New PC and no spyware protection installed?

It's tough fighting all the Virus infections and Spyware out there. The average user buys a new computer that ships with a virus solution from Symantec or McAfee and no Spyware protection! I don't understand why, since there are very good solutions available for free. The spyware has become a much bigger problem since the presence of these applications can slow a computer down to the point where you can't use it. I have been removing Spyware for friends and clients for years now but I have to say that the average guy wouldn't have a clue how to go about it.

I am going to make some recommendations here: These utilities are tried and true for me and while I am aware that no solution is 100% this combo of tools will get rid of most of what you don't want.

For each recommendation use Google as your search engine to find the homepage or a download location.

• Anti Virus: Grisofts AVG can't be beat for the simple reason that it does it job without interfering with you computing experience. They even offer a 100% free version for home users that is very effective and the updates are fast and easy. Have you ever run into the situation where an application you have insists you must un-install or disable your anti virus before installing some software? Guess what? I have never un-installed or disabled AVG anti-virus and everything has always worked fine. I have even updated my graphics drivers with AVG installed. They also make a XP 64bit version.

• Spyware: If you run Microsoft XP 32bit or 64bit versions you should find Microsoft's own AntiSpyware Beta. Microsoft bought up a company called Giant Software that made a very good Spyware remover (that you had to pay for) and then Microsoft made the software available for free (yay!).

• Spyware Level 2: While the above solution works well and even works in realtime (in memory) you still need another application called Spybot Search & Destroy from Javacool Software. This one is also very good and free. You run this application manually and you also have to do the updates manually but the power of this cleaner is well worth the time it takes to run it every other week. Works on Win 98,2000, XP

• Spyware Level 3: Lavasoft's AdAware SE was the original spyware fighter to gain legendary fame status. This application hasn't been as useful as it once was, but I still like the tracking cookie removal power and it's easy removal of DAT files that track your use of your PC (If you are a privacy nut like me you will love that feature) I also use the Advanced Data Stream scan feature. (ADS Scan) Works on Win 98,2000 or XP.

Spyware has got even tougher with rootkits and if you want to learn more about that topic, search terms like" "Spyaxe+rootkits" and be prepared to be scared. I have fixed a PC with that infection and all the above tools couldn't touch it /shudder I also recommend Mark's Blog from Sysinternals since he talks a good storm about Spyware too and he mentions the fake spyware removal tools that are available. He also deals with such terms as "False Positives" where these fake Spyware apps find spyware that is not spyware and some of those apps put the spyware ON your PC ! Gahhh!

Marks Blog: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2006/01/antispyware-conspiracy.html

Kshipper =)