Anti spyware progs for free?

Question

What are some good free anti spyware programs?

Answer 1

You should have an anti-spyware solution on your computer. I recommend that you go to http://www.download.com and get AD-AWARE and SpyBot Search & Destory. Install, run, update and scan your computer with both programs.

Ad-aware cleans out bad files, and SpyBot scans your registry. Both make a great combination.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Here you are:

Pick and choose at least 2 from the list below. New spywares are created literally hourly, so no single anti-spyware can really detect all malware. Have at least 2 on hand and alternate scanning with each every few days or so. All are free. All can remove as well as detect.

Spybot Search and Destroy:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Ewido:

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

Adaware SE:

http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

A-Squared:

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

Windows Defender (Beta 2):

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Unfortunately, many "paid for" anti-spyware products are in fact either of limited usefulness or downright scams. When in doubt, look at the list of rogue anti-spyware solutions listed here:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm


And to protect your computer from ever getting infected with spyware in the first place, you can use these 2 freebies:

SpywareBlaster:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SiteAdvisor:

http://www.siteadvisor.com/

Answer 4

There are many free AS programs. Some are the best you can get and use, others, are useless. Before download any recommended AS program check this site and make sure it is not on the Rogue list.

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#top

Asking what programs I use or downloading and using programs other recommend might not provide you with adequate protection. Everybodys computer use and Internet surfing is different. What works for me might not work for you. If you visit sites I don't (games, porn and others) you will require much different protection than I do.

This site will provide much information about what you are facing in the way of infections. You will have a much better idea of what you need for your computer protection.

http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/computer_privacy_and_security.htm

Answer 5

If you have comcast internet they give free McAfee programs to all customers it comes with a anti-spyware and virus protection. Or you could download the yahoo! toolnbar it has Norton anti-spyware and virus scanner.

Answer 6

Antiviral. (free)

AVG free. Excellent protection available from: http://www.Grisoft.com

Don't use two antiviral products together as they may be incompatible. If your Antiviral trial has run out, then remove product from your computer and get the AVG installed.

Anti-spyware (all free)

O.K. Some quick links to get you out of trouble

Essential products are: Adaware SE from: http://www.lavasoft.com

Spybot SD http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Spywareblaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Windows Defender - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Spycatcher
http://www.tenebril.com/consumer/spyware/spycatcher-express.php
Ewido http://www.ewido.com

PC starter kit at download.com 20 of the best recommended programes for people new or less advanced in computers. Check all three pages, at bottom see Security/Tools/Fun

http://www.download.com/PC-Starter-Kit/2001-12350_4-0.html?tag=dir
Now for some informed reading, courtsey of 2-spyware Research centre.
Anti-Spyware contains the list of all known legitimate anti-spyware programs that can effectively detect and remove spyware, adware threats and other kinds of computer parasites from the system. Listed programs have been carefully tested by the 2-spyware.com research center and successfully passed our strict tests. This means that all of them can quite precisely recognize a particular pest, completely disable it by terminating its processes, deleting its essential files, registry entries and other related objects and eventually clean the infected system ensuring that no unsolicited programs will stay and attempt to violate your privacy and harm your computer.

All the products in Anti-Spyware category really work, do not deceive the user by producing false positives and cannot damage a compromised computer while eliminating found malware. However, it is important to know that not all of them are recommended for daily use. Each spyware remover in the list comes with a review describing its positive sides, drawbacks and impression it left. Such review also includes program screenshots, information about its price, implemented features, performance and general effectiveness. We rate tested programs by giving marks from 1 to 100. The higher mark a spyware remover gets the more effective it is. Please carefully read each review, pay attention to the rating mark a program got and read comments published by other visitors. This will help you to make a wise choice and compare your current anti-spyware program with other modern solutions on the market.

If you cannot find a particular spyware remover in anti-spyware category, take a look on the category of corrupt tools. It contains the list of rogue, fake, illegal, even harmful applications that definitely cannot correctly detect and remove various security and privacy threats and therefore must be avoided.

Additionally we provide the list of recommended anti-spyware software that got the highest marks and therefore is the most effective. From the personal experience we can tell that one spyware remover is not enough, different programs find different parasites. You need to do a wise choice.
Anti-spyware tools:
Total Anti-Spyware products in our DB: 71
Recommended Anti-Spyware products:

Spyware Doctor

(91/100) - real time protection; deep file scan; optimal (low) system requirements; complete system scan; highly configurable
Spy Sweeper

(89/100) - real time protection; trial version available; deep file scan; complete system scan; highly configurable
Spybot Search and Destroy

(84/100) - quick performance; real time protection; free to use; highly configurable
Windows Defender Beta 2

(75/100) - real time protection; free to use; deep file scan; complete system scan



For more information from this site http://www.2-spyware.com/anti-spyware

Answer 7

Spywareblaster prevents spyware from installing in the first place (rather than trying to get rid of it after the fact, which AdAware by Lavasoft does well.)

Answer 8

Forget about adaware, Get ZoneAlarm. Its the best and comes with an 15 day trial of the best version, the free version is helpfull also.

Answer 9

I think that Lava soft's Adaware is possible the best free program out.

Answer 10

free
anti spyware blocker
spybot search & destory
spyware blaster
http://www.download.com