Best Free Program for getting rid of spyware.
 

What is the best free program available for getting rid of spyware?

There are many many programs out there, and it all depends on the user's opinion. My opinion is "Ad-Aware." http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

Yeah I use both Ad-aware and Spybot. I hear PestPatrol is good too but I haven't tried it.

microsoft has a program if you have XP.. "windows defender".

I use Windows Defender

It's not just Windows XP..... it's also for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003

Thanks guys...anyone one know what the basic difference is on all of these?...Just want to get an idea of why you guys favor different programs... :)

It's not a bad idea to use all of them... at work, I use adaware, spybot, spywareblaster and windows defender... at home all except the defender...

Yeah it's true. If you read around it seems to be proven that no one anti-spyware program detects everything. Always use a combination of programs.

Apparently they did a comparison on TechTV, and PestPatrol managed to find the most spyware, however still not all of it.

techtv doesn't exist anymore ;)

Isn't it on like channel 300? I remember when I had IO from Optimum I watched it quite often.

:P Sorry, it's called "G4 Tech TV" here in Canada at least.

It was g4 tech tv, but then they decided they didn't want me to watch their channel anymore so they got rid of all the good shows and took out the tech tv.

So true, reminds me of MTV. Well in Canada here at least they just came back with MTV Canada, and there isn't a SINGLE music video on the channel at all. NOT ONE! EVER! ahem.

I never watch MTV anyway, but I'm in the same boat as you... MTV should have music videos.. not dropout idiots banging their heads against the ground.

Well, we now have 2 MTV channels (at least here in NY). Usually, when 1 plays some reality show, the other one plays music videos. Whoah... we are so off-topic.

Yeah let's get back on topic. I personally suggest Spybot. It's easy and simple to use, and only takes a few minutes to scan.

no one program does a good enough job to be relied on. Several must be used concurrently to be effective.

Yep, you're in for a world of hurt if Spybot is your only anti spyware app

My suggestions are windows defender and spybot search and destory. both work great for me.

I personally using Adaware, and if I see something that is still wrong, I'll use Hijackthis. It is not a spyware remover, but rather a program that tells you all the running processes or "hooks." If you know what you're doing, it is a pretty powerful application.

good point... I forgot to mention hijack this

I have always liked Hijack This! for that hard to reach spyware.

I really need to get with it and learn Hijack This! I know it's been around for quite sometime, it just really intimidates me I think.