Spyware Protection - What You Need To Know

Spyware is a form of malicious code that extends beyond the scope of tracking and logging your activities. Spyware puts you at risk by collecting your personal information. The presence of spyware on your computer system also interferes with the normal operation of your operating system, web browser and other software. The best spyware protection for your computer system is found in one of many spyware protection software products available. However, you should be very cautious when installing any type of new software or installing an update to existing software. If these installations are not from trusted sources, you should reject any offer of installing new applications until you research the source and necessity of the installation. You should also avoid buttons included in pop-up ads that encourage you to download software. These buttons, such as "Cancel" and "No Thanks", often link to a spyware installation. In fact, selecting any button in an ad window generated by spyware may cause spyware to download. If you use a dial-up modem, spyware may hijack your modem as you attempt to connect to the Internet and force a series of toll and overseas calls at your expense.

To protect your system against spyware, you should read the license agreement that accompanies software or research the vendor and the vendor's practice of providing software. Many websites, such as Symantec, provide information on software and vendors that have a history of embedding spyware and adware in their software. Some vendors also advertise the bundling of software packages on their websites. Though a basic software package may be harmless, additional bundled contents may contain spyware. The additional content is usually marketed as an upgrade or improvement to the basic software. Many times, spyware vendors pay otherwise legitimate software vendors to bundle their infectious content. In other instance, spyware vendors repackage legitimate software with spyware. Spyware protection is always compromised with the installation of free software, particularly free file sharing software. Vendors of this type of free software use adware as a form of advertisement to may make money. In addition to installing unwanted software, spyware may clutter your desktop with icons for the programs that you did not intend to install.

Some spyware includes adware. As such, a pop-up blocker may be installed for added spyware protection. Pop-up blockers are provided as part of most browsers. Most pop-up blockers may be configured to run all the time and alert you when a site attempts to initiate a pop-up or they may be configured to allow pop-ups from trusted and selective sites or web pages. Spyware may also be downloaded with ActiveX applications. Most web browsers will allow you to disable ActiveX. By disabling Active X, you get the best spyware protection from ActiveX downloads, but you may also loose some functionality on websites that make legitimate use of ActiveX controls.

Spyware protection should be initiated by an update of your chosen anti spyware software to ensure that you have the latest threat definitions and a full scan of your computer system. Scan reports should be fully understood before actually deleting any included files. If, possible, your anti spyware software should be configured to allow files to be quarantined rather than deleted so that they may be restored if necessary. You should run scans more frequently if your computer system is high-risk. High-risk systems are systems used for downloads, network communication or visiting porn and casino sites. The most effective spyware protection will detect spyware and also prevent it from running.

Some spyware is sophisticated enough to rerun infectious programs and processes after they have been terminated or to re-create infectious registry entries that have been removed. If your computer is already infected with spyware, booting your system in safe mode or preventing unnecessary processes from running at start-up provides your chosen anti spyware software a better chance of detecting some of the more robust spyware code that tries to resist termination.

The U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act establishes that unauthorized access to a computer is illegal. However, spyware vendors insist that they are granted access to your computer system through your acceptance of their software license agreement. A few states and some jurisdictions have also passed laws that regard actions with spyware, such as using it to control someone' else's computer, to be illegal. The problem with laws regarding spyware is that there is no established or general consensus for what is to be considered acceptable or unacceptable software behavior.

Spyware Doctor- An antispyware application that I have recently starting using from PC Tools and has proven to be extremely effective at eliminating infections not normally found by ther products. Works especially well in Safe-Mode.

Spyware Doctor has been downloaded over 100 Million times; with a million more downloads every week. Millions of people worldwide use Spyware Doctor to protect their identity and PC security.

Spyware Doctor has consistently been awarded Editors' Choice, by leading PC magazines and testing laboratories around the world, including United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and Australia. All current versions of Spyware Doctor have won Editors' Choice awards from PC Magazine in United States. In addition, after leading the market in 2005, Spyware Doctor was awarded the prestigious Best of the Year at the end of 2005.

Spyware Doctor continues to be awarded the highest honors by many of the worlds leading PC publications such as PC Pro, PC Plus, PC Authority, PC Utilities, PC Advisor, PC Choice, Microdatorn, PC Answers Magazine plus number of reputable 5-star ratings including CNET's Download.com and Tucows.

A trial version is available HERE!

