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Anti-Spyware Guide
On this page, we offer links to articles, reviews, vendors and
resources to help you fight spyware. Spyware has a range of meanings
including keystroke-loggers, malware, browser parasites, unsolicited
commercial software, scumware, homepage hijackers, dialers, and trojan
horses. Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer are the targets for most
of this nasty stuff.
Important Tip
Do not buy or download any anti-spyware software without
checking this list first.
Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
-- Over two hundred programs are listed as of August 2005, by Eric Howes hosted at the Spyware Warrior blog. At best, they are useless;
at worst, they install spyware instead of removing it! Also see his
Anti-Spyware
Programs: Feature Comparison, December 2004 -- Includes twelve
programs of which five are recommended -- Ad-aware, Giant (now
Microsoft), Pest Patrol (now Computer
Associates), Spybot Search & Destroy, and Webroot Spy Sweeper;
and his Anti-Spyware
Test (Guide), October 2004.
Getting Started
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Windows Spyware Survival Tools, Carey Holzman, Toms Hardware,
August 19, 2005
-
Security Tip: Identify Malware Hiding in Windows' System Folders,
Andrew Brandt, PC World, July 2005
-
How to remove adware & spyware and
Preventing Adware & Spyware, Mary Landesman, antivirus.about.com,
June 18, 2005
-
How Spyware Works, Ross Greenberg, Security Pipeline, February
28, 2005
-
Spyware And Your PC: Keeping It Out, Getting Rid Of It, Ross
Greenberg, Security Pipeline, January 24, 2005
- Browser Hijacking
and
Prevent Browser Hijacking, Mike Healan, SpywareInfo,
last update was January 12,
2005.
- What's The
Difference Between Spyware And Viruses? Dave Piscitello,
Security Pipeline, January 4, 2005
- Take back
control after Internet Explorer is hijacked, Brien Posey,
TechRepublic, October 29, 2004
- Spyware/AdWare/Malware
FAQ and Removal Guide, Version 1.5d, Christian Wagner, last
update September 25, 2004
- Beginners Guides: Browser Hijacking & How to Stop It, Mike
Dowler, PCstats, May 10, 2004
Comparative Reviews
-
Spyware Stoppers Still Improving, Mary Landesman, PC World,
June 22, 2005
- Weeding Out Spies,
PC Magazine, June 19, 2005 -- Ad-aware SE
Plus, Microsoft Antispyware, Norton, Spy Sweeper, Spybot Search &
Destroy, Spyware Doctor, Spyware
Eliminator, Spyware X-terminator, Trend Micro & ZeroSpyware.
-
Spies, begone: five antispyware apps reviewed, Robert Vamosi,
CNet, June 16, 2005 -- Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-aware SE
Personal, Microsoft Antispyware, Webroot Spy Sweeper & Norton
Antispyware.
-
Spyware Doctor Fails to Beat Favorites in Latest Tests, Mary Landesman,
PC World, April 28, 2005
-
Spyware Stoppers, Mary Landesman,
PC World, March 1, 2005 -- CounterSpy. Spy Sweeper, Ad-Aware SE, SpySubtract Pro, Spybot Search
& Destroy, PestPatrol, Spyware Eliminator, McAfee, & Internet
CleanUp.
-
Anti-Spyware Reviews [a meta-review of 21 other reviews!],
Consumersearch.com, April 2005
-
Antispyware, Konstantinos Karagiannis,
PC Magazine, February 2,
2005 -- Ad-aware SE Plus, CounterSpy, PestPatrol, McAfee, Spybot
Search & Destroy, SpySubtract Pro, Spy Sweeper & Spyware Doctor.
-
Spyware removal tools,
Adam Baratz, Arstechnica, November 22, 2004 -- Spybot Search & Destroy, Spyware
Eliminator, Spyware Doctor, SpySubtract Pro & Ad-Aware SE 6 Personal
-
Poor Defenders,
Andrew Brandt, PC World, November 3, 2004 -- MyNetProtector, NoAdware, PAL Spyware Remover,
SpyAssault, SpyBlocs, Spyware Stormer & XoftSpy
-
Spyware and Adware Removal Guide - Speed Up and Free Your PC,
Cameron Wilmot, Tweak Town, October 15, 2004 --
Ad-aware SE Personal, Spybot Search & Destroy, Giant AntiSpyware,
RegFreeze, SpyCatcher, SpyKiller & Spyware Doctor
Step #1: Software to Find & Remove Spyware
Most experts recommend using two or three different anti-spyware
programs to find and remove as much spyware as possible from your
computer. For extremely difficult spyware problems that these programs
cannot fix, skip Step #2 and go on to Step #3 below.
Ad-aware,
Lavasoft, one freeware & two payware versions
-
CNet
review, Bruce Stewart, June 14, 2005
-
Lavasoft Offers Worthy Ad-Aware Update, Rex Farrance, PC World,
November 5, 2004
- WinPlanet
review, Forrest Stroud, May 10, 2004
- Ad-aware 6.0 Pro
review,
Berislav Kucan, March 20, 2004
CounterSpy, Sunbelt Software $20, related to Microsoft
AntiSpyware via Giant Software, PC World Best Buy April 2005 (see
article above).
Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta), formerly Giant, freeware as of January
2005; positive reviews by Eric Howes (Giant) and Scott Finnie (MS-AS).
PestPatrol, free trial available,
$30; see reviews on our Anti-Trojan page.
Note: Company purchased by Computer Associates in August 2004.
Spybot Search
& Destroy, PepiMK Software, freeware; donations are
encouraged.
- CNet
review, Bruce Stewart, June 16, 2005
- WinPlanet
review, Forrest Stroud, May 19, 2004
- InfoInfra
review,
Courtney Gallimore, February 24, 2004
Spysweeper,
Webroot, $30
-
CNet
review, Bruce Stewart, June 15, 2005
-
Hot Apps: Spy Sweeper 3.5, J. W. Olson, Security Pipeline, April
1, 2005
-
Spy Sweeper 3.5
review,
Konstantinos Karagiannis, PC Magazine, January 12, 2005
-
SpySweeper 2.61
Build 45, Tim Tibbetts, Major Geeks, April 13, 2004
Step #2: Tools to Block Installation of Spyware
Once you complete Step #1 and know that your computer is clean (if
not, skip to Step #3 below), you can move on to Step #2 which is
blocking new spyware installations. Note: Ad-aware Plus, Microsoft AntiSpyware, Pestpatrol, Spybot Search
& Destroy, and Spy Sweeper include protection features (see Step #1
above).
SpywareBlaster, Javacool,
freeware --
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents
it from ever being installed.
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
Step #3: 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
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