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Best Free Adware-Spyware-Scumware Remover
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Introduction
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The internet is a dangerous place to be in the 21st century, with many people using increasingly ingenious ways to part you with your hard earned cash, whether it be by exploitation, surreptitiously harvesting your credit card and bank details for their own nefarious purposes, or tempting you to spend money on products and services that you neither need nor want. During the latter years of the 20th century, and the early years of the 21st, Spybot S&D and AdAware were kings, protecting you from all manner of malware that tried to infect your computer with the sole intention of parting you from your wallet. But as technology improves, so do the malware writers, and the kings of yesterday in terms of protection may no longer be up to the job. With every new generation of malware, there will be a new generation of software to combat it, and in my own tests, these are the best free products I recommend. |
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Discussion
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Top of the list is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free (MBAM). MBAM is a top notch and reputable product. A fairly lightweight download (just over 10 MB) and simple installation means this is not a burdensome product. In my testing, even when the PC was severely infected with many nasties running, it started without any problem and scanned and removed those nasties effectively. The interface is very simple, the scans are very fast and detection is first class. A reboot to complete cleaning was still required for some malware, though this is a minor inconvenience, and required by most programs of this type. The only downside is it has no portable version, and if there is no working network connection in the infected PC you won't be able to download the latest virus definition updates. Second is SUPERAntiSpyware (SAS). Once upon a time this was a good product but recent releases have not been up to the mark. The interface is simple, updates are speedy but it still installs a start-up item which doesn't actually do anything at all. The scan speed is twice to thrice that of MBAM and the detection is less than half of it. The removal also left a lot to be desired. It left a few nasties running even when it showed them as removed. SAS also requires a reboot to complete the removal process. The upside is, it has a portable version which will help with the removal of infections from computers without a working network connection. I hope version 5 brings improvements. ~~~~~ Below is the old review which is still going to be updated ~~~~~
Top of the list once again is SuperAntiSpyware, which successfully detected and cleaned 121 threats on my test system. A fairly lightweight download and simple installation (5.99 MB) mean that this is not a burdensome product. If anything the general package whilst aesthetically similar, has improved, managing to detect and clean after a single scan rather than the two scans required previously. A reboot to complete cleaning was still required, though this is a minor inconvenience, and required by most packages. If I had to raise a criticism, it's that the freeware version still installs a start-up item which doesn't actually do anything at all. In the paid version, it loads the always on protection which is not available in the freeware version. This minor annoyance aside, it remains my top recommendation.
Promoted this time to joint second place is Emsisoft Anti Malware free edition, and let me be very clear that it is ONLY the free edition that I am able to recommend. Emsisoft Anti Malware was able to identify just 43 infections; though some of the more serious threats identified by SAS were included in these. If we disregard tracking cookies, then the margins narrow. However, detection rate is only half the battle, and unfortunately EAM was unable to automatically clean some of the more virulent infections found by itself. Nevertheless, it helpfully provides a link to forums for manual removal instructions.
The downside of EAM is the download size, being a huge 91.69 MB, immediately followed by further updates. Anyone on restricted bandwidth or dial up may be advised to look elsewhere, but for an average broadband connection this should not be a factor.
Separating A2 and MBAM is almost impossible. I found them to be on a par with each other regarding their scans, but both require a technical proficiency that many may not possess; A2 requires manual removal of many threats, whilst MBAM forced me to jump through hoops to get it working.
PCTools SpywareDoctor SE also performed well in scanning, finding 24 threats (excluding cookies). Unfortunately, cleaning the system proved more problematic. Despite reporting successful cleansing, SD failed to terminate processes already running, and did not in fact clean some of the more annoying infections. It would also be useful if SD prompted a reboot after cleansing, though it did not do this, and only experience dictated that this would be a good idea.
SD does, however, include real time protection, which most other products don't, and this protection did block those infections that it had failed to clean. Nevertheless, a further scan and clean with SAS was needed to fully clean my test system. A fine effort, but sadly falling short of the mark. Do note that the free version is no longer available from the PCTools website. It can be obtained as part of the Google pack, or from *here. *Warning: This is a Cnet download link. Downloads from Cnet (Download.com) now require the use of a proprietary installer.
Old timer Ad-Aware, coming in at 35.7MB performed reasonably, if not exceptionally, finding a further 24 infections even after cleaning with A-squared, 4 of which represented real threats, whilst the remaining 20 were cookies.
Doing less well in on demand tests were Spybot S&D, and The Cleaner 2010. Spybot was the other program that was actively blocked from running, and nothing I tried could overcome this. It does come with an on demand file scanner which can be run from the command line and set to scan your entire drive. However, after letting this run for over an hour and noting that progress had barely touched my relatively small installation system (2.1 GB) I cancelled. It would take an age to complete the scan, and would only examine files. Registry entries and services would be left untouched. The Cleaner 2010 found absolutely none.
Arovax Shield is still in development, and starting to mature, though there are still bugs to be ironed out. For example, once installed, and after the obligatory reboot to enable it to start it's services, it immediately complained that it could not find Firefox. This is no surprise since FF was not installed on the test system, though I fail to see why it should prevent it from doing its job. Maybe as time progresses this will become more viable, but in my opinion it isn't quite there yet.
