Fighting Spyware
Written 23 Nov 2004
<p>In recent years, Spyware (and other forms of malware), have risen to present as much a threat to <abbr title="Personal Computer">PC</abbr> stability as computer viruses. Seeing the opportunity, many companies and individuals rose to fill a need: a way to identify and remove Spyware from a computer. There are <a href="http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?qt=spyware&tg=dl-2001&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=+Go%21+">many, many</a> such programs available, which leaves a person in a bit of a quandry. Which program (or programs) are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Trustworthy</li>
<li>Dependable</li>
<li>Thorough</li>
</ul>
<p>Often people will rely on recommendations from friends and business advertisements for such answers. Indeed many people read the back of a box in the local computer shop, trusting the advert for purchase and use information. None of those really present hard evidence of a programs reliability. Especially, trusting the Company selling you the program is suspect, it exists to serve its needs (basic premise of Capitalism).</p>
Enter Mr. Eric L. Howes. He prepared the Anti-Spyware Test (Guide) that thoroughly details testing methods and presents the results from testing the "top" 15 Anti-Spyware programs. From this a person can easily discern the truth about claims. Of interest, it proves you don't always get what you pay for (an oft-disproved maxim) as the freeware (for non-commercial use) AdAware rates higher than most of the soley-commercial scanners. All in all, a very good analysis and read. Recommended for everyone.