anti-spy ware open source free

[AskGreatQuestions@gmail.com]

What is a very effective, easy to use, free, open source anti-spyware
program? I was using webroot anti-spyware for about 2 or 3 years,
like it alot, but wish to not continue to pay yearly fees, if
possible. I am using microsoft Windows xp?

[Kayman]

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:25:26 -0700 (PDT), AskGreatQuestions@gmail.com
wrote:

> What is a very effective, easy to use, free, open source anti-spyware
> program? I was using webroot anti-spyware for about 2 or 3 years,
> like it alot, but wish to not continue to pay yearly fees, if
> possible. I am using microsoft Windows xp?

A-S applications.
The effectiveness of an individual A-S scanners can be wide-ranging and
oftentimes a collection of scanners is best. There isn't one software that
cleans and immunizes you against everything. That's why you need multiple
products to do the job i.e. overlap their coverage - one may catch what
another may miss, (grab'em all).

SuperAntispyware - Free (on-demand application)
http://www.superantispyware.com/supe...freevspro.html
and
Ad-Aware 2007 - Free (on-demand application)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html
and
Spybot Search & Destroy - Free (on-demand application)
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
and
Windows Defender - Free (real-time application)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx
WD monitors the start-registry and hooks registers/files to prevent spyware
and worms to install to the OS.
Interesting reading:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136195/article.html
"...Windows Defender did excel in behavior-based protection, which detects
changes to key areas of the system without having to know anything about
the actual threat."

[Dave Seven]

Kayman wrote:

> A-S applications.

SpywareBlaster (proactive protection).

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

I like to use a Hosts file too. (proactive protection).

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Use noscript in FireFox (proactive protection).

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722

As you can see, I believe in proactive protection. Stop the spyware
before it has the chance to even infect your PC.