Anti Spyware Software

Component of the

Home Computer Security Baseline

"AntiSpyware Software! Is this yet another software I have to buy that I don't really get to use that slows down my PC and I have to keep updated?" - Frustrated Computer User

In a word, yes. Actually, that's a pretty good summary. While AntiSpyware software likely won't slow down your computer as much as AntiVirus software, anything that uses processor cycles and/or accesses your hard drive will slow your PC.

Anti Spyware is one component of products typically sold as "Internet Security Software"

For those wondering what Anti Spyware software actually does for you, perhaps we should talk about what spyware is. Spyware is essentially any software that installs on your PC without your knowledge or permission, or under false pretenses. (Saying it will do one thing but actually doing another.)

Spyware watches what you do on your PC and then "phones home" over the internet to tell its owner what you do, where you surf, what products you buy, and, in the worst cases, intercepts banking and credit card numbers and passwords. Some spyware does nothing more than launch annoying pop up ads which can be prevented with a good web browser.

But even if you don't do online banking or buy with a credit card over the internet, Anti Spyware software is needed to make sure that malicious software isn't loading on your machine for other reasons. Much of the spyware software written is not particularly well written.

Another downside of spyware is that it causes your PC to slow and even CRASH!

Spyware is probably the #1 reason that people bring their PC to me for fixing!

Some spyware you can actually uninstall from the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel. And I recommend you do so. Some require a visit to their website in the process! Proof positive (in my book) that the software indeed needs to go.

TIP: Do NOT just go and delete files that you THINK are spyware programs. Attempt the uninstall first, use Anti Spyware software if that fails. You don't need "broken" spyware on your machine, it can lead to system instability AND make it difficult to get uninstalled the correct way.

"Can I use FREE AntiSpyware software?"

You could, and I admit that I do. But I am very careful where I surf in the first place!. I fear, however, that we are fast approaching a time when the free software isn't going to be enough.

The product I am currently installing on standalone (non-corporate network) computers is Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006. I use the corporate version of this product with my consulting clients and have been very happy with its performance and usability. The home version seems to do a similar job. This package comes with an Anti Spyware component, but that's not what it's known for or why I use it.

FREE AntiSpyware software!

• Ad-Aware Personal Edition SE FREE download. Also offer upgrades to paid versions.
• Spybot Search & Destroy
• Microsoft Windows Defender. I feel compeled to comment on this one. This project of Microsofts started out by buying a quality Anti Spyware package from Giant Software, but it no longer receives high marks from reviewers. One reason I especially don't like it is because Microsoft declassified spyware from one company (Clarion) as being spyware when Microsoft began a corporate relationship with that company. Whether software is spyware or not should not depend upon who writes the software, but instead on what the software does.

If you feel your machine is heavily polluted with spyware, or you have already tried the free software mentioned above and did not completely clean your machine, the reviewers choice currently seems to be:

Webroot SpySweeper v5

REMEMBER! The biggest threat to your PC's security is your own surfing habits!

For a more detailed explaination of how you can be your own worst enemy, visit my page on User Behavior.

Proper surfing doesn't elminate the need for Anti Spyware software, but it certainly makes a HUGE difference. Once again I will point you to the benefits of using an alternative browser and ask you to seriously look at using the free SiteAdvisor Plug-in.

Anti Spyware software is another tool that you need to keep current

Anti Spyware software is, like its Anti Virus cousing, dependent on continuous updates of patterns to look for programs that have been identified by humans as being a new threat. Always update the software before doing a scan.

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