Free Anti-Spyware

Free anti-spyware programs can help

Several highly regarded, free anti-spyware programs are available, and reviews suggest using one or more of these to supplement paid versions of Spy Sweeper or Spyware Doctor. All the free programs have limited functionality, however, so they aren't the best choice as your primary anti-spyware defense. "Paid programs generally offer features that boost not only overall protection, but also program management, support, usability, and convenience," says Christian Perry at PC Today.

Lavasoft's Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.0 gets the best reviews among free anti-spyware software. While Lavasoft is best known for its anti-spyware technology, Ad-Aware Free 9.0 also includes antivirus software, so it detects viruses, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers, rootkits and more. This free software offers basic real-time protection, so infected programs and files will be detected when you try to download or open them. Ad-Aware also monitors your web browser and can get rid of cookies and your Internet history. Free technical support is limited to live chat or the user forums.

Reviewers say Lavasoft has an excellent reputation for its anti-spyware software. "Ad-Aware Free has long been one of the most popular spyware killers on the planet, and with good reason. It's simple to use, does an excellent job of detecting and killing spyware, and stays out of your way as much as possible," says Preston Gralla at PC World. PCMag.com gives Ad-Aware Free 9.0 an Editors' Choice award, saying that the software performs better than any other free option. In Neil Rubenking's test, Ad-Aware detects 91 percent of malware threats, including spyware and viruses. Installation is relatively quick and easy, and while scans can take some time, they don't have a large impact on system performance. According to user reviews at Download.com, Ad-Aware Free doesn't conflict with other security software, including Norton AntiVirus.

However, Ad-Aware Free doesn't remove as many rootkits as some competitors. Spyware and viruses use rootkits to escape detection from anti-malware software, so this is one area of concern for reviewers. In PCMag's test, Ad-Aware Free detected all rootkit samples but was unable to remove all of them; experts recommend upgrading to the Pro version (*Est. $30) for better protection against rootkits. We also saw some complaints that the interface, which has too many icons and buttons, could use a redesign. Download.com calls it "sort of a mess." Overall, Ad-Aware is still considered the best free option for anti-spyware software, but -- for overall malware protection -- you may want to use it as a supplement to your existing antivirus software.

Another popular free option is Spyware Terminator. The software detects and removes spyware with automatic updates, real-time protection and user-scheduled scans. Like most free anti-spyware software, Spyware Terminator doesn't include phone support, so you're stuck with email or the user forums for help. According to reviews, Spyware Terminator has an easy-to-use interface but still offers enough customization for advanced users. "From set-it-and-forget-it users to those delving into virus code, all will find Spyware Terminator flexible, simple, and effective, key measures of a good antispyware tool," say editors at Download.com. User reviewers also like that Spyware Terminator optionally integrates with free ClamAV antivirus software to protect against additional malware threats.

The software gets a solid 4-star rating at Download.com, which is impressive considering that most anti-spyware programs get poor to average ratings. Users say it effectively removes spyware from their systems. However, experts say the software is more susceptible to system drag than other free anti-spyware products, a complaint we saw repeated in user reviews. "The one drawback of this program is that it is rather slow to start and close and can hog your memory at peak scanning periods," says Nick Mead at Softonic.com.

Ghostery isn't a complete anti-spyware solution, but it earns a few recommendations as a supplement to your existing protection. This free browser-based tool tells you exactly what programs are tracking you on the web via hidden scripts, widgets and bugs. With Ghostery, you can completely block scripts on your browser on a case-by-case basis. Ghostery is currently available for Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome; an Opera version is under consideration. 

Download.com, which gives Ghostery a 4.5-star rating, says the tool is user-friendly and successfully alerts you to a variety of trackers you might not know about. "We found Ghostery to be both unobtrusive and quite informative, and we recommend it to those who are concerned about keeping their Web surfing private," the editors say. PC Advisor gives it a Gold award. Not only does Ghostery alert you to hidden web trackers, but it also makes some websites load faster if you choose to block advertisements. Just keep in mind that Ghostery is a supplement to your existing protection, not a stand-alone anti-spyware program.

If your computer is running Windows 7 or Vista, you already have Windows Defender, a free anti-spyware tool. Make sure real-time protection is turned on (the default option). The program is also available as a free download for Windows XP users who accept Microsoft's Windows validation process. Windows Defender detects and removes spyware, and scans can be scheduled for whatever time is most convenient for you.

In PC World's tests, Windows Defender 1.1 is excellent at detecting adware, but it barely removes half of it. It's much poorer at catching spyware. Ryan Naraine concludes, "Windows Defender is certainly better than nothing." He adds, "It combats adware and offers behavior-based protection that should block many threats, but if … malicious spyware slips past Defender's first line of defense, you'll need something else to clean up the mess." In reviews at Download.com, some users question whether or not Windows Defender effectively removes all spyware. As a result, it is probably best to use Windows Defender in conjunction with a commercial anti-spyware program.