Spybot Search And Destroy

This free program is one of the most popular and well-regarded anti-spyware programs available. It is very easy to install and offers several useful options during installation - in particular, the ability to backup your registry is welcome, since it is possible to unwittingly change your registry while removing spyware, and in some cases this can damage the operation of other programs. The registry backup option allows you to restore your registry should this happen. If you don't need to restore the entire registry, Spybot's main menu also allows you to undo recent changes that may have negatively affected your computer.

The program offers several functions. The most important, of course, is the spyware scan, which takes a somewhat long time to run but will successfully detect and remove a lot of potential problems. Another very important feature is the "Immunization" option - this allows users to block known spyware and adware from ever being viewed or download, and thus stops it from ever reaching their machine. It also offers some other useful sub-programs, including TeaTimer (which protects your system settings from programs that try to change them) and Secure Shredder (which allows you to permanently delete files from your system). These additional programs are optional and not installing them will not affect Spybot's functionality.

Finally, Spybot is highly customizable. For the advanced user, it offers a huge array of options to choose from, including editing startup entries, restricting scans to certain locations or file types, and several quarantine options. Spybot's flexibility and power make it a worthy addition to any anti-spyware collection.