[Adama]

Thanks, Cosmo. I clicked the link and then emailed myself a copy of the article. I plan to read it later.

[Doc1957]

Comodo Firewallin the list?
Comodo Firewall, ha, I was fooled to by their claims, but after downloading and running LeakTest from GRC.com, Comodo failed, it was like having no firewall at all, Comodo even failed their own (3) three tests right out of the box, Plus their agreement allows them to collect info from one's pc, not limited to their software, and now, even after uninstalling this junk, when I shut down ZoneAlarm, and view Windows security Center, it says "Protected by Comodo." That means this crap is still in my pc somewhere, and that this software is so lame, they couldn't write a decent uninstall, or it's spyware. Stick with ZoneAlarm.

[Doc1957]

Nice post and list, good job I guess, with the list compile anyway; However, I don't agree completely with the "Users" poll of choice, and even the editor's choice for that matter, For example... Look at Ad-ware, with the claim that it is such a great "Antispyware" saying, "Winner: Ad-Aware SE Personal. First off, that's if that stuff got into one's PC in the first place, because of poor protection! Secondly, "Spy-bot search & Destroy" will find more then spy ware, broken links, Lock Host files, prevent browser start page changes from malware, and Tea Timer which let's one know if a program is trying to change the PC's registery, but not limited to, new start up programs even from malware and spybot has resident protection, which one has to pay for in Ad-ware, and when combined with "Avast" I have protected all my PC's resulting in "Zero" infections, since Windows 95 came out. Spy-bot contains more selective choices for savvy users than Ad-ware ever did, and Avast has "Real-time protection" that one has to pay for in Ad-ware, Between Avast, and Spy-bot with it's "Tea Timer" both have real time protection, and nothing gets in, I also use Javacool's Spyware Blaster for real time protection for browsers in Explorer and Fire Fox. As for my fire-wall, Nothing but Zone Alarm's free fire wall. Lastly, I suppect the electors are not very savvy with PC's if their selection is Ad-Ware. In todays world one has to run many programs that over-lap the protection for the best results, and the programs I recommend do just that, that's why this article is not doing justice for the novice PC user, these editors need to show combined programs, not individual results. Also, One can run Ad-ware behind Spybot, because as in all software, one company may have an update lag.
PS. For the remark, " I also experienced an irritating interface glitch that obscured the buttons on a dialog box asking me (presumably) to allow or deny a change to a Registry file." There is a fix for that on the old version you ran, version 1.4. But if one is not savvy, they would not have known.
* List of sources:
http://www.pcworld.c...nloads/file/fid,7423-order,1-page,1-c,antispywaretools/description.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130045-page,8-c,freeware/article.html
My selection of choice:
Spybot version 1.5.2
Avast version 4.7
SpywareBlaster version 3.5.1 (I also use on Vista with no problems)
ZoneAlarm version 7.0.462.000 (I liked 7.0 best)
Linksys, Nat router (Perfer no UPNP, also protects "0" port)

[Doc1957]

Hey, just to prove my point, I ran spybot which resulted in "No Infections." Then I ran Ad-ware, the Pro "pay for trial" version, and guess what, "No Infections." Looks like my choice is a good one!

[TeMerc]

Yeah so where's WinPatrol? It was good for 2007 Best Products AND tool of the month in June, but misses this list??

Bah!

[mssmurf89]

I read a comment from one of PC World readers in the July issue PCW Forum and found I had the same problem getting rid of Adobe 8.1.2 Reader(it only partially installed). Did find instructions on their website on how to remove, but decided to download Foxit. What a great little program! Been having lost of trouble downloading any PDF files until Foxit. Have no problems now except how to get rid of Adobe Reader. PC World is the best and most informative magazine I have ever red. Keep up the good work!
Glenda Patterson
Manteca, CA

[multimastery]

Will have to try that Avast!