[golfnut]

I recently tried downloading the free version of Spyware Bot and after it scanned and found a gazillion issues it wanted to charge me $39.95 to remove everything. Is this normal?

[zcaveman]

A lot of the freeware does that. You can get minimum protection or buy the PRO version.

I use AdAware. There is a free version and they don't bug you to upgrade. http://www.lavasoft.com/ On the right look for the free version.

[Avista]

Wish I could help. We are out in our motor home, and I don't hve my notes from Computer Club. They suggest a free adaware anti spy program through Lavasoft, also other free programs. Wish I had my notes. Go to thier web site. Their presentions are online. Perhaps you can find some free anti spy programs. http://www.thevillagescomputerclub.com

[tony]

I have successfully used Spybot Search and Destroy to remove spyware.

You won't get any demands to buy it. It works the way it is. In some cases I had to run it a couple times, depending on the level of infestation.

Also, in some cases after I downloaded it I had to unplug the internet/network connection from the back of the computer to run it successfully, depending again on how persistent the spyware was.

You will also be able to update the signature file. Do that before you run it.

Go here to get it, and then install and run it.

Keep me posted.

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...ml?tag=lst-0-1

And finally, to get some systems clean I had to get Microsoft's spybot cleaner. Each seems to catch something the other misses.

Get Windows Defender latest release here.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by Avista

Wish I could help. We are out in our motor home, and I don't hve my notes from Computer Club. They suggest a free adaware anti spy program through Lavasoft, also other free programs. Wish I had my notes. Go to thier web site. Their presentions are online. Perhaps you can find some free anti spy programs. http://www.thevillagescomputerclub.com

AdAware is free one from Lavasoft. http://www.lavasoft.com/ On the right look for the free version.

[tony]

Be aware, however, that AdAware does not catch the same kind of things that SpyBot Search and Destroy does.

Also you have to manually run AdAware. Spybot Search and Destroy runs the the background constantly, catching spyware as it arrives. I have never noticed any system speed degradation because of it.

[zcaveman]

I used to run both. I finally gave up on Spybot. It asked too many ambiguous questions and did not do much better. Other friends rcommend both so I am not dissing Spybot. I now run Microsoft's Windows Defender on one machine.

However, I find the best cure for Spyware is to not download everything that looks good or everyone that everyone else has. If you do download a legitimate program, check all screens before saying yes. Some download toolbars that you do not need.

The only Spyware I get are advertising cookies.

I have helped neighbors that are having problems with pop-ups and slow PCs and find that they downloaded all of the junk that pops up in ads or comes in from some an email (or that porn stuff they clicked on by accident).

[Ice Cold]

adaware is staying very current with updates. It is free; I would download ASAP I have heard rumors that they are going to start to charge ???
Also check out belarc.com. you can download a free application that will tell you all the hardware and software you have on your computer. Very cool

[walkstop]

I use both spybot search and destroy and ad aware. They both work great. I have also had the same problem with a free program asking for $ to remove the "problems."