Spyware – is any software that covertly gathers information
through your Internet connection without your knowledge, usually
for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically
included as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs
that can be downloaded from the Internet. Once installed,
the spyware monitors your activity on the Internet and transmits
that information in the background to someone else.
Unfortunately, there’s no standard definition of spyware,
this means what one company considers a malicious intrusion
into your system might go unnoticed by another vendor’s
application. That means you’ll need more than one anti-spyware
program to keep your PC clean. Here are four that won’t
cost you a dime.
Lavasoft Ad-aware SE (www.lavasoft.com/)
Lavasoft Ad-aware SE is faster, easier to use, and more robust
than its predecessor at finding and deleting most spyware.
But, it offers no e-mail support for its free version, and
the online support area provides limited information.
The price: Free; $29.95 for paid version
Long considered the grandfather of anti-spyware programs,
Ad-aware SE is your best option for keeping spyware and adware
under control on your PC. It’s available in two versions,
one of which costs nothing. Ad-aware SE Personal is free and
offers basic spyware quarantining and removal features. Ad-aware
SE Plus costs $29.95 and includes real-time protection, automatic
updates and advertising block—features that are disabled
within the free edition. Either edition of Ad-aware should
be a must-have for every PC desktop.
Tenebril SpyCatcher Express (www.tenebril.com/)
Tenebril’s SpyCatcher 2006 effectively combats spyware
and adware, offers protection from phishing (the act of tricking
someone into giving out confidential information. For example:
sending an e-mail to you falsely claiming to be an established
legitimate enterprise, like your bank, in an attempt to trick
you into giving them private information like your PIN number)
attacks, and has an easy-to-use interface. But,
in some cases, the program doesn’t provide much information
on specific threats.
The price: Free; $29.95 for paid version
The free version stops spyware, and the $29.95 paid version
offers detailed information about all your computer’s
applications and removal of unwanted tracking cookies. In
anti-spyware tests, SpyCatcher was among the fastest: it completed
a full hard drive scan in less than 8 minutes and also distinguished
itself by identifying almost every piece of spyware thrown
at it — including one that most others missed.
Microsoft Windows Defender beta 2
(www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
Microsoft beefs up its free anti-spyware application with
a new name and tools. But, Windows Defender beta
2 can automatically remove legitimate third-party applications
that Microsoft doesn’t recognize!
The price: Free
In Windows Defender beta 2, automatic updates are free, making
this the only free anti-spyware program with such a perk.
Tools include Software Explorer, which provides detailed snapshots
of running programs and network processes. This lets you monitor
real-time processes like never before. A full system scan
required only 6 minutes, 55 seconds and identified many of
the big-name spyware programs.
Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org/)
Spybot is free and highly configurable; has automatic updates
and a built-in tutorial. But, it missed five known spyware
programs in tests, and no e-mail response from its technical
support crew was received.
The price: Free
Spybot is free, adaptable and has an easy-to-use interface.
From the main window, you can scan your PC, update Spybot,
and recover your system to a previous state. A configurable
interface is available for power users who like to schedule
scans, manage cookies, add skins and customizations. In tests,
Search & Destroy was lightning fast, requiring only 7
minutes, 19 seconds to scan the system. Unfortunately, the
scan was not very accurate; it left behind several known spyware
programs.
Have a question or problem? Write me at BaliPCAdvisor@GMail.com.
I’ll try and answer as soon as I can.
Bali PC Advisor and other Bali Advertiser article Archives
now ONLINE: www.baliadvertiser.biz/articles/index.html.
NEXT: Let’s Upgrade our PC!
