some faults to happen ... my recommendation is to use just 1 antivirus , 1 antispyware ... [QUOTE]
I have only one AV program -- Avira -- unless somebody tells me that BOClean is also an AV program. I don't think it is; it cannot do scans; it just sits in the background, like Spyware Blaster, and BLOCKS spyware (or removes it without telling you?). This might be incorrect, but it's what I gleen from things I've read.

I just found this quote from a thread on Yahoo Answers: "Tested this program [BOClean] on two PC's, XP & Vista. On XP, the CPU went to 100% then settled down. Gives better protection than Defender or Spyware Blaster." The implication of this reviewer is that BOC and SB are both spyware blockers, so only one is needed. . . and if his tests were accurate, the one to keep is BOC. What I'm looking for is confirmation of this or any other information about (a) what BOC specifically does and (b) is it really better than Spyware Blaster or other programs that work the same way.

[Elvandil]

The system may not give any indication at all that there is any conflict. But files are generally scanned by those things "on open" and having more than one trying to do that can mean that some infections will not be detected at all. Sometimes the system just slows down. That is the "conflict" that occurs and not a more noticeable one.

[DKTaber]

FYI, folks, I just discovered (from a Comodo forum) that Comodo is planning to integrate BOC into Comodo AntiVirus (CAV). When it does, BOC will no longer be supported as a standalone program. So BOC's days are numbered. Given that I will probably not switch to CAV because I like Avira so much, I will have to uninstall BOC, anyway.

I also just found the following messages on a CNET forum:
------------------------------
I installed Boclean
by Maggie6243 - 4/24/07 7:55 AM

Now I'm not sure what to do with it! I have a little square icon down in the tray that flickers. Is this what it's supposed to do? Do I have to do anything? It appeared to update.? There's really not much info as to what it does, or what I need to do. I'm assuming it's doing its thing, but I'm not really sure. Anyone know? Thanks....Maggie
Post 2 of 7

That is what it does Maggie
by roddy32 - 4/24/07 8:25 AM In reply to: I installed Boclean by Maggie6243

Just let it sit there and occasionally check for updates. To do that, you right click on the icon and choose "check for update" and you will get a popup that tells you what it is doing. Once it is updated, choose "close this menu". Normally there is also online documentation which can be accessed through the same menu but that is not online yet. It should be soon though. That is all there is to it, very easy to use.
Post 3 of 7

Thanks alot Roddy...
by Maggie6243 - 4/24/07 8:46 AM In reply to: That is what it does Maggie by roddy32

From what you say, I guess everythings OK. I thought I was supposed to run it or something. Now, if it stops something, does it let me know? Do I still need Spyware Guard or Spyware Blaster? Or do they all work OK together? It sort of sounds to me like they do the same thing....Maggie
Post 4 of 7

They work fine together and I would keep them
by roddy32 - 4/24/07 10:28 AM In reply to: Thanks alot Roddy... by Maggie6243
All. . .they are not really the same. I have all three and have had for about 3 years now and NO conflicts whatsoever. You are welcome Maggie.
------------------------------
Given all this new info, I think I've answered the questions I originally posed. I'll continue to use BOC and SB until I get a notice from Comodo that BOC is no longer supported as a standalone. Thanks to all for your responses.

[DKTaber]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

The system may not give any indication at all that there is any conflict. But files are generally scanned by those things "on open" and having more than one trying to do that can mean that some infections will not be detected at all. Sometimes the system just slows down. That is the "conflict" that occurs and not a more noticeable one.

OK. Since BOC will soon not be available by itself, I'll uninstall it, leaving Spyware Blaster as my only active AS program. That is, assuming that Ad-Aware AE's "Ad-Watch" is what the name implies -- and ad blocker, not an AS blocker.

[Gizzy]

Hello,

Spyware blaster doesn't actually run, it just creates entries in your registry and restricted zone of IE (along with other areas) for known malicious websites,

And I could be wrong since it's been awhile since I've used it but I believe ad-watch actively scans as an anti-spyware but like I said spyware blaster doesn't actively run in the background so they should be fine together,

As of for boclean would you mind sending me the link to the page you saw them say they were discontinuing it as a stand-alone app? I heard they were combining it with comodo's firewall and they've been saying that for a few months now but I didn't think they were discontinuing it as a stand-along since I also read somewhere that right now they're just working on their comodo internet security suite but once they were finished with it they were going to start working on their stand-alone programs more.

[DKTaber]

Originally Posted by Gizzy

Hello,

Spyware blaster doesn't actually run, it just creates entries in your registry and restricted zone of IE (along with other areas) for known malicious websites,

And I could be wrong since it's been awhile since I've used it but I believe ad-watch actively scans as an anti-spyware but like I said spyware blaster doesn't actively run in the background so they should be fine together,

As of for boclean would you mind sending me the link to the page you saw them say they were discontinuing it as a stand-alone app? I heard they were combining it with comodo's firewall and they've been saying that for a few months now but I didn't think they were discontinuing it as a stand-along since I also read somewhere that right now they're just working on their comodo internet security suite but once they were finished with it they were going to start working on their stand-alone programs more.

I saw that announcement in more than one place. Here are two of them: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r219...-is-leaving-us and http://www.aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f...st=0&sk=t&sd=a.

[Gizzy]

Thanks,