And so that leads us to my standard "other recommendations". Internet Explorer has now reached version 8, which I am sure will become the most prolific web browser before too long, and as such will be the most heavily targeted. I stand by previous recommendations that an alternative browser (of which there are many free ones these days, including Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome and Safari) will offer a safer browsing experience.
And in order to shut the door after the horse has bolted, there are few more useful than HiJack This, which is still a tool requiring expert help, but can be invaluable in helping to clean an infected system. Fortunately, the expert help is still only a forum away.
And as always, let common sense guide you. Don't run a program from an untrusted source, and don't visit websites where infection is likely. You should also beware of popups from programs that you haven't installed, some of the fake anti-spyware I managed to pick up in my browsing sessions was surprisingly convincing. Remember, sometimes malware will scream into your face that it is there (see pic, not a genuine window amongst them). It will just not tell you what it really is.
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Related Products and Links
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Some issues have been reported on 64 bit systems
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Editor
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This software category is in need of an editor. If you would like to give something back to the freeware community by taking it over, check out this page for more details. You can then contact us from that page or by clicking here |
The comments section below is so lengthy that it has become difficult for our visitors to read. Future posts will now be edited for length and repetition, and personal attacks deleted. You are all welcome to join our Security Forum which is much better-suited for intensive debate.
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Comments
Have SuperAntiSpyware Profesional. Bought the Pro Version as was so impressed with the free on demand scanner, i thought realtime protection will be good. Very disappointed as SAS/Pro only protects your home page from change, and alerts you (if you or malware) try to change it. All other tracking cookies / malware etc pass through it's so called Realtime Protection. You have to find these using the On Demand Scanner, which is free.
Thank you for your answer billy22taxi !
On the SAS's site, the description they make of the active protection indicates that it is doing a little bit more than protecting your home page from changes.
Maybe it is not very good at doing the rest or maybe your surfing habits are very safe or you are very lucky...
If someone else has something to say about the SAS's active protection, you're welcomed !
SAS Pro does have fist chance prevention. This means it does a scan on start up and shut down. I found if you click scan my computer / click Perform Custom Scan, checking only Startup Locations and Cookies. This fast scan 3secs gets all your tracking cookies.
I use Comodo DNS as fist line of defence. IE8 with Smartscreen. Online Armour with HIPS. AVIRA Personal. MBAM and SAS on demand.
One major drawback for SuperAntiSpyware is, its really slow!!
And its detection rates are less than Malwarebytes.
However it does have useful tools in the tools section AND unlike Malwarebytes it has a portable version that can be run and updated from a USB stick. SAS is still relevant but its no longer the BEST free antimalware app especially when it comes to detection and removal.
-J
Steve,
Your testing alerted us to the wonders of OpenDNS, which prevented you from accessing many malware sites. When I inquired at that time, you indicated you were simply using the free/basic version of OpenDNS, without customizing any aspects.
I've just come across a new segment within these TechSupportAlert pages
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/new-smart-caching-opendns-see-we...
which now states "Since then [early 2009], the protection from malware sites previously provided by the free version of OpenDNS has been cut. However, a similar malware blocking feature is currently freely available with DNS Advantage - this highly recommended free DNS option is now a major competitor, at least from the security standpoint".
I realize you're quite busy, but I believe you need to address this point as soon as possible... I have been strongly recommending OpenDNS to my friends, stressing its security-related aspect that you promoted. Is OpenDNS no longer the "magic bullet", in terms of anti-malware security, that it used to be? And how does DNS Advantage compare as an alternative, both in terms of speed/reliabilty of resolving DNS as well as in offering malware protection?
This is a very good question, which I believe should be answered by the editor or someone in techsupportalert. Because I too have noticed that opendns does not protect you like it used to so I switch to dnsadvantage.
I have got security essentials 2010 on my xp system! I know it's a virus! How do I get rid of it? Luckily I have Windows 7 on a different partition, so I can start Windows 7 from the boot selection menu and am now trying to scan my xp disk with Malwarebytes, but it isn't finding anything! Any help?
better a late reply than never, have you tried the forums here? A step-by-step guide to removal is at: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-security-essentials-2010 - hope this helps. NB. to the admins, I don't know if link posting is allowed or not so apologies if not.
Link posting is allowed. Only thing is links should not be to a commercial site/software... should be rated green by WOT, etc.
Is this article due to be updated? There is a native 64-bit version of SUPERAntiSpyware now, and also a standalone/portable version that does not require installation (but unpacking locally of some files).
For now, I'm using GesWall,Avast,pctool plus,winpatrol pro or plus?(paid 99¢ via this site),SuperAntiSpyware Pro(paid),Sandboxie,Shadow Defender(trialware for now),Manuel scan with A2(emisoft),Hitman Pro,(Trial)Spybot Search & Destroy,UltraSurf(on demand). Firefox addons: Wot,Dr Web Link scanner,Better Privacy,NoScript,Admuncher(paid software), with a hardwired router w/default setting changed to increase security.
