Internet Security

Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. This program does not update itself automatically but will remind you to update every few weeks or so.

Spy-Bot has similar main functions as Ad-Aware. However, Spy-Bot has many other features, such as its immunize feature, which performs similar actions to SpywareBlaster. SpyBot is not as easy to use as Ad-Aware but has many additional features.

HijackThis lists the contents of key areas of the registry and hard drive areas that are used by both legitimate programmers and hijackers. The program is continually updated to detect and remove new hijacks. It does not target specific programs and URLs, only the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites. As a result, false positives are imminent, and unless you're sure about what you're doing, you should always consult with someone knowledgable before deleting anything.

Spy Sweeper detects and removes the nastiest spyware, such as Elite Keylogger, LOP, Trojan Backdoor-Haxdoor, and iSearchDesktop. Using new FlexDef technology, Spy Sweeper identifies and eliminates never-before-seen spyware on the fly -- without the need for a specific spyware definition. Spy Sweeper is armed with 16 advanced Smart Shields, including ActiveX, Toolbar, and Spy Communications shields, to block new spyware installations. Spy Sweeper is a pay program.

Ewido Anti-Malware specializes in trojan removal but detects many other spyware programs. When it detects something, instead of waiting until the scan is finished, the program alerts you with a loud siren. This is perfectly fine if you run the scans during the day-time, but if you start a scan before you go to sleep and it wakes you up because it detected a tracking cookie, it can be extremely annoying.