Spyware Removers - Are They Any Good?

Spyware removers are big business these days. This, of course, coincides with the steep rise in spyware infecting computers. A quick check on a top search engine for the term yields almost 4 million results, which highlights the seriousness of the problem.

With so much information available on spyware removers, the biggest problem is where to start. In this article we will explore the nature of spyware, the spyware removers available, and how to use them for best effect.

Spyware, as its name suggests, is malicious software that can infect your computer and spy on your activities, relaying the information back to the source that released it. Some spyware can record your keyboard keystrokes as you type. This becomes a serious problem if it records your online banking details, or your credit card numbers, for example.

Spyware removers are programs that work by detecting the spyware and removing it from your computer system. However, some spyware can actually attack the spyware removers, rendering them ineffective. In other cases they may appear to be removed successfully, only to be re-installed the next time you switch on or reboot your computer.

Another trick used to fool the spyware removers is to employ polymorphic stealth routines. This means that the spyware can change its tactics, never acting in the same way for too long. This in turn makes the spyware removers have to work much harder, both to detect the spyware, and to keep up to date with its behavior.

As you might suspect, there are many different spyware removers available. They range from free to quite costly and from highly effective to not very effective. Surprisingly, it's not always the costly ones that perform best. In fact, some of the free ones can outperform the well-known brand names every time.

Don't necessarily go by big brand familiarity. Seek out actual independent tests performed by those with no personal agenda and nothing to gain by the outcome. This is where you will find the real truth. And if freely available spyware removers can outperform well known big brands in properly conducted tests, then you can save a lot of money, and save yourself a lot of trouble too.

Spyware removers work by scanning your computer system in search of spyware. They will then remove anything they find. However, they do not always detect the spyware every time. You should run a scan, delete any spyware found, then reboot your computer and run the scan again.

After rebooting, the program will often find fresh threats missed the first time, which can then be eliminated. Do this several times until the program reports that the computer is clean. At this point try one or two different spyware removers. It's possible that each one will find traces of spyware that the others fail to detect.

To combat the ever-increasing threat posed by spyware you need to know the nature of spyware and spot the symptoms of possible infection early on. You also need to know which of the many spyware removers available you should use. Be guided by effectiveness in properly conducted independent tests, rather than popularity.

You also need to know how to use spyware removers for the best long-term effects. Armed with this information you should be able to tackle this growing problem with confidence and success.

By: Jason Hobbs