[Rondil]

I run multiple spyware detection programs on my windows machine. No one program can get em all. Most only get a small fraction of whats in the wild. BTW I never access my bank account from a windows machine. I always do it from a Linux machine. My laptop runs both platforms just for that reason.

[kcmonseysr]

Rondil,Thanks much for your detailed suggestions. Actually, I already follow the vast majority of them, although the first (limited user account) is something I hadn't done yet. Somewhere along the line, life seemed easier with everyone logged in as administrators, but that may very well change soon. Life was frustrating for a while :-(I do likeSpy bot - Search and Destroy - but I am a bit ignorant of its Tea Timer option. I won't be ignorant for much longer. I also run AdAware at least weekly and Webroot Spysweeper almost daily on scheduled scans - both full and custom. It's true that Spysweeper picks up mostly tracking cookies (I'm not sad about this...), but it has also informed me when I have made changes to my browser (this also does not upset me...it IS watching).I usually use Firefox as a browser, but would like to try your suggested changes on IE. I assume (???) that these options remain (at least approximately) the same in IE7 - I'll walk though the menus and see.As for updates, I'm a fanatic - such that sometimes my main gripe with the social malcontents out there is that I'm spending almost as much time defending myself from them as I am using the computer for things it was meant for. Windows and Norton Antivirus are on automatic updates, and I do a manual look occasionally.I'm using both hardware and software firewalls, but thanks much for the link suggestions. I do need to learn a bit more as to how they work. At least I knew enough to change the default password on the hardware firewall.I don't think I'm ready for linux. Just to give you a clue, the last time I wrote code, it was fortran. I like simple now. So do most of the people that I communicate with.Thanks again for all of your time and suggestions,Ken

[Rondil]

You may be more ready then you think. Linux has gotten a lot easier to use. You can also try it out without installing it. Just go to the Unbuntu website and download the iso file. http://www.ubuntu.co...ect=downloadGet 6.10 version, then burn it onto a CD. Next change your BIOS to boot from CD first and boot with the Unbuntu CD in the drive. This will allow you to try Linux without installing it. Keep in ind that it's running from a CD and performance will suffer. If you decide to install you can reset your partitions to allow both OS's to run called a dual boot. Don;t do this if you dan't have plenty of room on your hard drive. You have to make a small swap partition as well a partition for Linux. You can expect to make a 500meg to 1gig swap and 10 gig Linux partition. Linux comes with an office application called Open Office. BTW Open Office has a Windows version as well and its FREE. www.openoffice.orgPS I use Firefox as well. I never use Internet Explorer as it's too untrust worthy.

[Rondil]

I almost forgot. Another way to block not only Spyware but all those pesky ads, is to modify your Hosts file. The file is located here in XP C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32DRIVERSETC You can go here http://www.mvps.org/...p2002/hosts.htm and read more about it plus download a host file that has already been made for your use. What it does is directs any call to a bad web site to your loop back address, which is the address of your network adapter. Here is a sample. Any time a connection is tried to any of those web sites your machine cannot connect. When you view web pages a lot of their ads won't show up. you will see an unable to connect message. You can block porn sites as well using this technique. 127.0.0.1 asy.a8ww.net127.0.0.1 www.acezip.net #[Win32/Adware.180Solutions]127.0.0.1 ad588.net #[Win32/PSW.Legendmir]127.0.0.1 adserver.adbunker.com127.0.0.1 phpadsnew.abac.com127.0.0.1 a.abnad.net127.0.0.1 b.abnad.net

[HolyShiznit]

Funny that the big names just keep getting more and more bloated and yet we still haven't seen reviews of products such as SUPERAntiSpyware or even Spyware Terminator. These products are free and 99% of the time are better than if not equal to CounterSpy or WebRoot.

[techie4fun]

Adaware and Spy Sweeper for me.

[pcfbill]

Spy Sweeper is a HUGE resource hog. The fastest thing about Spy Sweeper was it's uninstallation. 3 hour scans only detected a few tracking cookies. Would not let me open certain web pages (CNN, USA Today, PC World, etc.) My system used to reboot for no reason. After uninstalling, my computer's speed has increased dramatically. My problems are completely gone, and I now have my computer and my browser back. I uninstalled this useless software even though I still have more than 1 year left on my 2 year subscription. I will stick with my proven combination of Ad-Aware SE, Spybot Search & Destroy, Super Anti-Spyware, Arovax Anti-Spyware, and Spyware Blaster. Buyers beware! Paid software does NOT necessarily mean better software.P.S. Windows Defender was almost as bad.

