TOPLIST ANTIVIRUS

Ad-Aware is an anti-spyware and anti-virus program developed by Lavasoft that detects and removes malware, spyware and adware on a user's computer. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware detects spyware, viruses, dialers, Trojans, bots, rootkits, data miners, aggressive advertising, parasites, browser hijackers, and tracking components.

Lavasoft offers a free, downloadable version called Ad-Aware Free, and three paid-for products called Ad-Aware Plus, Ad-Aware Pro and Ad-Aware Business Edition.

The current, 2010 release (version 8.1) is available in three versions: Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware, Ad-Aware Plus Internet Security, and Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security.

 History

Ad-Aware Pro Anniversary

Ad-Aware was originally developed in 1999 to highlight web beacons inside of Internet Explorer. On almost every website the user would see a tiny pixelated square next to each web beacon. This was to warn the user that the computer's IP address and other non-essential information was being tracked by this website. Over time, they added the ability to block those beacons, or ads. Ad-Aware no longer makes the user aware of the ads on the screen, instead the program fights spyware, adware and malware.

In the 2008 Edition, Ad-Aware Pro and Plus were bundled, for the first time, with an antivirus scanner, which uses the Avira engine and this is continued in the latest release.

Since Ad-Aware 2007, Ad-Aware does not support Windows 98 or Me; previous versions did support these older versions of Windows. Ad-Aware 8.1 is the first version of Ad-Aware to support the Windows 7 operating system

Overview

Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware, Ad-Aware Plus Internet Security, and Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security are the latest versions of Lavasoft’s anti-malware solutions. Each new version includes anti-spyware and anti-rootkit protection, as well as integrated real-time threat protection. The Plus and Pro versions include anti-virus protection. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware allows computer users to combat malicious spyware, viruses, and malware; it protects users from malware that takes control of a computer and can result in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity and stolen private information. Ad-Aware detects hazardous content on a user's computer, identifies the threat level, and then gives the user the ability to block or remove unwanted content.

Ad-Aware is compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems only

Versions

Ad-Aware is currently available in four versions: Free, Plus, Pro, and Business Edition.

 Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware

Ad-Aware Free is Lavasoft's freeware anti-spyware and anti-rootkit software that is available for home, non-commercial use. It is offered to consumers worldwide to protect their personal and home computers from malware attacks, and has been downloaded over 400 million times worldwide. The download includes real-time protection (users are protected as they use the Internet), skins, help manuals and the latest definition files. Anti-virus protection is currently not included with this version but Lavasoft has said that this is due in the free version in January 2010.Other advanced features are available in the paid versions of Ad-Aware.

Whilst the Free version of Ad-Aware does not entitle the user to Lavasoft Customer Support, free support forums are provided for user-to-user support.

The free version is supported by advertisements which pop-up in the lower right corner of the desktop.

 Ad-Aware Plus Internet Security

The main differences between the Free and the Plus and Pro versions are the addition of anti-virus protection and extended threat detection. Other additional features include network drive scanning, scheduled scans, and bonus tools for added security (such as the Hosts File Editor).

Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security

Ad-Aware Pro incorporates all the features of the Plus version while also offering command line support, the ability to scan other hard drives across a network, and a 'Do Not Disturb Mode' feature. Ad-Aware Pro also includes Ad-Watch Live Expert (real-time network protection) and a Process Watch Module.

Ad-Aware Business Edition (BE)

Ad-Aware BE is for businesses that want central control of all their network computers with Ad-Aware installed. It includes network tools to manage and monitor Ad-Aware across a network.

Version features summary

Usage

Between May 27, 2005 (when version SE 1.06 appeared on Download.com) and April 23, 2007, the program was downloaded over 239 million times. It has now been replaced with Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition, which is listed as having been downloaded over 331 million times as of July 2009^[update].

[System requirements

I ORBIT 360

Features

• Real-Time malware protection
• Dual-Core" engine and the heuristic malware detection
• Frequent updates
• Hijack scan
• Security Holes scan
• Passive Defense
• Unlock & Delete lock files
• Privacy Sweeper

Versions

IObit Security 360 has two versions: Free and Pro.

