Having been a reader of your columns for quite a while I recall that you previously recommended using Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware. However, when now mentioning scanning software you don’t usually recommend these packages but instead talk about Microsoft Security Essentials and NOD32. Why is that?

This is a very good question and has a lot to do with the evolution of computer-based threats and infections. Back in “the day” (which translates into a few years ago, when talking about the IT industry) viruses were certainly not new, but a new emerging threat was malware such as spyware and adware. Given the novelty of these new threats they could usually not be detected by antivirus software, whose primary objective was to detect viruses not this kind of malware. However, more recently the line between malware and viruses has blurred and often these terms can be used interchangeably to describe infections on a computer. As a result, most antivirus packages (including Microsoft Security Essentials and NOD32) can now detect malware in addition to viruses and have therefore somewhat reduced the need for specialist anti-malware software, unless you are trying to detect and remove a very particular threat which you know can be found using the anti-malware software.

Interestingly enough, software which used to be primarily for detecting malware now also includes antivirus functions. For example, Ad-Aware is now both an anti-malware and antivirus scanner, having incorporated an antivirus engine into the software package (the free version of Ad-Aware is now called Ad-Aware Free Antivirus). As you can see, anti-malware software has now evolved into antivirus software, and antivirus software has also evolved into anti-malware software.

Regarding the particular recommendations for the free Microsoft Security Essentials and the commercial NOD32, while I try to avoid recommending particular products these are two utilities which I have had experience with and found to be good and fit-for-purpose (depending on whether the user is looking for a free or commercial package) and could at least provide a good starting point for your own research into the area. I am sure that there are many other similarly good products available, and I would certainly encourage you to read reviews and find a product which suits your needs.