[mrjimphelps]

I use CounterSpy - have for over a year. Once I started using it, I haven't had anymore spyware problems. Also, it is very un-intrusive, except when it is actually updating the spyware definitions. Webroot Software's Spy Sweeper is VERY intrusive. It takes over your PC for the first few minutes of boot up. Everytime I have used it, I have gotten so frustrated at having to wait forever to be able to use the PC, that I have always recommended that people use something else.

[Hanto]

I think they are more interested in SELLING a consumer the goods then in the much more necessary and appreciated art of explaining the great qualities of a product like Spybot.. I think they look down on the free software market. Tis a shame..

[TGray]

I have recently been unable to go to pcworld.com or any of its find.pcworld.com/xxxx magazine links until I disabled today "Internet Communication" network shield in SpySweeper!! Many other links were giving me problems- and I'm running ver 5.3.1.2344 which is the latest. Many recent releases of SpySweeper have hogged down my system to the point it's not usable. Not the best way to prevent spyware! I don't intend to renew SpySweeper and I'm switching to AVG's anti-spyware which I run on my laptop without any problems.

[Sin91]

AVG wasn't even listed on there. Me and many other computer nerds will agree that AVG is the best anti-spyware program out there.

[tigerfire]

Spybot - Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) is still the best. With a little bit of effort it gives you a much better picture of what is going on and the tools to straighten out multiple problems in multiple areas. If you're lazy or uninclined to put some effort into learning it, you will miss out on those aspects of that program. From most reviews I've read that's generally what happens.

[juck]

This report was written on August 25, 2006, and is outdated by six (6) months. There are have been a lot of changes since then. I think an update report is in order.

[captaincranky]

[quote name='juck']This report was written on August 25, 2006, and is outdated by six (6) months. There are have been a lot of changes since then. I think an update report is in order. This thread has drifted a bit off topic but, in a worthwhile way since it is obvious that it's not possible to protect yourself with just one app free or otherwise, Using other programs and prudence should have a synergistic effect on your computer's security. Spybot SD14 has the best start-up process killer around. It's easier to use than msi.config. click tools>start-up (in expert mode), it will show which programs are loading and for many it will give an explanation of what they are. Spyware running? Just un check it! During Spybot's scan, pay attention to the names of what it's looking for. You'll likely run into many of the same names on the web with people trying to sell them to you as "Anti-Spyware" apps. "Spy Sheriff" immediately comes to mind. Firefox has "Flash Block" and "No Script"extensions available. The "No Script" is an especially potent security tool. Additionally Firefox does not support Active X. Active X seems to be notorious for installing the most persistant spyware. "Fools Rush in.......". It's amazing that we're still so vulnerable to "Social Engineering" Trojans. ClickHere!!!! Yup, gotcha. "Discretion is the Better Part of Valor." Mcafee has a free version of "site advisor"which immediately gives a color coded rating the instant you click on a site with more information available as a link to the Site Advisor Home Page. Strangely not all porn sites are red-flagged and some seemingly benign sites like TV stations may unleash a ton of unwanted E-Mail on you when you register there. Endless dabate over the superiority of one app over is counter productive, adopt a comprehensive software approach along with attentiveness.

[juck]

May I request for a re-study of the products? An update please?

[gman123]

I used Spyware Doctor for 3 years but because of a recent upgrade, my computer slowed down considerably. I uninstalled all my security programs and installed Norton Internet Security 2007 and now my computer is running faster.

[JoeParr]

What about the Spyware Protection in the free AOL Safety and Security add-in? I found it effective in indentifying a bad keylogger as soon as it appeared.

[quark]

PS World, you web site is DREADFULLY SLOW! Can it be that good anti-spyware appications are limited to Spy Sweeper, Spyware Doctor, Ad-aware 6 Personal and maybe Counter Spy? Spybot Search & Destroy falls too far short these days even to be listed. Heaven hep us!

[KellieCM]

quark, have you tried our new homepage? It is significantly faster now that we've made some design changes.I will point out that this article is nearly a year old. We recently re-did our anti-virus ratings, and this one is due for an update, too.

[zteardrop]

Narasu,I find it ridicuously that you still test standalone antispyware products. Almost every piece of malware out there straddles the lines between spyware, keylogger, spambot, trojan etc. So my question to you is this:- when a product says its an anti-spyware product and it encounters a malware that is both a spyware and a spambot. Would it just remove the spware pieces ? That doesn't make any sense, especially to a customer that doesn't care what kind of malware it is. They just want it off their box.- as you are very well aware, every single established AV product out there today also removes Spyware. So why would a customer buy a standalone anti-spyware product. They would then have to buy a pure-AV product as well to get full protection, ending up with duplicate protection.It seems like you uys insist ont reviewing standalone products just to have something to write about and sell magazine. You dont care whats good for the customer.