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Anti-Spyware Guide

This page has links to getting started articles, comparative reviews, recommended products, freeware, blockers, in-depth analysis tools, and resources to help you fight spyware including keystroke-loggers, malware, browser parasites, unsolicited commercial software, scumware, homepage hijackers, and dialers.
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Watch Out -- Do not buy or download any anti-spyware software without checking How to Tell If That Pop-up Window Is Offering You a Rogue Anti-Malware Product, Tom Kelchner, Sunbelt Software, June 2009.

Patches & Updates -- Anti-spyware software is only as effective as its most recent update because it is inherently reactive treating "known" threats. So when you install anti-spyware software, immediately go to the vendor's web site and update the program and definitions and turn on auto update.

 

Getting Started

Comparative Reviews

  • Anti-Spyware Reviews, Consumer Search, April 2010, best software is PC Tools Spyware Doctor 2010, best budget software is Sunbelt CounterSpy, security suite with best spyware protection is Norton Internet Security 2010, best free removal tool is Lavasoft Ad-Aware.
  • Anti-Spyware Software 2010 -- 13 products, TopTenReviews

Retail Anti-Spyware Software

Based on comparative reviews and testing, top rated retail anti-spyware software may offer important benefits over freeware -- Better support, more frequent updates, better discovery and removal of difficult spyware (root kits, etc.), and better pro-active protection measures. For more choices, see the comparative review links above. For freeware, see below. Prices -- See our custom Anti-Spyware Software 2010 Price List powered by Amazon.com

PC Tools Spyware Doctor

Prevx

  • Prevx 3.0, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, May 11, 2009 -- editor's choice for antispyware

Sunbelt Software

Webroot Spy Sweeper

Free Anti-Spyware Software

With the exception of avast! (first on the list below), none of the other free products are recommended for use instead of the top rated retail products above. On the other hand, any of the other free products are much better than not using any anti-spyware at all.

avast! antivirus Home Edition 4.8, anti-spyware & anti-rootkit for Windows, free for home use

  • avast! antivirus 4.8 Home Edition, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, April 10, 2008 -- "Avast! has long been a popular free antivirus. The independent labs give it good marks, though not as good as the very best. Now it also removes spyware—not as well as Spyware Doctor or WAV, but better than most. And it's a seriously tough protector against attacks on a clean system. I'm really pleased to find a free antispyware product that I can recommend."

 Ad-aware, Lavasoft, one freeware product; they also have two retail versions

Google Pack -- Includes PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Anti-Virus for spyware, adware, Trojans & keyloggers.

Microsoft Security Essentials (anti-virus and anti-spyware)

Tools to Block Installation of Spyware

Once you scan your computer with anti-spyware and know that it is clean (if not, try another product or skip to "What is that" below), you can move on to blocking new spyware installations.

Technical Note: Your anti-spyware software may include some protection features. If you want to use IE-SPYAD, Spybot Search & Destroy, SpywareGuide Blocklist, SpywareBlaster, a hosts file or any combination of those, see IE-SPYAD: Restricted Sites List for Internet Explorer, by Eric Howes, on how the protection offered in each, affect the others. Specifically as it relates to 'Restricted Sites', 'Immunization' and hosts files.

SpywareBlaster, Javacool, freeware

Spyware Block List File

  • Three versions -- Minimal free, expert free, and RegBlock $20; Spyware-Guide.com hosted by Xblock Systems

Using a Browser Hosts File

What is that?

Tools to identify and/or remove tough stuff or if your anti-spyware software shows you a list of the "processes" running on your computer and you would like to know what they are:

Resource Sites