I agree that ad-aware,spybot s&d and other scanners are great but I think it is better to prevent the spyware in the first place.

I use Spywareblaster, IE Spyad and spywareguard. These 3 programs are small and easy to use and I allmost never get any spyware except tracking cookies. Furthermore I use ccleaner to remove cookies,temp files a.o after every reboot. Avast AV and Kerio firewall also.

I also use firefox 90 percent of the time so im pretty much in the clear.

All these programs are free, or free for personal use !

links here

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html :spywareblaster

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html : spywareguard

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm : IE Spyad

(use the original version)

http://www.ccleaner.com/ : http://www.ccleaner.com/

http://www.avast.com/eng/down_home.html : avast home edition

http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html : kerio firewall

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ : firefox

I agree mostly with those here who say that MS Antispyware is good ... BUT:

I read recently that there are rumours that MS is about to aquire Claria - former Gator - who are well known for their spyware cr*p!!!

So - unfortunately - MS Anstispyware is as per recent changes not automatically quarantining Claria's spyware - that's a shame ...

So I think although it's a decent piece of software one should at least have one other spyware remover or blocker ...

Its a hoax... Nobody from MS or Claria didnt say ANYTHING, that would suggest their partnership...

New York Times reported that as well, but I guess it could still be a rumor

For preventing spyware...I have to say Education.

I have not had a spyware problem on my computer for a long time. Mainly because I know what is spyware and what isn't. Not installing it is the best solution to spyware.

For the best to remove it, I'd have to say Ad-Aware or Pest Patrol is probably the most effective.

CWShredder, Spyware Blaster, Ad-Aware, Spybot, MSAS, CCleaner, Firefox, a good anti-virus, a good firewall.

I laugh at these people who think one is enough. Just goes to show how uneducated people are.

@Martin Zugec -

Well, it may be a hoax that M$ is to aquire Claria but a few articles indicate this

BetaNews', for one:

http://www.betanews.com/article/MS_Claria_...cern/1120148264

or News.com's:

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+said+to+be+i....html?tag=st_lh

and this is where I heard about the "downgrade" in security related to Claria's adware in M$ Antispyware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/07/ms...aria_detection/

and

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,13793423

So ... I guess we'll see

Edited July 11, 200521 yr by techniquefreak

Personally I use Acronis Privacy Expertand it works fine. I'm satisfied completely so far.

Real-Time:

i use SpywareBlaster as my premier defence... then MS AntiSpyware for my second defence (real-time protection)...

Scanning:

then MS AntiSpyware first for scanning followed by Spybot S&D

microsoft anti spyware is the best, i haven't had any problem with microsoft anti spyware.

I reccommend either Counterspy + Adaware SE. Or MS Antispy + Adaware SE.

Or for enterprise (As stated earlier.) Counterspy Enterprise Edition. Works very well!

I'm a big fan of Xoft Spy remover www.xoftspy.com. It works on 98/2k/XP/2k3 and updates easily enough, only its not a live scanner, just have to manually run it yourself.

use "dropmyrights.exe" for your browser and mail program, and the chances that you get infected with either spyware or any virus is non- existant.

sbybot search and destroy for me

LOL, xoftspy is absolute crap. It is listed as a fake spyware remover. It detects and removes very little to no spyware, but gives you a whole bunch of false positives to get you to purchase it. They make you think it's spyware but it isn't.

I recommend you uninstall xoftspy and don't recommend to anyone else.

My personal favorite anti-spyware product would have to be spy sweeper. Even though I have spybot and spywareblaster's protection; spy sweeper still easily removes spyware cookies as I get them. Only downside is it costs money, but still a very nice program.