Spyware

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Last Updated: July 1, 2008

	Today's Best Choice - Tie Spy Sweeper 5.5 with AntiVirus is one of the best and is Windows Vista ready.  It scans quickly compared to other software, detects and removes most spyware/adware, and is able to block new spyware/adware. Read reviews from PC Magazine (June 2007). Buy it for $30 from the company web site.
	Today's Best Choice - Tie Spyware Doctor 6 scans quickly compared to other software, detects and removes most spyware/adware, and is able to block new spyware/adware. Buy it for $30 from the company web site.
	Today's Best Choice - Use as Second Spyware Program Primary Response SafeConnect 2.x works wells because it looks at the behavior of programs and flags them as spyware.  According to PC Magazine, it does flag a few innocent programs as spyware, but you can mark the software as trusted.  It's designed to work as the second spyware program. Read reviews from PC Magazine (Dec 2006). Buy it for $35 from the company web site.

What Is It?

Spyware and Adware are software that was installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent for the purpose of tracking your web browsing habits, sending you advertisements via pop up windows, or hijacking your web browser.  Some spyware and adware is relatively harmless like cookies that are saved to your computer when you visit a web site.  Almost all web sites have cookies and most track the last time you visited and perhaps some saved preferences.  Other spyware or adware is much more serious.  Some will hijack your web browser.  When you want to go to a web site, your browser will take you to a competitor's web site instead and you'll never be able to visit the site you want.

Where Does it Come From?

The most malicious spyware and adware comes from peer to peer (P2P) file sharing networks such as eMule, LimeWire, Kaaza, Morpheus, Warez P2P, Shareaza, and others that are used to download illegal copies of movies and music.  Many times the movies or music are bundled with spyware or adware and you don't even know it.  Sometimes, the entire file is spyware or adware.

How Do I Keep It Off Of My Computer?

Firewalls and antivirus software are not meant to keep spyware and adware off of your computer.  You need anti-spyware software that costs about $30.  It will clean your computer of spyware/adware and then prevent it from entering your computer again.

Do You Need It?

I've run scans on my hard drive using the now outdated Spybot Search and Destroy and it typically found spyware/adware in the form of web browser cookies.  I've since gotten into the habit of deleting temporary files and unwanted cookies using a free, adware/spyware-free program called CCleaner.  I then installed a 30 day free trial for Spyware Doctor in October 2005.  As I suspected, it never alerted me of anything even though it was constantly scanning everything I was doing.  Come to think of it, anti-virus software has never found a virus on any of the computers I use for almost 10 years.  Here are some things that I have done:

• Use a home network router if you have DSL or a cable modem.  It hides the computer's IP address from the internet.
• Use a software firewall like Zone Alarm.  It controls which programs can and can't access the internet.
• Don't use LimeWire, Morpheus, eMule, Kaaza or other P2P (peer to peer) file sharing program for trading music and movies.  It's virus heaven.
• If a dialog box suddenly appears asking you to install software and you weren't expecting to install software, then don't install it.
• Read the legal disclaimers when installing software.  Are you agreeing to be monitored?  Google products want to monitor you.
• Don't visit porn sites.  The shady world of porn and viruses are linked.
• Don't connect to the internet with a wireless connection in public places like the airport, hotel or coffee shop.  It's virus and hacker heaven.

Other Software

Other privacy software such as ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, Norton Internet Security 2008, McAfee Internet Security Suite, or software with "spy" in the title doesn't perform as well as the two above.

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