What is a reliable, inexpensive or free service against "spyware"? I
get a bunch of popups or ads about anti-spyware. I am confused. I even
such that they will infect me than I already am.

Please consel. You guys and gals know so much and have more
experience. Last time I installed one I could not access a web site
that I use alot!!

Blessings.
John P.

Hello pendleton-ga,

There are two tools I personally use and I never have a problem with
spyware. They?re recommended all the time around here at GA.
You can use Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
In addition, you can use Spybot - Search and Destroy
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10122137.html?part=104443&subj=dlpage&tag=button

I would use and run both, updating them once a week for new
definitions and versions.

If this answer requires further explanation, please request
clarification before rating it, and I'll be happy to look into this
further.
Nenna-GA
Google Answers Researcher

Hi, I can answer this for you.
There are 3 top Anti-Spyware tools available at this time.
Adaware from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot Search and Destroy from
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10122137.html?part=104443&subj=dlpage&tag=button
Microsoft Antispyware from
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

The best of the 3 is the Microsoft one which is a new product for
them, but is really a proven product from Giant Software that MS have
bought. At the moment it is FREE so get over there and download it now
- it will clean your system better than ANY other spyware tool - fact.

In the future there will be a charge for using the MS product, it's up
to you to decide if it is worth paying for, but it is the best you can
download.

Good luck.

I have both AdAware SE Plus from Lavasoft and MS's new free
anti-spyware program, and I find the former more effective. An easy
way to test this is to run the MS program and then AdAware. You'll see
that AdAware identifies a lot of spyware that, for some reason, the MS
program didn't detect.

Once you have cleaned up the spyware and adware, be sure to set
protection on-->this is available thru "immnunize" menu in spybot S &
D as well as Microsoft antispyware.  You should also add spyware
blaster, which you can download for free thru the link available in
spybot S&D, under immnunize menu.  You might also consider switching
to a new internet browser, such as Firefox (Mozilla.org), Netscape
(Netscape.com), etc.  I use Firefox most of the time and believe it
picks up a lot less spyware than IE.  You can also add Ghostsurfer,
which is not free, but helps prevent spyware.  Good luck.

PC magazine's website has an article comparing different anti-spyware
programs.  Check it out:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1755703,00.asp

You might also want to consider the following question: how much
effort (and money) does it make sense to expend in eliminating
spyware? Unless one is obsessed with identifying and killing every
last intrusion, some of which are quite benign, a single good program
that acts as both a 24/7 shield and a spyware/malware scanner is
really all you need. Again, I recommend AdAware SE Plus from Lavasoft.

It also depends on how much you stand to lose in worst case senario. 
If you have a lot of private information in your computer and need to
guard them as much as you can, then, you need more than one
anti-spyware program.  According to this PC Magazine's latest test,
Adaware failed to remove 2 keylogger spywares.  Once you download and
install them (all for free), it doesn't take up whole lot of
maintenance time either.

I addition, I'd suggest using a browser like Firefox (www.mozilla.org)
or Opera (www.opera.com) instead of Internet Explorer, at least for
sites that are unknown or not trusted (or for all of the browsing
except Windows Updates site).  Microsoft has been trying to fix IE
problems, and has been only partially successful so far.

In addition, I would highly recommend a firewall such as ZoneAlarm
(free) www.zonealarm.com.
What all the other comments, though correct and well-meaning, fail to
indicate is that even if you remove the spyware, it'll come right back
as you surf. The firewall will help to prevent the spyware from
"phoning home" if you are already infected.

Further http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10307556.html?tag=lst-0-1
Does a good job at telling you what other low-level garbage *might* be
affecting your Internet connection. Don't get overzealous and delete
*everything*, but you can see that some BHO (browser helper objects)
are keen to keep bringing pop-ups, even if Add/Remove programs say
they're gone.