 IObit Security 360 Free

IObit Security 360 Free is designed to detect and remove malware infections, it protects the PC from spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, bots, worms, and hijackers. It has real-time malware protection and frequent updating for prevention of zero-day security threats. IObit Security 360 can work with antivirus programs for better PC security. It uses DOG (Digital Original Gene), a heuristic malware detection method, to find the more complex threats.

 IObit Security 360 Pro

IObit Security 360 Pro is the paid version and adds automatic scans and automatic updates.

Spybot Search & Destroy (S&D) is a popular proprietary spyware and adware removal program compatible with Microsoft Windows 95 and later. It scans the computer hard disk and/or RAM for malicious software.

Spybot-S&D was written by the German software engineer Patrick Michael Kolla, and is distributed by Kolla's Irish company Safer Networking Limited. Development began in 2000 when Kolla, still a student, wrote a small program to deal with the Aureate/Radiate and Conducent TimeSink programs, two of the earliest examples of adware.

Licensing

Spybot - Search & Destroy is currently released as freeware. Corporate users are required to purchase a yearly license.

Spybot features

Along with spyware and adware detection and disinfection capabilities, Spybot-S&D can repair the Registry, Winsock LSPs, ActiveX objects, browser hijackers and BHOs, PUPS, computer cookies, trackerware, heavy duty, homepage hijackers, keyloggers, LSP, tracks, trojans, spybots, revision, and other kinds of malware. It can also to some extent protect a user's privacy by deleting usage tracks like tracking cookies. Spybot-S&D also includes an "Immunize" feature to block the installation of spyware before it occurs e.g. by modifying the hosts file. Another tool included in Spybot-S&D is a file shredder, for the secure deletion of files. Spybot-S&D is not intended to replace anti-virus programs, but it does detect some common trojans.

Spybot-S&D also recently added an anti-rootkit function.

The TeaTimer module can be optionally enabled, providing a level of active, real-time protection from undesirable registry changes and the like. This comes in the form of pop-ups which alert the user to registry changes, and ask for approval before allowing the change. Registry changes only tend to be made when programs are installed/uninstalled/updated, so random changes can indicate the presence of malicious software.

Some programs ship with attached spyware or adware and refuse to run when the undesired co-programs are removed; newer versions of Spybot replace the spyware binaries with inert dummies (designed to fool programs which require the spyware's presence).

In order to efficiently detect recently created programs, detection updates are released weekly along with other improvements such as added languages and better heuristics algorithms. These updates are downloaded from within the software from a variety of mirrors and are then automatically installed.

Spybot-S&D is available for all versions of Windows from Windows 95 and up, and offers more than two dozen different languages and several skins to users. Instructions are available on the website to enable users to design their own skins.

Technical support is currently supplied by means of Internet forums^[3] and support e-mails (with a usual response time of no more than 24 hours).

Reviews and awards

In previous years Spybot-S&D has been applauded for its ease of installation, free updates, and excellent features. It won numerous awards, including the World Class 2003 Awards, the PC Magazine Editor's Choice and PC User Top Buy #1. Additionally, Spybot was recommended by ZDNet, the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, MSNBC, CNN and other reviewers.

Although PC Magazine initially rated it highly in 2003, their rating has declined steadily since, to "poor" in 2008:

PC Magazine Editors' Ratings (out of 5 possible)

• 2003 4/5 EDITORS' CHOICE AWARD
• v1.2 2004 4/5
• v1.3 2005 3/5
• v1.4 2005 2.5/5
• v1.5 2008 1.5/5

In January 2008, PC Magazine, after giving Spybot Search & Destroy 1.5 a score of just 1.5 out of 5, elected it as one of the worst tech products of the first quarter of 2008 and called its malware cleaning-up skills mediocre.

Versions

Version 1.5 has improved Wine compatibility, and restores compatibility with Windows 95 which was faulty in 1.4. The scanning speed of version 1.6 is purportedly several times faster than of version 1.5.

