Spyware: How do I remove and avoid spyware?

1. Install and Run an Anti-Spyware Program

There are many options. These are the three most common free recommendations:

• I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. A download from Microsoft, MSE acts as both anti-spyware and anti-virus. Microsoft Security Essentials replaces my previous anti-spyware recommendation, Microsoft Defender.

• Spybot Search and Destroy - Spybot does a great job of finding and removing spyware. Spybot is one of the most commonly recommended tools when people are dealing with spyware issues. It also includes options that will help "immunize" or prevent certain types of spyware issues from occurring in the first place.

• Lavasoft's Adaware - Adaware is the other most commonly recommended anti-spyware tool. Adaware Free is available for personal home use.

Download and install the package of your choice.

Now.

Before you forget.

2. Update the Spyware Database

New spyware is being created every day. As a result, the databases used by anti-spyware programs are being updated as well. You need to make sure that you always have the most current database.

After you install your anti-spyware tool, you should first update the database of spyware definitions that came with the installation. Many tools will actually do this automatically on setup, but you should make sure that it happens one way or another.

All of the programs listed above, as well as almost any other, will have automatic update features. The program will periodically locate, download, and install the latest databases automatically without you needing to do anything.

Make sure that that feature is enabled.

3. Run Regular Scans

Some anti-spyware programs now default to working automatically. Once Microsoft Security Essentials is installed, it goes to work protecting you right away and defaults to performing a complete scan daily.

Others, however, do not.

Regardless of which solution you choose - even if it's MSE - it's important to double check and enable automatic scheduled scans.

An Additional Recommendation

MalwareBytes Anti Malware tends to defy classification. It's not an anti-virus tool; in fact, the folks at MalwareBytes will recommend that you install a separate anti-virus tool along with it. Strictly speaking, it's not really anti-Spyware either, but that's definitely the closest classification if you insist on one.

Its name is appropriate - anti-malware - because it scans for and removes a wide variety of malware, often before other tools can do so.

It's a good tool to have on hand and run periodically or when you run into trouble. Like all such tools, it requires periodic database updates. There's a free version, which can only be run manually. The low-cost upgrade adds the ability to schedule scans.

Some Additional Notes

Many anti-spyware programs support advanced forms of real-time protection that can prevent spyware from installing. For example, they may lock your browser home page so it can't be changed without your approval or the "hosts" file may be altered, locked, or removed. These techniques are very valuable and I recommend turning them on.

As with anti-virus tools, there remains no single "best" anti-spyware program. Each will miss some spyware that the others catch. That's one of the reasons why I list several. The best advice is to use one, any one, and have the others "on call" for those cases when spyware sneaks past.

(This is an update to an article originally published February 8, 2005 and updated October 24, 2009.)