The popular and free Lavasoft AdAware and Spy-Bot Search and Destroy anti-spyware programs do a decent job of removing spyware after it has already been installed, but aren't much help in keeping spyware from getting onto a system in the first place. Unfortunately, many of the 'active' anti-spyware programs that promise to prevent spyware from infecting you cost too much money. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe you should pay money to get something in return. In this case, you are paying money to NOT get something (ie, spyware.) It's a highly unusual business model that could seemingly only exist on the Internet.

At Tom's Hardware.

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