Journal drinkypoo's Journal: Is free Ad-Aware unofficially over? 9
I have recently reinstalled Windows XP (with SP3) on my laptop since getting it back from HP support, because Linux was never really happy here and I want to play games. I am going through the usual windows issues and am installing from my archive all the software that you need to protect yourself when using XP as your primary desktop system. I'm downloading a new Spybot for example, have just included Malware Bytes on the advice of basically everyone, and took AVG from 7 to 8.
I installed an old Ad-Aware on the assumption that it was better than nothing (unlike Spybot 1.52something which came without definitions) and then went looking for something more recent. But there seem to be a million people complaining that Ad-Aware took a nice little free program and crapped it up, that there's always some problem making updates, et cetera. I'm a modem user and I'm just not willing to download some software which is probably crap anyway. I can't even get Slashdot pages to load when I'm making downloads, so you know there's a limiting factor there. All I want to know is whether there's any point to installing Ad-Aware any more, or if the new super-combo is Spybot and Malware Bytes.
Incidentally, I'm inclined to skip Ad-Aware just because of Lavasoft's astoundingly incompetent website. Nary an alt tag to be seen, and if you turn off javascript links still go places, but they go places which return HTML errors. What giantic idiots.
IMO (Score:2)
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Definitely Avira.
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In my experience working as a PC tech wanker, Ad-Aware would often catch things that Spybot wouldn't, and vice versa. But I don't believe the added hassle is worth it, and neither does anyone else, so I guess I'll let it go. I do use AVG, and just put on AVG 8, but they crapped up the free product quite a bit in this revision, much as Kaspersky did to AVP back in the day :(
I don't use Ad Aware anymore (Score:2)
I used to be a fan (and paying customer) but Lavasoft mucked it up a couple years ago, so I've basically ignored it since then.
Something to keep in mind is that I'm running Firefox with a truckload of extensions that make browsing much safer, much much faster and occasionally less convenient. Those extensions include Adblock Plus, Flashblock, NoScript, Nuke Anything Enhanced, User Agent Switcher, Cookie Button, and a couple of protective Greasemonkey scripts. I do have IE tab for those sites that just
Having thrown out Windows almost six years ago... (Score:2)
...and refusing to support it for friends and family, I have never even heard of Spybot and Malware Bytes. Judging from your JE and the replies, Windows security still sucks. Why do you put up with it?
If you're using Firefox and the like anyway, just switch to Linux and get over it. If you don't do it now, you'll never do it. (That's what I told myself back in 2003 anyway. *g*) I first used Mandrake Linux, then Kubuntu, and since the 6.x days it's Ubuntu for my (computer-illiterate) wife and me. It's more t
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...and refusing to support it for friends and family, I have never even heard of Spybot and Malware Bytes. Judging from your JE and the replies, Windows security still sucks. Why do you put up with it?
You know you hate Windows too much when you make my Journal your rantmachine.
I put up with Windows because Linux runs like shite on my HP/Compaq nw9440. When I specified this machine I selected it on the theory that it would at least be mostly Linux compatible by the time I decided to install Linux on it. When it was purchased it was mostly intended to run Crystal Reports, and be able to go on the road with me, and yet still have a nice display.
Unfortunately, the dream of Linux support has been just that.
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