anti spy ware stuff.

http://www.avast.com/

Free for private use and everyone who has it loves it, myself included.

I use spybot search and destroy.

Both of the above are complimentary and work well together.

Right here.

http://www.download.com/3101-2023-0-1.html?hhTest=1

I use a combination of the following:

Adaware
Spybot
Spyware Dr. (cost 29.95) but it catches many items that the other do not
and last and least
Microsoft Defender

I will have to take a look at the avast--I have not heard of it

Also, Is it me or does it seem that Spybot is not what it used to be?

I have to clean up friends/family/coworkers Machines all the time.

Avast
Spy bot
adaware


All you really need....

Adaware, and Spybot. If you need more then that you'd save time just writing the important data to a CD/DVD/NAS, and formatting with a fresh install.

I prefer AVG to Avast (free) and Nod 32 to them all ( not free ).

If your using IE and spyware has screwed your browser you might be able to save it with Hijackthis but its mostly a lost cause.

Run Adaware, and Spybot in safe mode if it can't be removed in normal XP mode.

Always update your OS, Anti-Spyware, and your Anti-Virus. Run a scan monthly like you change your oil every 3000 (5000-6000 whatever interval you use) miles and your golden.

Clean out the registry every 6 months with something like CC Cleaner and it should run newish.

If your looking for a catch all Spy Sweeper is decent, but why pay for it when your can just Ghost it in 20 minutes.

Thanks guys!

-Todd- said:

I use spybot search and destroy.

Click to expand...

+1, Good stuff! :wink:

I use Avast AV and Spybot on my windows partition, but I usually surf the web with Ubuntu Linux lately. Safer, and an easy to install and maintain. And, I don't worry about crap like Spyware.

SwannyJ said:

I use Avast AV and Spybot on my windows partition, but I usually surf the web with Ubuntu Linux lately. Safer, and an easy to install and maintain. And, I don't worry about crap like Spyware.

Click to expand...

Ubuntu rules, but a dual-boot may be beyond the skills of a guy asking for help with spyware?

JinxxxOnU said:

SwannyJ said:

I use Avast AV and Spybot on my windows partition, but I usually surf the web with Ubuntu Linux lately. Safer, and an easy to install and maintain. And, I don't worry about crap like Spyware.

Click to expand...

Ubuntu rules, but a dual-boot may be beyond the skills of a guy asking for help with spyware?

Click to expand...

Maybe, but a little time/learning investment up front can potentially save many hours down the road. For example, my dad is computer illiterate and likes to surf porn. He has probably spent hundreds of hours trying to clean up spyware. He could probably figure out how to install Ubuntu as one OS in a dual boot system in about 2-6 hours by reading on the Ubuntu website. Then he would have more free time down the road.

Just thought I might inspire someone to look into it.

Good stuff here. You can use ThreatFire Free from PCTools also. It does the heuristic analysis thing and will ask you about outbound connection requests, something that the Vista Firewall doesn't.