d wrote:

> What are your recommendations for a free and lightweight spyware scanner
> for Windows? I'd like suggestions for both real-time protection and
> on-demand scanning. Thanks!

Spyware Blaster - site blocking
(http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)
Ad-Aware - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/...e_personal.php)
a2 (a-squared free) - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/)
a-squared Anti-Dialer - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/antidialer/)
Ewido Security Suite - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(http://www.ewido.net/en/download/)
Spybot S&D - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/)
SUPERAntiSpyware - on demand scanning, frequent updates
(http://www.superantispyware.com/)

1) Start with SUPERAntiSpyware, and go from there.

2) All of the above AS apps are free for personal use, read the
EULA(s). And all of them (except Spybot S&D) may be upgraded to a
professional version for a fee. The pro versions usually include
real-time protection, automatic updating, scheduled scanning and support.

3) I included SpywareBlaster, even though it is not a scanner. Most
people use it as part of their AS arsenal.

Ron