Malicious clones

A number of people, knowing the program's great legitimacy, have made Spybot 'clones' with similar user interfaces and similar sounding program names. Some clones have been made by spyware manufacturers to make programs that pose as anti-spyware programs, but actually install spyware themselves. These programs are known as rogue antispyware.

Searching the words "spybot", or "search & destroy", "spybot antispyware" or any other related search on Google will often result in a paid advertisement for "SpywareBot". This program is a known rogue antispyware program, which fraudulently uses the "search and destroy" logo and a name similar to Spybot to fool users into downloading their product instead of the original Spybot Search & Destroy.

Incompatibility and conflicts

Removal by commercial security products

Several of the largest commercial security products require users to uninstall Spybot when they are being installed or when they run.

Norton Internet Security

The makers of Spybot-S&D have come into conflict over claims of incompatibility with Norton Internet Security. Symantec recommends uninstalling Spybot-S&D before installing Norton Internet Security. According to Safer Networking, no satisfactory explanation has been provided to them for this decision. Antivirus professional Mary Landesman suggests a possible explanation may stem from a graphical glitch in TeaTimer module's confirmation dialog. An official explanation from Safer Networking^[ states that this error stemmed from a bug in the program used to build their code. The result of the bug was that users had difficulty enabling Norton Internet Security to make necessary changes to critical registry areas, such as allowing itself to launch on startup. Aside from this, Mary Landesman, like Safer Networking, concludes that the two programs have no issue with one another. The bug exists only in the 1.4 version of Spybot-Search & Destroy and has been fixed as of the 1.5 release.

Kaspersky Internet Security

In certain instances Kaspersky Antivirus and Kaspersky Internet Security version 2009, forces users to uninstall Spybot during installation process, although there is no serious incompatibility yet known. The discussion was concluded in the Kaspersky forum, which said not to install Spybot at all. Kaspersky seems to be reluctant to fix the issue although they have received several complaints.

Trend Micro

Trend Micro Officescan follows Norton, Kaspersky and McAfee in simply removing Spybot without warning or notification afterwards.

Internet Explorer 8

The immunisation feature of Spybot - Search & Destroy caused Internet Explorer 8 to start slower than expected.. A fix has been issued to fix this problem by Microsoft on June 9 2009 . Users can fix the slow startup problem simply by downloading KB969897 from Microsoft.

Spyware Doctor is a spyware removal product for Microsoft Windows developed by PC Tools.

 Features

Spyware Doctor scans a PC for spyware, examining files on the hard drive, objects in memory, the Windows registry and cookies, and then attempts to quarantine or remove recognized threats. It also includes real-time protection which attempts to block threats from being saved to the disk, set to startup automatically, suspicious programs running and other detection including new toolbars and add-ons for web browsers.^{[citation needed]}

Spyware Doctor is designed for Windows 2000 and XP. Spyware Doctor also supports 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. 

License

It is normally purchased as a yearly subscription which includes new versions and updates, and is available online as well as in retail stores. PC Tools, like other security companies such as McAfee, Symantec and recently Microsoft with OneCare, has now implemented an automatic renewal system whereby customer's subscriptions are renewed every year automatically until canceled.

Spyware Doctor is not free, but a free scan version is offered, providing real-time protection and scans for spyware. Only the full version is capable of removing spyware (though a user can use the free version to locate where the spyware is and then manually remove the files and registry entries themselves). Spyware often includes both files located on the hard drive and entries in the Windows registry.

Spyware Doctor Starter Edition was included in the Google Pack in March 2007, this version allows scan and removal of threats using an older version of the program, limited real-time protection, but a database with only 60% of the definition files, which does not include some viral threats.

 Awards and reviews

A scan on a fairly clean PC with surprisingly deceptive results

Spyware Doctor received the PC World Best Buy award in the October 2007 issue of the magazine saying "PC Tools' Spyware Doctor 5.0 was the clear winner, outperforming the competition at detecting and removing our test set of adware and spyware samples."