I was using Immunet protect which did not conflict with any of my security software. However, It did produce "false" positives and put in quarantine and if there is a way to remove from quarantine, I could not see how, even after spending time on their forum. It did not impact or slow down my computer at all. I have a pent4 processor with 2.5gb ram and it's an 04 machine.Pent 4 processor speed is 3.0gb. I liked Immunet Protect so much that I will install again and try and figure out a way to deal with "false" positives and again spend more time on their forum...it is still a work in progress.
Was going to install Panda cloud for a trial run, but in order to do so, would have to uninstall Avast and that I was not willing to do. So in that respect, Immunet is far more compatible with with other security software than panda. Not sure about how they compare to each other in terms of detection..Perhaps someone would elaborate more on both products now or in the future.
Too much security..as long as its not conflicting or noticeably slowing down my puter...then I'm good with it.
Love this site, as I always learn something.
Just a followup to my own comments...ok, there is a way to "white list"(add to an exclusions list)however, apparently from what I've read, Immunet Protect detects what avast doesn't...not correct apparently what's going on is that Immunet Protect jumps in front of avast and quarantines before Avast can scan it! Also, Immunet Protect is quarantining when I try to run a A2 scan and even quarantines files that I am trying to up;oad to A2 preventing me from so doing...also as previously mentioned, way too many "false positives"...after trying to add to Immunet's exclusion list...I gave up...seems like if I download it quarantine files and if I try using other software it quarantines files...so, although I continue to believe that Immunet has great promise..for me, just way too many false positives and its interfering with Avast and with A2. I'll continue to keep and eye on it and fro time to time will try it again just to see how it's progressing. I'm a non tech person, so again perhaps someone else with more expertise will examine it in depth and report.
Of all the freebies, I really love to use SuperAntiSpyware.
It detects and removes the malicious programs without much worry.
I have the same opinion. SuperAntiSpyware is great! It has removed any malicious software I ever got! So why do we still need anti virus? This is what I don't understand! Can anybody explain? What is the difference between an anti-spyware and an anti-virus? Do I still need an anti-virus like Kaspersky? (I have Kaspersky and a lot of the time is able to detect but fail to remove)SuperAntiSpyware is able to remove any malicious software I ever got.
I will explain this with whatever knowledge I have got. Nowadays there are a lot of malicious software being made, all known together as malware. There are different categories in that. Virus, worm etc, will infect your system, and destroy it, making it unbootable, or will cause problems so that you are unable to perform any work on the PC. Whereas spyware will try to send your information out of your PC to a person, or server, or anywhere. So, antispywares specialize in handling these types of malware. But nowadays, antivirus have some amount of antispyware capabilities too, like Avast, and Avira, and others too. But still, MBAM, SAS, A-Squared are required because they specialize in dealing with spyware.
I hope you find it useful, someone with better knowledge than me will tell you more :).
sas is also good in dealing with trojans.
Ad-Aware has plans to add free anti-virus to the already free ad-aware version with anti-walware as well as a new ad-aware product to be released sounds interesting since Lavasoft did well in the latest Av tests. Should be interesting to see.
Which AV tests are you referring to? Do you have a link? Also will the free AV they are to include third party or their own?
Its spelled TrendMicro HiJackThis not TendMicro HijackThis. please fix, its been like that for years
It's fixed now. Mostly we do pick these up, but occasionally some might slip through. Thanks for highlighting this one :)
Spy-bot has been around for a long time. Do you think it still is an effective tool for me te use as a second on-demand spyware remover/scanner?
As long as you pair it with another scanner you should be fine! Just make sure you do a scan with each one every week. Also I'm not sure what browser you are using but if it has a phishing filter on it make sure that is activated as well.
Cheers!
Currently Internet Explorer 8 has the best phishing/malware filter on the market. It's called SmartScreen filter. I think the block rate now is up to 89 percent.
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/07/02/ie8-security-part-iii-smarts...
New version of HiJackThis has been released. 2.0.4 is the new version.
I am using Avast, GesWall and Sandboxie. Is this enough or still I need to have some kind of extra protection to secure my PC.
is there any need for both geswall and sandboxie?
Would love some opinions. I am using Windows firewall, Symantec Enpoint as my AV, SAS and MAMB as my antispyware, also Winpatrol, Spyware Blaster, and then I have SpybotSD for some supporting features. There is much talk here about mutually supportive software. Does this combo that I am using fit the bill? Are there programs I am using that conflict with each other? Or is there a gaping hole in my security? Oh, I am using Vista, with Firefox as my browser. Just looking for other opinions...
whatever you choose to make up your "layer" there is bound to be a certain amount of redundancy or overlap between the programs. I certainly don't see what you have as being "over the top" in fact it's a good combination. IMO you might like to consider Secunia PSI and PeerBlock, especially if you are in to P2P.
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/
http://www.peerblock.com/
re secunia, don't most progs/plugins have an auto update feature anyway that can be configured eg flash, java, reader etc?
side q - is there any truth in the proposition that most freeware contains 'bots' that send usage stats etc back?