If you work a lot from home and have to install programs, or you surf the Internet for research, it seems that there is always a spyware program or virus that leaks through to the computer. I found an adaware spy this morning. Every six months or so, I use the free online services from www.pandasoftware.com and Trend Micro Housecall http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp to double-check my installed spyware and virus programs to see if they are missing anything.
This is off my usual topic - but I share helpful information when I find it. I use Spysweeper.com (webroot) for my spyware. It was recommended by the Toshiba Authorized Service Center in my area. I have also used Spybot mentioned below and it is a good program.
My Toshiba Computer Repair Center remarked to me that the Microsoft Spyware may conflict with other programs. Take that with a grain of salt, as I've received so many suggestions from technicians in the past who did not have the expertise to guide in a certain area, and were totally wrong. What may happen is that multiple versions of spyware programs can conflict on your system and can disable each other.
This is from the University of Oxford at http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/viruses/adware/index.xml.ID=body.1_div.2
Adware and Spyware
2. Removing Adware/Spyware
A number of free software products check for and remove adware/spyware from your system. Some of the most well-known ones are:
Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware (performs ongoing detection and removal.
Spywareblaster (performs detection, removal, and some ongoing protection against infection)
Spybot Search and Destroy (performs detection and removal)
Ad-Aware (performs detection and removal; free for individual private use only)
Spy Audit (performs detection only but is very small (500 kbytes) and fast (approx. 10 second scan time))
HijackThis (specifically aimed at home-page hijacking)
MacScan (for the Apple Macintosh)
A fuller list of products is available at https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/soft6.htm
As with anti-virus software, it is crucial to keep adware/spyware removal products up-to-date for them to be effective.
Unfortunately, some supposed adware-removal programs exist that are of doubtful quality, or that give inflated numbers of detection warnings to encourage sales, or that even install their own adware. The Spyware Warrior web site gives more information on such products.
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/viruses/adware/index.xml.ID=body.1_div.2
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