Recommended by experts and editors around the world as the best Antispyware.
FREE customer support for all users.
Frequent advanced updates ensure that you are always protected.
Detects, removes and blocks all types of Spyware and Adware threats.
Easiest to use with intelligent automatic protection.
100% Money Back Guarantee.

TrendMicro Anti-Spyware- A compact but effective antispyware application that also comes bundled in their PC-cillin Internet Security 2007 package. Trend Micro also has a great online service called Housecall that will scan your machine for Spyware, Malware, and Grayware for free! Another service that I have used numerous times to fix customers machines. Check it out and then get the full protection!

Spyware Detection and Removal
Real-Time Active Defense Protection
One-Click Privacy Cleanup
Trend Micro CWShredder™
Restore Utility
Automatic Frequent Updates

	Webroot Spy Sweeper- A major award winner that is now one of my favorite antispy applications. Spy Sweeper offers realtime protection, is Vista compatible, and offers prevention against rootkits!
Advanced Detection and Removal Webroot Spy Sweeper's advanced detection and removal capabilities are effective at fully removing spyware that is notorious for being difficult to eliminate. Even the most malicious spyware programs are removed in a single sweep. You won't have to scan and restart your PC a number of times with Spy Sweeper - one sweep and your PC is clean.
Windows Vista™ Compatible Webroot Spy Sweeper now supports Microsoft's Windows Vista Operating System. Why add Webroot Spy Sweeper to your Windows Vista machine? The default malware blocking application built into Windows Vista does not adequately protect you from ongoing and the latest sophisticated threats. Users need a proven IT security solution that provides real-time protection against all forms of spyware and viruses. For more information see www.webroot.com/vista.
Real-Time Threat Protection Spy Sweeper Smart Shields block sophisticated spyware threats real-time, before they can infect your PC. This new version of Spy Sweeper advances the industry-standard in spyware blocking, stopping threats like Trojan-Downloader-LowZones and SpySheriff from ever installing in the first place. With Webroot Spy Sweeper on your side, you can easily keep your PC spyware-free.
Enhanced Rootkit Discovery Methods Malicious spyware uses rootkit technology to bury its files deep within your PC. Webroot Spy Sweeper finds and destroys these programs with robust rootkit discovery methods, a feature many other antispyware programs lack.
Most comprehensive antispyware solution available - 360 degrees of protection Continuous monitoring stops spyware before it can attack Advanced detection and removal capabilities for stubborn spyware Automatic defense updates keep you protected from the latest threats FREE customer support

	CounterSpy- CounterSpy 2 is tough on spyware, adware, rootkits, and other malware, but is light on system resources and memory. Advantages of CounterSpy 2: Heavy-duty antispyware protection treads lightly on system resources. Kernel-level Active Protection defends 24-7. Hybrid design combines antimalware technology with our award-winning spyware detection and removal. Deep-rooted malware is exterminated at boot time, before Windows loads. Incremental definition updates greatly reduce update downloading time. Version 2.5.1032 adds support for Windows Vista 64-bit and Windows Server 2003.
Remove Spyware without Losing PC Performance CounterSpy V2 is getting more and more popular by the day. It's a powerful anti-spyware tool that does not bog down your PC. Long, 'heavy-CPU' spyware scans are a thing of the past. With CounterSpy V2's small memory footprint, you don't have to choose between PC security and PC performance.
There is a problem with some freeware you might run... Since no one wants to spend money they don't have to, you might be running free Anti-spyware like Ad-Aware and/or SpyBot. That's where the problem comes in! Unfortunately, by now these products simply don't cut it anymore. Recent reviews show that over time they have fallen behind significantly. They just don't catch the really bad stuff any more. To illustrate the point, SpyBot recently only got 3 Stars at Download.com, and Ad-Aware just got 2 from PC Magazine. In this case it is true that with freeware "you get what you pay for". You absolutely need better, weapons-grade Anti-spyware against soaring Internet crime.
Advantages of CounterSpy V2 Heavy-duty Anti-spyware protection, but light on CPU and Memory. Kernel-level Active Protection™ guards you 24/7. Hybrid design combines Anti-malware technology with our award-winning spyware detection and removal. Deep-rooted malware is exterminated at boot time, before Windows loads. Small, regular definition updates greatly reduce update downloading time. Well over 1,000,000 threat definitions! Vista compatible: Integrates seamlessly with the Vista Windows Security Center.

Spyware Protection - What You Need To Know

Advanced Detection and Removal

Windows Vista™ Compatible

Real-Time Threat Protection

Enhanced Rootkit Discovery Methods