Please Don't Take My Stapler!

These days there are so many different kinds of Mal-ware out there, that the categories start to get confusing. Spyware, viruses, trojans, worms, root-kits, key-loggers, spybots, etc. What is a computer user to do? In my previous post I went over Anti-virus options. In addition to that, keeping you rcomputer and your software updated and using more secure software such as Firefox goes a long way in protecting your computer from the bad guys on the web. There is a third type of protection I would like to go over. Spyware protection.

One of the biggest problems with spyware protection is knowing who to trust. Many of the spyware protection suites advertised on the web install more spyware then they remove. So here are my recommendations:

One of my favorite tools is Spybot Search and Destroy. This free tool has many uses, but it's main capability is removing spyware. When you install it, I would recommend that you don't allow it to install the Tea Timer as it can be annoying and confusing. Make sure you run the updates, and you are ready to rock and roll. Searching for and removing unwanted software is pretty straightforeward. click on the check for problems button, and when it is finnished, click the remove problems button to remove them. The immunization function is a great tool that puts known malicious sites in the do-not-trust list of Firefox, Internet Explorer, and or Opera. I would recommend doing an update, spyware scan, and immunization with Spybot once a month.

If you are an advanced user, Spybot has some other capabilities that I use quite often. In the Tools menu, there is an advanced mode.Do not turn this on unless you know what you are doing as you can cause some damage to your computer with some of these tools. My favorite advanced tool is the startup list editor. I use this tool to remove programs running in the background of computers on a daily basis.

I also use Windows Defender. It is a free tool that Microsoft puts out that checks for spyware on your computer. I like it. It is relatively light weight, free(from Microsoft? hmm that's a first), and effective. install it, update it, and it will do it's thing.

Other options include Ad-aware, Spyware Blaster, and commercial options like Webroot Spysweaper. I don't use any of these because they either prohibit commercial use in their licenses or they are not free.You are welcome to try them, but I think that a well patched computerwith good anti-virus, Spybot, and Windows Defender, and a little common sense(don't open attatchments unless you know you can trust the attatchment) and you will be fine in the crazy jungle that is the web.