Anti-spyware protection

Any software that secretly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers. It is also known as adware

AVG anti-spyware

Is FREE for personal use and after enjoying AVG anti-virus for many years I am pleased they have introduced an equally effective anti-spyware product. AVG Anti-Spyware is a protection tool developed by GRISOFT for home use. You are invited to join the millions of satisfied customers worldwide who have downloaded the software and now enjoy the benefits of AVG Anti-Spyware Free.

Spybot

Is FREE for personal use and after trying many other products I use this product along with Ad-Aware below. It checks the whole system for all kinds of spyware but does not give the option to check selected directories so may take a while (15 minutes +). It also runs a module in the background (tea timer) that keeps an eye on whether the registry is being changed and asks for your approval. Spybot enables you to update its database at any time although automatic update schedules need a purchased license.
Do a full system scan whenever you have time to let it run - but at least once a week. Also make sure the spyware database is up to date. Spyware is written daily.

Ad-Aware SE

Is FREE for personal use and after trying many other products I use this product along with Spybot above. It checks the whole system for all kinds of spyware and you are able to select individual folders to scan as full system scans can take a while. Ad-Aware enables you to update its database at any time although automatic update schedules require a purchased license.
Do a full system scan whenever you have time to let it run - but at least once a week.
Make sure the spyware database is up to date. Spyware is written daily.

SpywareBlaster

Is FREE for anyone and I use it along with SpywareGuard below for realtime protection. It does the job of protecting against tampering with Internet Explorer / Firefox /.Mozilla browsers and can backup the Host file (see next page). It supplies a list of notorious web site addresses and integrates them into the Zone file (see next page). This list can be edited and updated. SpywareGuard enables you to update its database at any time although automatic update schedules require a purchased license.
Make sure the database is up to date. Spyware is written daily.

SpywareGuard

Is FREE for anyone and I use it along with SpywareBlaster above for realtime protection. SpywareGuard is a real-time anti-spyware program. An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware! And you can easily have AVG anti-virus running alongside SpywareGuard.
While there may be other programs that claim to protect your computer against spyware in real-time, there is a key difference between many of those programs and this one: SpywareGuard scans files BEFORE they are opened / run / executed, and can block access to the file (if spyware is detected) BEFORE it is run. So, if a spyware file is detected by SpywareGuard, it will not be opened or run at all. SpywareGuard also provides unique Download Protection (IE-only), which blocks spyware downloads, and Browser Hijack Protection, which alerts of browser hijacking activity in real-time.

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