Well reviewed by most users including C/net, but not Adware Report (see below). Free version does not protect the Registry, nor does it protect executable files.
"...
it lacks the preventative protection features that are available only in Lavasoft's paid products." PCWorld review
"
The paid version of Ad-Aware is not recommended highly in reviews." -Consumer Search
One review claims that the free version does not remove spyware, however, Lavasoft's comparison page shows that functionality for the free product.
SpyBot
Search and Destroy by Patric Kolla (PepiMK Software):
"SpyBot features scanning abilities and an “immunization”
feature that allows SpyBot to automatically block common
spyware applications." You get what you pay for with
this product. It misses a number of spy programs. Nevertheless,
something is better than nothing.
A commercial product that offers a free full-featured
trial version with a time limit. Much better than SpyBot.
Not free after the trial is over ($29.95 incl. 1 Yr. subscription). Top rated by most reviewers. Our favorite. Annual renewals $19.95 as of 12/06.
WinPatrol Scotty
the Windows Watch Dog
will sniff out malicious, nasty "mysteryware"
that may attack your computer. "WinPatrol puts you
back in control of your computer with no need for constant
updates." [from their ads]
BHODemon
Unknown Browser Helper Objects Killer
The Internet Storm Center issued a warning that a Trojan
virus is posing a threat to online banking customers.
It's been named Bankhook.A. Bankhook.A is a keystroke
logging trojan that works through Microsoft Explorer.
It seeks secure access to the URLs of several dozen banking
and financial sites and records your logon name and password,
then sends them to its creator.
The carrier of the threat, "img1big.gif," poses
as an image file, according to center, Bethesda, Md. The
file is not an image at all, but a file-dropper Trojan
composed of a pair of Win32 executable programs compressed
together using the Open Source executable compressor UPX.
The center recommends free software called BHODemon from
Definitive Solutions to help administrators identify BHOs
installed on Windows systems.
Read
the full story and a follow-up
story
Our opinion is that a good anti-spyware program should handle this function.
**** Danger! ***** Avoid these
programs! **** Danger! ****
****
These
programs are spyware in disguise!
****
**** Spy
Trooper
****
**** PS
Guard
****
**** World
AntiSpy
****
**** Raze
Spyware
****
**** SpyDemolisher
****
**** SpySheriff
****
**** SpywareNo
****
**** Spyware
Assassin
****
**** SpyKiller
****
**** Danger! ***** Avoid these
programs! **** Danger! ****
Aimed at users who want to be reasonably safe but lack,
or don't want, higher-level knowledge of network activity.
You'll have to search to find the free version unless you
want the extras that come with another package. Our favorite.
Allows rulesets, granular control (such as specific ports
and protocols) of inbound/outbound traffic, information
on individual connection attempts, and packet inspection.
Free version for home use.
Create your own hardware firewall using an old PC and this
Linux software. You don't need a monitor or keyboard since
it uses a web interface management system. This open source
collaboration runs under the Linux 2.2 Kernel. Scalable
to large enterprises. Uses Squid (web-proxy and cache)
and Snort (intrusion detection).
Windows XP®
Windows XP® has an Internet
Connection Firewall built into the operating system.
To activate the Windows firewall, click on Network Connections
(Start => Network Connections). Right click the Dial-up,
LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to protect.
Choose “Properties“. Click on the Advanced tab.
Select the “Protect my computer and network by limiting
or preventing access to this computer from the Internet”
check box.
“A NT/Win2k/XP service which sends you eventlog messages
by email. Extremely efficient and reliable, no reboot after
installation required. Also supports remote administration!”
Create custom filters. Schedule a filtered event log email
for a specific time.
AOL Anti-virus Protection
This is actually
Kaspersky (a top-rated engine from Germany) with AOL's brand tacked on.
Configure Kaspersky to comply with your needs by Softpedia.
AVG
Anti-Virus system by Grisoft
AVG free version stops the same viruses as their other
versions and updates its signature file automatically depending
on how you set it up. As you might expect, the upgrade includes
more bells and whistles, but both do the same basic job
of scanning for viruses. You can scan your entire system,
then set it up to look for viruses as they enter your system
via the Internet or email. Recommended on Screen Savers
show (Tech TV).
AVG will no longer be free as of Jan. 15, 2007.
“The AntiVir Personal Edition offers the effective
protection against computer viruses for the individual and
private use on a single PC-workstation.” Out-scored AVG on one test
- detects and removes more than 70,000 viruses
- always among the winners of comparison test featured
in computer journals
- the resident Virus Guard serves to monitor file movements
automatically,
- e.g. downloading of data from the Internet
- scanning and repair of macro viruses
- Protection against previously unknown macro viruses
- easy operation
- Internet-Update Wizard for easy updating
- Protection against previously unknown boot record viruses
and master boot record viruses
- Quality "Made in Germany"
- support is free of charge via AntiVir Bulletin Board
HouseCall
Virus Scanner from Trend Micro™
“Trend Micro's free HouseCall service is a no-frills
virus scanner. The service loads quickly and lets you clean
or delete any infected file it finds. The browser displays
a list of drives on your machine, allowing you to select
which ones to scan. A separate window displays progress
reports and lists infected files for treatment. HouseCall
isn't fancy, but this one-trick service gets the job done
quickly.” -PC Magazine
Avast
by Alwil Software
“A full-featured antivirus package designed for home
usage. Our company offers Home Edition free of charge, since
in our opinion, it is possible to avoid global virus spreading
by efficient prevention. However, many user are not able
or do not want to pay for antivirus software.
"You can expect 100% detection of In-the-Wild viruses
(the ones what are really spreading amongst people) and
very good detection of Trojan horses, all that with only
a minimum number of false alarms.
"Featuring fast incremental updates and advanced mulit-layer
real-time protection of all infection vectors, it safeguards
against virtually all kinds of malware." -Avast website
A comparison test of 30 anti-virus programs
