- The Birth of Spyware
- How Can I Tell If I Have Spyware?
- How Do I Choose a Spyware Scanner?
- Sites to Avoid
- System Admin Information
- Detecting Spyware Processes In MS Windows-Based Machines
- Detecting Spyware Autostart Methods in MS Windows-based Machines
- Configuring Internet Explorer for Network Users
- Using a Hosts File to Block Spyware-Infected Hosts
- Spyware and Security Resources
How Do I Choose a Spyware Scanner?
Some of the best scanners are freeware. If you download a scanner and it detects a heap of spyware and then pops up a link to purchase the software to clean the spyware, it could be just a scam. The best freeware scanners include the following:
If you make any major changes to your system, you should first consult a good search engine (Google) to see what it has to say about the problem. Removing spyware with anti-spyware software should be straightforward, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Prevention is often the best medicine, and choosing a non-Microsoft browser can significantly reduce your chances of being infected with spyware from Internet exploits. Blocking ActiveX scripting and Java scripting can also add extra security to your system. Most good firewalls will block malicious coding; investing in a good firewall is a great idea. Always keep up-to-date with the latest Windows updates.