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Slide 1: Subscribe to How-To Geek RSS Email Subscription Twitter Facebook Home How-To's Reviews Games Shopping Forums Login / Signup List of Spyware Protection Software Compatible with Windows 7 If you are one of the many people testing the beta release of Windows 7, you should still make sure to keep your computer safe and secure. The other day we created a list of Anti-Virus software compatible with Windows 7, and today we'll be covering a list of compatible Spyware protection utilities. Note: make sure to check out our screenshot walkthrough of the Windows 7 Beta if you haven't already, as Microsoft is giving away beta keys that don't expire until August 1st. If you have a commercial security suite such as Norton or McAfee, then it probably includes anti-malware protection, and if you decide to run a separate anti-spyware package you should probably disable the other one. This is even mentioned in the Windows 7 Action Center screen if you install more than one: Recent Articles Friday Fun: Take a Break from Spreadsheets and Play Excit! Check Weather Conditions in Real-time with Weather Watcher Friday Fun: Karoshi Suicide Salaryman Easily Inventory System Information with PC Audit Friday Fun: Get Your Mario On Without further ado, on to the list… Windows Defender     By now I am sure you are familiar with Microsoft’s Windows Defender anti-malware utility which is included with Vista and Windows 7. It's a fairly solid utility and obviously is going to work just fine in Windows 7.      You should disable Windows Defender if you decide to use any other antispyware package. This can also increase performance in some cases as The Geek pointed out in this Lifehacker article. Spybot Search & Destroy I figured we will kick this off with Spybot Search & Destroy, a personal favorite. I was able to install, update, immunize, and scan without any issues and the cool Easter Egg is still there!
Slide 2:   Ad-Aware Arguably the most popular anti-spyware application, previously mentioned Lavasoft AdAware 2008 also worked flawlessly. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Malwarebytes is another protection utility I get asked about quite often and this too works successfully in Windows 7. This is a great scanning program which is free unless you want real-time protection, that will set you back $24.95. Spyware Blaster
Slide 3: Spyware Blaster is different to the other spyware detection utilities in the way it works.   Think of it as a shield against known spyware threats that you do not have to keep continuously running. Essentially you just need to run it when you want to update the database (which I would recommend doing fairly often). For automatic updates you will need to purchase a license for $9.99. It disables a list of spyware related to Active X controls and flags them in the registry so an associated spy process will not be able to run, and hooks into your browser to check downloads. Everything I tested seems to work without any problems. It is good to know we can rely on these trusted utilities for the 7 beta until Microsoft releases their free security solution in the second half of this year. Anti-Malware Suites There are a number of "suites" that include protection for everything including spyware, and some of them we've previously tested in Windows 7 during our Windows 7 Compatible Anti-Virus Software list. l l l l l AVG Free Avira AntiVir Norton AntiVirus 2009 Avast! AntiVirus Kapersky Anti-Virus 2009 What other anti-spyware software packages do you know about that also work? Let us know! This article was originally written on 01/15/09 Tagged with: Windows 7, Security, Free Software Utilities, Windows | More Daily Email Updates You can get our how-to articles in your inbox each day for free. Just enter your name and email below: Name: Email: Subscribe! Comments (40)
Slide 4: John Durrett I installed Norton Internet Security 2009 with no problem or issues January 15, 2009 11:05 am zifnab06 January 15, 2009 11:36 am I would think mcafee would want to update itself for windows 7….i mean i like paying money for a program I can't use right now…. pvanc January 15, 2009 11:51 am I am not trying Windows 7 but wonder if Sunbelt Personal Firewall and Vipre are included on that list. I am using them with Windows XP and just think they are great. Not interested in Vista or Windows 7 yet. Brian Jackson January 15, 2009 12:13 pm I am running Microsoft Forefront Security Client on the new Windows 7 Beta 7000 build with no problems. PogSurfer January 15, 2009 12:33 pm Hey, I presume you'll be doing a list of compatible Firewall programs, yeah? That would be really great. The Geek @PogSurfer That's the plan! January 15, 2009 1:30 pm whs January 15, 2009 2:48 pm I first installed Kaspersky. But