BleepingComputer.com: Best Free AntiSpyware software?

So I cant afford paid antispyware so I downloaded three FREE ones: Ad-Aware, Spy S&D, and ThreatFire. I dont want to lag my computer so I was wondering which of these I should uninstall for better ones and which are better? Im thinking replacing ThreatFire with Windows Defender.
And I have McAfee but it isnt that good.. (Not sure if its the full package)
And I am using Eusing Free Registry Cleaner. Is there a better one?

mvps.org is no longer recommending Spybot S&D or Ad-Aware due to poor testing results. See here - (scroll down and read under Freeware Antispyware Products).

Further, most people don't understand Spybot's TeaTimer or how to use it and that feature can cause more problems than it's worth. TeaTimer monitors changes to certain critical keys in Windows registry but does not indicate if the change is normal or a modification made by a malware infection. The user must have an understanding of the registry and how TeaTimer works in order to make informed decisions to allow or deny the detected changes. Additionally, TeaTimer may conflict with other security tools which do a much better job of protecting your computer and even prevent disinfection of malware by those tools.

More effective alternatives are Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and SUPERAntiSpyware Free.

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There isn't a better registry cleaner. The staff of BC do not recommend the use of a registry cleaner. Please read boopme's post in the link below for more information.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ind...t&p=1326578

should i uninstall the registry cleaner then? i just ran it so theres no further use for it anyways


edit:quietman- I looked at your link mvps.org and the first and only three programs listed under Freeware Antispyware Products with pictures and information all have notes that say "did poorly in test results" therefor should i just uninstall what I have and get 2-3 under: Other Highly Rated Anti-Spyware Programs

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I would remove them and replace with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and SUPERAntiSpyware Free.

I would also get rid of the registry cleaner.

Bleeping Computer DOES NOT recommend the use of registry cleaners/optimizers for several reasons:

• Registry cleaners are extremely powerful applications that can damage the registry by using aggressive cleaning routines and cause your computer to become unbootable.

The Windows registry is a central repository (database) for storing configuration data, user settings and machine-dependent settings, and options for the operating system. It contains information and settings for all hardware, software, users, and preferences. Whenever a user makes changes to settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in this repository. The registry is a crucial component because it is where Windows "remembers" all this information, how it works together, how Windows boots the system and what files it uses when it does. The registry is also a vulnerable subsystem, in that relatively small changes done incorrectly can render the system inoperable. For a more detailed explanation, read Understanding The Registry.

• Not all registry cleaners are created equal. There are a number of them available but they do not all work entirely the same way. Each vendor uses different criteria as to what constitutes a "bad entry". One cleaner may find entries on your system that will not cause problems when removed, another may not find the same entries, and still another may want to remove entries required for a program to work.

• Not all registry cleaners create a backup of the registry before making changes. If the changes prevent the system from booting up, then there is no backup available to restore it in order to regain functionality. A backup of the registry is essential BEFORE making any changes to the registry.

• Improperly removing registry entries can hamper malware disinfection and make the removal process more difficult if your computer becomes infected. For example, removing malware related registry entries before the infection is properly identified can contribute to system instability and even make the malware undetectable to removal tools.

• The usefulness of cleaning the registry is highly overrated and can be dangerous. In most cases, using a cleaner to remove obsolete, invalid, and erroneous entries does not affect system performance but it can result in "unpredictable results".

Unless you have a particular problem that requires a registry edit to correct it, I would suggest you leave the registry alone. Using registry cleaning tools unnecessarily or incorrectly could lead to disastrous effects on your operating system such as preventing it from ever starting again. For routine use, the benefits to your computer are negligible while the potential risks are great.

• Ed Bott's Webog: Why I don’t use registry cleaners
  
• Do I need a Registry Cleaner?

quietman7, on Jul 14 2009, 01:23 PM, said:

Do you have more information on these tests?

Thanks

peel, on Jul 14 2009, 01:01 PM, said:

Is McAfee actually slowing down your computer? If you feel it is, an excellent free alternative would be AntiVir free, which has high detection rates and is light on resources.

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No. I am not involved in their testing/analysis process.

kk i did wat u said. however, superantispyware doesnt exactly look so high performance
and how reliable/good is mvps.org?

and should i install any more other than these 2 or is that enough?

bump any help

The three best free antispyware programs at the minute in my opinion are as Quietman says, SAS and MBAM. Iwould add A-Squared to that list. Install them as on demand scanners and use them on a rota basis updating them as you use them. This way you avoid conflicts and reduce the load on your PC.

wats a rota basis. and do u think A-Squared is better than Sunbelt's CounterSpy and AVG?
also, do u think 2 antispyware is enough already

A rota means rotational. I scan with SAS one week then MBAM the next and then A-Squared the week after then I start again. In my opinion the three mentioned above are the best but another program to install would be SpywareBlaster another free program which works away unobtrusively in the back ground and stops a lot of stuff from getting onto your PC to begin with. Just remember to set it up properly and to check for updates once a week or so.

i dont want too many programs to gum up my computer. it's slow enough already. and i thought only 1 spyware should run in the background per computer. so wouldnt spywareblaster conflict.

and spywareblaster looks like just another antispyware to me. ill only get it if its something different

SpywareBlaster is a program that blocks spyware tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and any browsers that use the Internet Explorer engine, including: AOL web browser, Avant Browser, Slim Browser and Maxthon (formerly MyIE2). It also provides protection for Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, Seamonkey, and Flock. SpywareBlaster restricts the actions of potentially dangerous sites by adding a list of sites and domains associated with known spyware, advertisers and marketers to the browser's "Restricted Sites Zone" and prevents the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software. Some types of malware are known to mess with Trusted Zones, Ranges and ProtocolDefaults in for the browser.

SpywareBlaster adds sites to the restricted zones by adding the domain as a subkey under the registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains. A dword is then added to that domain named * and given a hex value of 4 to specify that it is part of the Restricted Sites Zone. More specifically, Spywareblaster sets the "killbit" on the CLSID (Class ID) of known spyware. Every program has a CLSID that is unique to the type of program. Once Spywareblaster enables (writes) those killbits they are "locked in" and any identified spyware cannot be opened. Spywareblaster writes these killbits in and then stays off until you need to re-write them again with an update.

SpywareBlaster does not run in the background. Instead it only requires installation and then enabling of all protection. After that you only have to check periodically for database updates using the built-in "Check for Updates" feature and then enable all protection again.