Antispyware Protection Tips and Recommendations

Spyware can do all sorts of covert things: monitor your surfing habits, pop up unwanted ads, send your keystrokes to a malicious hacker... just about anything without your consent (or your "consent" is buried deep in a disclaimer). Often it is bundled with free downloads. Even legitimate companies may monitor your behavior for marketing purposes.
An antispyware program uses a database of 'bad' spyware programs to find out if one (or more) spyware programs are on your system. This database is usually updated every week - sometimes sooner. The antispyware program can detect bad spyware programs either through scanning your computer or real-time (as it is being installed).

Antispyware programs we recommend

PC Magazine winner
PC World winner
Over 10 million customers worldwide
Helps prevent keyloggers from stealing your passwords
Has rootkit detection technology
Alerts you if core computer functions change
Has silent automatic update

Monitors Internet security settings
Detects changes to browser settings
Detects changes to your system files
Detects spyware, adware, tracking cookies, Trojans, and dialers
Has silent automatic update

Get the Latest Antispyware Update

After installing an antispyware program it is imperative to get the latest update. Generally the initial antispyware database is out-of-date and sometimes the antispyware program itself.

Full Computer System Scan

A full system scan consists of scanning memory, the registry, operating system areas, and all the disk drives. If you want a CD or DVD drive scanned, you must specify this as it is not normally done by default. Yes, it has happened - vendors have shipped CDs and DVDs with spyware or viruses on them.

Antispyware Updating Itself

Make sure your antispyware program is updating itself. Check the date of the antispyware database. It should be no older than a few days.