Spy-Ware Removal Tools

One of the most common questions I'm asked about are how to remove spy ware, malware, viruses, bots, trojans, and other ugly internet illnesses. Like many things in technology, there are several decent solutions, but no magic bullet. Below are a list of links to a few free tools that are highly recommended.

Trend Micro House Call - This is a web based product that I've used a few times, and serves as an effective first line of defense wehn trying to clean up your computer.

Ad-Aware from Lavasoft - This is a free tool requiring installation. I've used this several times with (as Borat says) GREAT SUCCESS!

SpyBot Search & Destroy - This is the most effective tool I've come across, but it is far more sophisticated, and not as user friendly. This is a great failover if nothing else works.

Keep in mind that the above suggestions are reactive solutions not proactive. This means that you run them if you think you have a problem. However, there are a lot of solutions than can be run actively meaning they are constantly scanning your machine for issues, above and beyond your typical virus scanner. This will always cost you system performance. At the end of the day it is your best bet to become a vigilant citizen of the internet, and be mindful of the sites you visit and the links you click on.

Share