Topic: Spywareblaster.

[chorleydave]

As most people on here will know, I absolutely detest security software.  It hogs resources and is high maintenance compared with anything else you will find on a standard PC.  I would much prefer an international agreement to televise the sadistic torture of vermin who write viruses, hack into systems, and generally try to inflict their own miserable existences on to the rest of us.  Hopefully, watching vermin have a white-hot poker inserted up their anus would go some way to deter others.

That's part of the rant over!

One of the pieces of security software I use is Spywareblaster.  In theory, it should use no resources and need no maintenance.  However, unless one is prepared to pay for "Automatic Updating", updates have to be downloaded manually.  "So what", you may ask.  Well, they bring out a new version almost every month and it cannot be installed on top of the existing version.  I update it every month at the beginning of the month and as soon as I hit the update button up pops the message:

"A new version is available and cannot be downloaded from here.  Click on the link to go to the download site."

Once there, you download the new version setup file and then have to open the previous version, disable all protection, uninstall it and only then can you install the new version to get the most recent protection updates.  What a bl00dy faff!  It wouldn't be too bad if they only brought out a new version once a year or so, but as they do it almost every month and I have a desktop and two laptops to update, it is shagging annoying to put it mildly.

What a ba5tard!  Rant over! 

[Rik]

Try Super AntiSpyWare or Malwarebytes, Dave. Spyware blaster has long had its day, imo.

[chorleydave]

Hi, Rik.  I already use SuperAntiSpyware.  What is Malwarebytes?

[Rik]

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Malwarebytes is a site dedicated to fighting malware. Malwarebytes has developed a variety of tools that can identify and remove malicious software from your computer. When your computer becomes infected, Malwarebytes can provide the needed assistance to remove the infection and restore the machine back to optimum performance.

[Baz]

One of the pieces of security software I use is Spywareblaster.  In theory, it should use no resources and need no maintenance.  However, unless one is prepared to pay for "Automatic Updating", updates have to be downloaded manually.  "So what", you may ask.  Well, they bring out a new version almost every month and it cannot be installed on top of the existing version.  I update it every month at the beginning of the month and as soon as I hit the update button up pops the message:

"A new version is available and cannot be downloaded from here.  Click on the link to go to the download site."

Once there, you download the new version setup file and then have to open the previous version, disable all protection, uninstall it and only then can you install the new version to get the most recent protection updates.  What a bl00dy faff!  It wouldn't be too bad if they only brought out a new version once a year or so, but as they do it almost every month and I have a desktop and two laptops to update, it is shagging annoying to put it mildly.

What a ba5tard!  Rant over!  

I use this too Dave and I have never had to open the other version,disable protection,uninstall etc as you say, it just goes over the top  



I have just checked for updates and yes there is one available and it did just install over the top of old one

[chorleydave]

That's interesting, Baz.  I admit I just follow the instructions on the update site, but I'll try that next time.  Thanks.

[Baz]

no probs   

[Simon]

I think only the full (paid for) version of SuperAntiSpyware is real-time active, but not sure about MalwareBytes.  I have both installed, but use them for on-demand scans.  F-Secure and Windows Defender take care of things in real-time.

[daveeb]

Spyware blaster is worth having as it's the only decent (free) active malware detector (as opposed to SAS and malwarebytes which are inactive i.e. on demand only).
I find that periodically i have to uninstall the program then install the new version, presumably when they change the program version rather than updating the signatures.

[Rodders]

I've used SpywareBlaster since the very early versions and still find it indispensable.   It's actually 'passive' software (which uses no system resources at all) and employs a combination of different methods to lock down the attack vectors, thereby plugging holes in your browser (most flavours are supported).  SpywareBlaster's function is to prevent, rather than tackle, infections and incursions.

Go ahead and try it out.  If you think it's worth keeping, just remember to manually update it every few days.  Of course you could always donate, which would then awaken the Auto-update facility - at which point the software does briefly become active, for phoning home.

On its own, SpywareBlaster is no match for a full-blown Security package and certainly doesn't make that claim.  However, it does represent a further weapon in your computer's defences, doesn't eat anything and costs absolutely nothing if you're a cheapskate.  So I'd seriously consider installing it, if you haven't already.

Oh...  and yes, minor program updates generally do simply drop over the top of earlier installations!