Free Spyware Prevention/Removal software

[mike]

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

Spyware, adware, browser hijackers, and dialers are some of the fastest-growing threats on the Internet today.
By simply browsing to a web page, you could find your computer to be the brand-new host of one of these unwanted fiends!

The most important step you can take is to secure your system. And SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available.

# Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted pests.
# Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
# Restrict the actions of potentially dangerous sites in Internet Explorer.


SpywareBlaster can help keep your system spyware-free and secure, without interfering with the "good side" of the web.

And unlike other programs, SpywareBlaster does not have to remain running in the background.

http://www.safer-networking.org/microsoft.en.html

Spyware, hijackers, dialers, trojans and other malware can play havoc with your PC and snoop around your personal data. Spybot - Search & Destroy is the essential solution to protect your online privacy. It removes snoops that already found their way into your system, and prevents others from infecting your computer.

Easy to install (preconfigured)
Easy to use (tutorial)
Roots out spyware, hijackers and other malware
Prevents new malware from infecting your system
Informs in detail about found problems
Instantly warns even about suspicious system changes
Allows you to undo every step
Free updates

[trotsky]

ad aware is also a good one. I use it all the time and it is awesome...best of all...it'f FREE. So i can buy mor estuff for my bike  

[Bob Holland]

As a network admin at a school district, spyware has become our biggest workstation problem. We have found that most spyware removal tools are themself, spyware. The best one we have found is Microsoft's NoAdware. It is not perfect. If you load it with a clean OS install, it works great, if you have spyware/hi-jackers, then it will work ok untill you can do a clean install. We have around 700 computers and voice over IP phones, with about 10 servers and only two of us to keep them going so adware and spyware drive us nuts. We use Symantec Corpriate and push out the updates with a logon script and have not had a virus in 2 years.