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 Spyware Warrior''s Rogue/Suspect
Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites list first.
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 then
turn on the auto update feature.
Prices -- See our
custom
Anti-Spyware Software Price List powered by
Amazon.com |
Getting Started
- Is It a
Virus? Lincoln Spector, PC World, October 3 2008
- Some anti-virus software products now include
anti-spyware and some anti-spyware products have added anti-virus.
In addition, some of these products include anti-trojan, anti-worm
and other anti-malware features. Before relying on a single
security product, carefully review the vendor''s list of features
and study comparative test results if available. See Editorial
- Do you really need a spyware scanner? Gizmo Richards''
Support Alert Newsletter, April 17, 2008.
-
The Most Damaging Malware, Mary Landesman, antivirus.about.com,
June 10, 2008
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So, You Think You''ve Got Spyware? Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine,
May 30, 2007
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How to Remove Spyware From Your PC, Andrew Brandt, PC World,
February 21, 2007
Comparative Reviews
- CNET
Top 10 Antispyware Apps, Robert Vamosi, CNet,
March 8, 2008 -- Sunbelt CounterSpy v2 editor''s choice
-
Nine Ways to Wipe Out Spyware, Neil Rubenking, PC
Magazine, February 5, 2008 -- Ad-Aware 2007 Pro,
CounterSpy V2, GarbageClean 3.0, Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 5.5
[editor''s choice], Spyware Terminator 2.0, STOPZilla 5.0,
SUPERAntiSpyware, SpyEraser 2, Webroot Antivirus with AntiSpyware
and Firewall.
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Anti-Spyware Reviews, Consumer Search, January 2008,
comprehensive summary of 17 reviews for 45 products -- Webroot
Software Spy Sweeper...
- Die,
Spyware Die! and Best Vista
Antispyware [chart], Ryan Naraine, PC World,
August 21, 2007 -- PC Tools Spyware Doctor [best buy], Grisoft AVG
Anti-Spyware, Webroot SpySweeper, Microsoft Windows Defender, Safer
Networking Spybot Search & Destroy & Lavasoft Ad-Aware 2007
Plus
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.
PC Tools
Spyware Doctor
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
- Ad-Aware 2008
Pro, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, May 20, 2008
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Ad-Aware 2007, Robert Vamosi, CNet, December 13, 2007
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Ad-Aware 2007 Pro, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, July 6,
2007
- Lavasoft''s
Updated Spyware Zapper: Ad-Aware 2007, Tom Spring, PC World,
June 7, 2007
Google Pack -- Includes Symantec''s Norton
Security Scan for viruses & worms and PC Tools Spyware
Doctor (lite) for spyware, adware, Trojans &
keyloggers. Norton is a PC Magazine editor''s choice and
Spyware Doctor is a PC World best buy.
Microsoft Windows Defender
Spybot Search
& Destroy, PepiMK Software. Note:
Well known but no longer recommended.
- Spybot Search
& Destroy 1.5, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, February 15,
2008
- CNet
review, Robert Vamosi, March 27, 2007
- Review:
Spybot Search & Destroy, Mark Long, TopTechNews, September
8, 2006
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:
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