Spyware Doctor has received several Editors' Choice awards from PC Magazine, including one for Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 5.5 in 2008. The product has also received numerous other awards from around the globe.

Not all reviews have been positive and early versions of Spyware Doctor 5.0, which the company rewrote from scratch, received some negative commentary. CNET's Download.com reviews, justifies the 3-star rating by saying, "in our trial scans, Spyware Doctor repeatedly flagged several dozen harmless cookies as potential threats, more than any other antispyware product we tested. We were also unable to learn more about each threat or why Spyware Doctor flagged each."

SpywareBlaster is a killbit program for Microsoft Windows designed to block the installation of ActiveX malware.

Features

SpywareBlaster blocks the installation of most ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers and other unwanted programs from the user's computer. SpywareBlaster works by blacklisting the CLSID of known malware programs, effectively preventing them from infecting a protected computer. This approach differs from many other anti-spyware programs, which typically offer the user a possibility to "scan" the memory of the computer and remove the unwanted software, after it has been installed.

SpywareBlaster also allows the user to prevent privacy hazards such as tracking cookies. Another feature is the ability to restrict the actions of websites known to distribute adware and spyware. SpywareBlaster supports several web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Seamonkey, and Flock.

License

SpywareBlaster is currently released as freeware, for personal and educational uses. However, a feature called AutoUpdate is available for a price. The AutoUpdate feature simply checks for and installs any updates for SpywareBlaster. This feature is not included in the freeware due to the required high bandwidth, but users can still update manually without requiring to pay anything.

Webroot Internet Security Essentials is Webroot’s first comprehensive Internet security suite. Initially launched on October 21, 2008, Webroot Internet Security Essentials was designed to provide PC users with Internet security protection and file storage without affecting the speed of their PCs. Webroot Internet Security Essentials utilizes the original antivirus and antispyware technology found in Webroot’s previous security software but with an updated user interface and additional features. It contains Webroot’s original Spy Sweeper technology to protect against spyware, adware, pop-ups and any other privacy threats. Its antivirus component protects users from Trojans, key loggers, viruses, hackers, data theft, worms and root kits. The product also includes automatic file storage to protect users against data loss. 

Features

Webroot Internet Security Essentials includes the same protection capabilities as Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware but has added a few additional features which are detailed below.

Eliminates Internet Trace History

WISE has the original Webroot Window Washer PC activity and internet trace removal technology as a built in feature. Unwanted files that accumulate on a computer’s hard drive while surfing the internet as well as stored PC activity history are permanently deleted from the hard drive. The areas of trace file removal include: Internet history, address bar, cache, cookies, recent documents list, recycle bin, ICQ history and any other temporary internet files stored on your computer after a web search.

Automatic file storage

Users can schedule automatic storage of all of their personal information. This enables users to recover any damaged or lost data from any Internet connection as well as share download links with friends and family to avoid sending large media via e-mail. Users can protect files including digital photos, digital videos, personal documents, presentations and other personal information stored on a computer’s hard drive.

Windows Defender, formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware, is a software product from Microsoft to prevent, remove and quarantine spyware in Microsoft Windows. It is included and enabled by default in Windows Vista and Windows 7, and is available as a free download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Basic features

Windows Defender features system scan capabilities similar to other free products on the market, and includes a number of real-time security agents that monitor several common areas of Windows for changes which may be caused by spyware. It also includes the ability to easily remove ActiveX applications that are installed. Also integrated is support for Microsoft's SpyNet network that allows users to report to Microsoft what they consider to be spyware, and what applications and device drivers they allow to be installed on their system.

History

Beta 1

Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta 1 (Version 1.0.701)

Windows Defender is based on GIANT AntiSpyware, which was originally developed by GIANT Company Software, Inc. The company's acquisition was announced by Microsoft on December 16, 2004. While the original GIANT AntiSpyware supported older Windows versions, support for the Windows 9x line of operating systems was later dropped. However, Sunbelt Software, which was originally GIANT's partner, sells a product based on the same technology called CounterSpy which still has support for older Microsoft operating systems.

