Free Spyware Removal.It's Not As Easy As It Sounds.

Nobody wants to pay to remove spyware. At the very least, I don't. The blasted stuff shouldn't be on my computer anyway, so what ever would make me want to shell out cash to get rid of something that I shouldn't have in the first place?

Spyware removal tools come in many different forms, and from many different places. Lavasoft's Ad-Aware is from Sweden, and Spybot: Search and Destroy is from Germany, I think. (Their error messages come up in German, so I have to assume..)

Purchasing adware removal software can even be dangerous, so to speak. If you're buying it from a pop-up then more than likely you're just lining the pockets of the person that infected your machine in the first place. I've had many infested machines have icons for spyware removers magically appear on the desktop. Of course, if you want to actually clean anything, you have to shell out some dough.

If you're going to go it alone, for free, then there are a few tools you'll need. The first is Ad-Aware, as mentioned above. Spybot: S&D is a second excellent choice. The third, and much more advanced (and therefore difficult to use) spyware remover is HijackThis. Almost all scanners will miss various adware items, simply because there is so much produced nowadays so quickly. It's impossible to keep up.

Once you have the aforementioned software downloaded, installed, and updated then you're going to want to boot to safe mode. Why not scan now immediately? Cause the adware is still running. You can't delete a file that's in use. That said, safe mode is less effective than it used to be, but it still may work.

To get to safe mode: Reboot the machine, press F8 repeatedly once it restarts until a menu comes up that has "safe mode" listed. Select it, and press enter. Windows will load nothing but the essentials.

As soon as safe mode is loaded then go ahead and do a full system scan with Ad-Aware and Spybot or whatever you happen to have. Following that, reboot and see how your computer runs. If it still has issues, then HijackThis will be neccesary. In order to use this tool, you'll need to have a pretty good grasp on what should and shouldn't be loading in startup, as well as a grasp of what Browser Help Objects you need. (Technically, none, but some software you have installed may use them)

You can get HijackThis help, but if it eludes you then you really should have an experienced user have at it.

Kevin Souter is a full time computer repair technician, and runs sites in his spare time dispensing his knowledge on free spyware removal and computer repair.

Spy Sweeper New version 5.2

What ' s new in 5.2

Spy Sweeper 5.2 stops spyware in its tracks while offering home computer users the ability to configure the program to suit their specific needs, such as:

Choose a Quick, Full or Custom Sweep:
With Spy Sweeper 5.2, you can easily choose to perform a quick, full or customized sweep. If you're looking for an immediate diagnosis, choose a quick sweep. For a pinpointed search, customize your sweep to have Spy Sweeper skip files by folder or file extension. For a deep cleaning, opt for a full sweep.

Exclude Files from a Sweep:
Spy Sweeper allows you to save time during a sweep by skipping specific files or different sections of your PC. You can select specific file extension, such as .xls or .mpg to exclude.

Additional Highlights

As soon as it's installed, Spy Sweeper gives 360 degrees of protection against spyware, including:

Simple Sweeps:
Detecting spyware and removing unwanted programs found on your computer in three effortless steps

Easy Management:
Quickly and simply configure program, sweep and upgrade options

Fast Home:
Use the home screen to access the most commonly used functions of Spy Sweeper

Shields Summary:
A redesigned shields summary page makes it simple to see at a glance which shields are on or off

Action Alerts:
Receive clear, easy-to-understand notifications when new spyware threats are detected

Even Easier to Use

We performed extensive user interaction testing and refined the Spy Sweeper interface to make it even easier for users of all technical abilities to stay protected. Advanced users continue to have the power to configure the program to suit their unique needs, while new users can breeze through the straightforward setup and menus. The new interface sets the standard in ease-of-use and efficiency for spyware removal programs.

Commanding Spyware Detection and Removal

Spyware programs are known to mutate quickly. Spy Sweeper uses adaptive definition technology for detecting spyware mutations that haven't yet received a defense definition. This is yet another benefit of having the world's best spyware research team on your side.

More Powerful Blocking Defenses

Enhanced Smart Shields prevent highly developed spyware programs from ever installing on your PC. You'll receive valuable action alerts to any changes in your computer's core functions, including startup, memory and Internet security settings.

Enhanced Rootkit Discovery Methods

Malicious spyware uses rootkit technology to bury its files deep within your PC. Spy Sweeper finds and destroys these programs with robust rootkit discovery methods, a feature many other anti-spyware programs lack.