If you always delete cookies and temp files, have a tight firewall,
and do a number of other things, you don't need either one -- except
as additional protection. But then if you do everything just right
and keep up with current threats and techniques, you don't need an
antivirus package either. I'm neither that diligent nor sufficiently
knowledgable.
Like antivirus packages, I find Ad-aware and Spybot good
preventatives/insurance. Unlike antivirus packages, they are _not_
intrusive. I run them with priority set to low and with antivirus
check on-access active. The former prevents performance problems; the
latter means that high risk objects are also scanned by my antivirus
much more frequently than would otherwise be the case.
For sure, adware and spyware don't only come as cookies.
HK
For example browser helper objects are frequently used maliciously or
invasively. Ad-aware and Spybot should find most obnoxious BHOs. The
also have other less well known features. Other products provide the
same protection, sometimes even better, but I find Ad-Aware and Spybot
convenient.
These are five features you may find useful.
1. Spybot has a Hosts file option that blocks many obnoxious sites
from even being contacted:
www.badsite.com is set to your pc so many
ads are avoided -- or sometimes left blank; the disadvantage is that
you are completely locked out of those sites and may not realize it.
2. Spybot's Immunize option prevents most adware from even installing.
(Strongly recommended.)
3. Spybot also has a Lock Hosts file option that will prevent adware
from working around the prior options as well as prevent most
hijacking.
4. Ad-aware can turn off Windows Messenger Service via a plug-in.
(Strongly recommended unless you specifically need WMS; this is but
one of several ways to do this.) (Note, I think this is still in the
free version. The pay version has several additional features.)
5. Spybot Tools include Active-X, BHO, and startup views that you may
find useful, although you should have a better startup viewer or
manager.
www.pricelessware.org has recommendations for alternative hosts file
managers and startup managers if you are interested. A Google Archive
search of ACF will also yield several discussions.
I hope this answers you question.
BillR