The first release of Microsoft AntiSpyware was released in beta form on January 6, 2005 and was basically a repackaged GIANT AntiSpyware. It was then a free product (though only for genuine installations of Windows), contained few new features and was simply rebranded as a Microsoft product. More builds were released as 2005 progressed, with the last Beta 1 refresh released on November 21, 2005.

Beta 2

At the 2005 RSA Security conference, Chief Software Architect and co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, announced that Windows Defender (which was known as Microsoft AntiSpyware prior to November 4, 2005) would be made available free of charge to all validly licensed Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users to help secure their systems against the increasing malware threat.

Windows Defender (Beta 2) was released on February 13, 2006. It featured the program's new name and a significant user interface redesign. The core engine was rewritten in C++, unlike the original GIANT-developed one, which was written in Visual Basic . This improved the application's performance. Also, since beta 2, the program works as a Windows service, unlike earlier releases, which enables the application to protect the computer even when a user is not logged on. The Windows Defender application is technically an interface to the service, which also has the same name. Beta 2 also requires Windows Genuine Advantage validation. However, Windows Defender (Beta 2) did not contain some of the tools found in Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta 1). Microsoft removed the System Inoculation, Secure Shredder and System Explorer tools found in MSAS (Beta 1) as well as the Tracks Eraser tool, which allowed users to easily delete many different types of temporary files related to Internet Explorer 6, including cookies, temporary internet files, and Windows Media Player playback history. Microsoft later released German and Japanese versions of Windows Defender (Beta 2).

Final release

On October 24, 2006, Microsoft released the final version. It supports Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista; however, unlike the betas, it does not run on Windows 2000 by default.

Supersession

On 1 September 2009, Microsoft released Microsoft Security Essentials, a freeware anti-malware product. A Microsoft official notice posted earlier on 23 June 2009 on Microsoft community forum indicates that Microsoft Security Essentials supersedes Windows Defender as it covers a broader range of malware.^[5]The same notice states that although users do not need to run Windows Defender anymore, both applications can remain installed side-by-side and later releases of Microsoft Security Essentials are expected to disable Windows Defender.

Advanced features

Windows Defender is shown here blocking Hotbar, a known adware bundler.

Real-time protection

In the Windows Defender options, the user can configure real-time protection options:

• Auto Start - Monitors lists of programs that are allowed to automatically run when the user starts the computer
• System Configuration (settings) - Monitors security-related settings in Windows
• Internet Explorer Add-ons - Monitors programs that automatically run when the user starts Internet Explorer
• Internet Explorer Configurations (settings) - Monitors browser security settings
• Internet Explorer Downloads - Monitors files and programs that are designed to work with Internet Explorer
• Services and Drivers - Monitors services and drivers as they interact with Windows and programs
• Application Execution - Monitors when programs start and any operations they perform while running
• Application Registration - Monitors tools and files in the operating system where programs can register to run at any time
• Windows Add-ons - Monitors add-on programs (also known as software utilities) for Windows

Internet Explorer integration

There is integration with Internet Explorer which enables files to be scanned when they are downloaded to help ensure that one does not accidentally download malicious software. This implementation is similar to the real-time scanners of many anti-virus products on the market. Although not combined with Firefox, Windows Defender still scans downloaded files for malicious code, as part of the real-time protection.

Software Explorer

The Advanced Tools section allows users to discover potential vulnerabilities with a series of Software Explorers. They provide views of startup programs, currently running software, network connected applications, and Winsock providers (Winsock LSPs). In each Explorer, every element is rated as either "Known", "Unknown" or "Potentially Unwanted". The first and last categories carry a link to learn more about the particular item, and the second category invites users to submit the program to SpyNet for analysis by experts.

 Windows Vista-specific functionality

Windows Defender in Windows Vista automatically blocks all startup items that require administrator privileges to run (this is considered suspicious behavior for a startup item). This automatic blocking is related to the UAC (User Account Control) functionality in Windows Vista, and requires users to manually run each of these startup items each time they log in.