Do want to protect your computer and your private information from spyware threats? Are you using something like AdAware as your main spyware detection and removal program? Well, there at least 2 others which are very effective and very free.
Spybot Search & Destroy (S&D for short) is a very well known and established spyware removal program. Spybot uses a database to maintain an up to date list of known threats. It checks your entire computer system, including the registry, against this database. The database must be updated manually, but you can use the scheduler to set up regular and automated scans. Spybot does not protect your system in real-time as some other programs do, but it does have an “immunize” feature which protects your system from known threats while surfing the Internet.
This software provides several other functions as well. Under the settings tab, you can
- Change the language settings
- Adjust default settings
- Set up ignore lists
- Set scan for usage tracks
- And change the skins
The Tools tab allows you to select programs you do not want to run on Windows start-up. This saves system resources and keeps your computer running faster. You can also make some teaks to Internet Explorer, and use the file shredder to permanently erase sensitive files.
Spybot S&D is top-notch anti-spyware protection, but depending on your surfing habits (amount of time you spend on the Internet), you may want to use an additional anti-spyware programs which monitors your system as your surfing the Internet.
I found this quite handy at one point in my old system, until I found out the system stopped responding because of it. There was some sort of clash. So I unistalled it, and used the Clean Up after. Ever since, my main computer has been reformatted and I don’t use it as much. I brought a laptop, and has the Norton Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware on it. It has worked fine with me. Interesting, as on my dads laptop it clashes.