then I got rid of it. I am not using W7 as my production system just testing and playing aroud. And very little internet action. So I figured that the Security Suite overhead was not worth it - especially since I run W7 in a virtual partition. If it crashes, I just reinstall it in the next virtual partition. Nicholas January 15, 2009 3:52 pm Microsoft Forefront Client Security version 1 and Microsoft codename 'Striling' Client Security also are compatible with Windows 7, although these are more for Enterprise customers 0zSpitt January 15, 2009 4:45 pm i've installed a-squared free and spyware blaster last night. they work perfectly. superantispyware, eset smart security both wouldn't work. eset wouldn't because of the firewall, got a blue screen on that one and a partial install after i rebooted. but i found out system restore works. Hpcanada January 17, 2009 5:39 pm I try Bit Defender total security 2009.After reboot,windows got freeze during loading bit defender. Eventually i end up restoring the windows in safe mode. mysticgeek January 17, 2009 5:44 pm Thanks for the updates guys! I tested a few of the most popular ones but there is not enough of me to get to all of them! @0zSpitt, Hpcanada:
Slide 5: Did you try those programs in Compatibility Mode at all? john bennett January 18, 2009 9:59 am spyware doctor 6 with antivirus works but windows security centre will not recognise it just turn the warning off mysticgeek January 19, 2009 9:41 pm I tried SUPERAntiSpyware on my Windows 7 test machine and got the Blue Screen of Death each time I tried to install it. I tried compatibility mode to no avail. Karl January 20, 2009 7:48 am Spyware Terminator 2.3 and 2.5 working fine. Avira Antivirus Free edition ok. But still having problemas with all firewalls. 4 years using Mcafee products, and until now, no update ofr Windws 7. rand2826 January 20, 2009 9:44 am I tried installing kapersky antivirus and half way through install it removed my network drivers. I have asus M3A79-T Deluxe. I have to uninstall kapersky then reinstall network drivers every time. EJ AVG Free installed easily. No conflicts. January 21, 2009 3:44 pm whiplash55 January 24, 2009 12:34 pm FYI I got a BSOD when I tried Superantispyware, as well. I thought I had run it on Build 6801 so I thought it was safe. (Also tried compatibility mode, as well) Dylan Granata January 24, 2009 3:31 pm Microsoft Forefront Client Security, Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0 MR3 or higher, McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.7i all are fully compatable with Windows Seven. Tested and fully working. Lee Bishop Sunbelts Vipre as far as I can tell work flawlessly with Windows 7 January 31, 2009 4:50 am John Comodo Internet Security 3.5 works fine. February 7, 2009 3:27 am robert great free scan February 11, 2009 11:03 am homus February 12, 2009 1:48 pm Installed Sunbelt Personal Firewall, after restarting BSOD. I checked their website and Windows 7 does not seem to be supported yet. Bummer, its my favourite firewall. limbo32137 February 13, 2009 1:25 pm
Slide 6: how about cyberdefender? i just got that, but im not so such its all that great…opinions please.. amber February 16, 2009 2:34 pm When we want to get the any spyware software try to review the spyware product that we want. The best way, get the software that recommended by our friends or any person that already used the product and they satisfied using the product. It is important to protect our own computer. =) adie February 17, 2009 4:49 am i have try used software spyboot S&D..but it still same result..spyware still have in my pc..so..i try 2 using spyware remover..it is very2 usefull…they also have free scan Leo February 20, 2009 1:03 pm Avira Antivir is definately best protection and performance followed by Kaspersky. AVG Free Utilizes too much processor time and resources and causes lockups and slowdowns (seems to clash with DWM and search indexer) on Win7, Vista and Xp. (Still Excellent protection). As for Antispyware! I just scan Drive containing Win7 from another system I have installed on same Machine (XP and Vista). Xoftspy On Xp and I scan with a-squared free and Spyhunter On Vista. No Single antispyware can offer 100% protection I suggest Using at least three. adie How much Adware/Spyware did you find on your PC? February 21, 2009 8:33 am Your PC may be exposed to harmful parasites known as Adware and Spyware. These parasites can make you vulnerable to Identity Theft and… # Reveal your private information, such as credit card and social security numbers. # Slow your internet connection, and # Cause damage to your computer ivar February 24, 2009 11:29 am I am runing Eset smart security 4.0 beta on my Widows 7/7000. I works fine (as opposite to the complain about eset AV above). I also run Advaced System care which also includes antispyware scanner, ad it also rus fine (one should only look after the proposed registers reparations to avoid errors to to the beta status of W7). NormW March 1, 2009 2:10 pm Cyberdefender is working fine for me. I installed it in Vista just days before upgrading to WIN7. It still works fine. jovan111p March 21, 2009 8:04 am Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 work just great in Windows 7. Its all in one, its Anti virus and Anti spy. Steve April 16, 2009 4:56 pm Microsoft's Kevin Turner trumpets Vista as the "safest, most reliable OS we’ve ever built. It’s also the most secure OS on the planet, including Linux and open source and Apple Leopard. " http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=4146&tag=nl.e539
Slide 7: If it's so secure, why we do we still need anti malware packages? It may be time to switch to Mac. It does everything I need. If you're a high powered gamer or someone who enjoys popping open the hood and being a "backyard mechanic" with your PC, feel free to stick with Windows. That was pretty friendly! No name calling or saber rattling. Mark Steve May 9, 2009 4:19 pm I Have't got anything against the "Mac Really i backed it up on the Znet comments last night. It got hit with a Flue virus E-mail yesterday. Dogteams1 Ken May 11, 2009 8:40 pm Zone Alarm Security suite was indicated as not being compatible when I started the Win 7 install on my Vista 64 bit laptop. ZA replied that it probly won't have a 64 bit version until the full version is released…..always behind on the stick!! Ron July 4, 2009 9:31 pm COMODO internet security works with Win7 build 7229 (possibly lower too). No problems yet. comodo is absolutely FREE…..forever. Giv it a try with W7 Nike6 July 19, 2009 1:49 am I have found that one of the best FREE anti-spy programs for XP, SUPERAntispyware works ok in W7 x64, but every time I try to load it in W7 32 bit, it causes a BSOD. I have sent countless messages to SAS, but as to this date, had no reply from them as to the problem. Oh well, it's their loss I guess. john July 19, 2009 11:15 pm I'm a cisco networking supervisor, security guy. been around computers for 25+ years. ive been testing windows 7 form day one. and i have to say im very impressed with it. no its not a lot different form vista in looks or feel. but behind the scenes it runs a lot better. uses less resources, and is actually immune to alot of the current viruses just because some dont reconize the OS itself. one that you didnt mention is IOBIT 360. it has real time protection for free. and i use it to remove malware from other people's computers if able to load the computer. and it does a VERY VERY good job and is compatible with windows 7. and its scanning speed is superior to spybot, or ad-aware. and found some neither of those did. IOBIT 360 is probly the best Real time protection anti spyware program out atm thats windows 7 compatible. fliersrr July 29, 2009 6:53 am IOLO System Mechanic 8.5 did not work with Windows7. I ran it and it removed all my desktop icons. And how ever it did that, caused me not to be able to create new ones. I did a system restore and everything was normal. For now System Mechanic 8.5 is being removed until the release of a new compatible version comes along. fliersrr IE Spell works perfectly with Windows7 July 29, 2009 6:54 am tanusgreystar August 16, 2009 8:23 am Um, I'm having trouble with Spybot in Win7. Win7 keeps saying there's corrupt files, and it keeps telling me to run chkdsk. I went to uninstall and it said I couldn't because of corrupt files, so I rebooted, it did its chkdsk thing and then I was able to uninstall spybot. Same issues with Avast.
Slide 8: Leo 2 August 28, 2009 1:09 am Anyone have a comment on Webroot Anti-virus on Windows 7? I run it on XP Pro once a week as such: I turn off AVG Pro and turn on Webroot Anti-spyware and run it as a full scan, and it reguarly, on average, finds about 8 items AVG Pro fails to find. Leave a Comment Name * Email * Website Leave your friendly comment here. If you have a computer help question, click here to leave it on the forums instead. 5 6 Submit Comment Note: Your comment may not show up immediately on the site. Our Friends stackoverflow.com [programming] serverfault.com [sysadmin] doctype.com [web design] superuser.com [computing] Getting Started Windows Vista Articles Get Help on our Forums How-To Geek Wiki About How-To Geek About Us Contact Us Advertising Privacy Policy Disclaimers How-To Geek Gear Comment Policy What Is That Process? svchost.exe jusched.exe dwm.exe ctfmon.exe wmpnetwk.exe mDNSResponder.exe wmpnscfg.exe rundll32.exe wfcrun32.exe Ipoint.exe Itype.exe Wfica32.exe Mobsync.exe conhost.exe Dpupdchk.exe Adobe_Updater.exe Copyright © 2006-2009 HowToGeek.com. All Rights Reserved.