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5 Key Steps to the Most Effective Spyware Protection

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Antispyware programs alone are insufficient to protect our computers and data from spyware. Not only are there rogue programs being marketed that fraudulently claim to detect and remove spyware, but a single spyware blocker will not remove all spyware.

My own spyware remover evaluation of popular antispyware programs shows the best will only remove around 50 percent of spyware. This figure will vary with the amount and types of spyware presented to the spyware blocker. For instance, another independent test has shown spyware detection and removal at the 70% level.

My point is... if you have an antispyware program, and you have spyware installed on your computer, then there's a good chance your software is not removing all of it. Current advice for house and small office users is to use at least two antispyware programs -- but more of that later.

Spyware can be installed and have its effects on our computers through a number of different routes. So, by plugging these holes in our system, we can reduce the amount and type of spyware that does get through. This, in turn, means our spyware blockers have a lighter spyware load with which to deal. What now follows are five steps to plug those holes and ensure that we have the best protection against spyware available...

1. Install A Two-Way Firewall
A number of spyware programs use our Internet connection to send our data, such as our address book and financial information etc, to a third party. Other spyware will connect to base and download more advertisements or other malware to be run on our PCs. Having a firewall that controls outward bound traffic, as well as inbound, will block and warn of this activity.

For those of you relying on the Windows XP firewall, you may already know that it only screens incoming traffic, so you are not protected against spyware that is 'phoning house'.

2. Check Your Anti-Virus Blocks Trojans
Anti-virus (AV) software is not currently designed to detect spyware. However, most AV software is good at stopping viruses and worms that are carrying a spyware payload.

There are a few AV programs that are very effective at stopping Trojan horses... often used as spyware or to take control of PCs, turning them into zombie computers. By ensuring you have one of these top AV programs, you'll not only have the best performing software against viruses and worms, but also better protection against Trojans than provided by spyware removers.

3. Patch Your System
Some types of spyware infect computers through system vulnerabilities. Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook and Outlook Express have frequent security flaws, so are attractive targets for spyware and other malware. By regularly checking for fixes, known as patches, for these flaws across all your software programs, your system will be at its optimal security setting against spyware and other malware.

4. Change Internet Explorer
Most of us use Internet Explorer (IE) as our Internet browser. However, IE has been consistently plagued with security flaws, as mentioned above. A number of these flaws are to do with ActiveX controls, which spyware, such as browser hijackers and dialers, have taken advantage of. Security was so poor with IE, that US CERT advised people to use a different browser for their computer protection.

The new IE7 browser is currently under test and promises to offer more protection. While you're waiting, I'd advise you to try an alternative browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Opera, which, although not security heaven, are more resilient against spyware and other attacks.

5. Install Top Of The Line Spyware Removers
The final -- and mandatory -- step in spyware protection is the installation of antispyware. As I said earlier, there are fraudulent antispyware programs out there and even with the best antispyware, there is a high risk that all spyware will not be removed from your PC.

Part of the answer is to install at least two, reputable and tested commercial programs. I say "commercial" therefore the programs I have tested and recommend far outperform the freeware programs. I'm not saying don't use free antispyware. In fact, the second part of the answer is to install three -- or even all -- of the following...

Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot - Search & Destroy, Windows Defender, SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard.

Why? Although not as effective as the bigger-bucks-development of the top antispyware products, tests have shown they can pick up spyware sometimes missed by their more affluent cousins. By combining two commercial and three free spyware remover programs, running one each day and taking the previous steps, you'll have erected an optimized shield around your computer to guard privacy and online security against the worst of spyware.

By following these five key steps, you'll have the most effective spyware protection currently available.

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My own spyware remover evaluation of popular antispyware programs shows the best will only remove around 50 percent of spyware. This figure will vary with the amount and types of spyware presented to the spyware blocker. For instance, another independent test has shown spyware detection and removal at the 70% level.

My point is... if you have an antispyware program, and you have spyware installed on your computer, then there's a good chance your software is not removing all of it. Current advice for house and small office users is to use at least two antispyware programs -- but more of that later.

Spyware can be installed and have its effects on our computers through a number of different routes. So, by plugging these holes in our system, we can reduce the amount and type of spyware that does get through. This, in turn, means our spyware blockers have a lighter spyware load with which to deal. What now follows are five steps to plug those holes and ensure that we have the best protection against spyware available...

1. Install A Two-Way Firewall
A number of spyware programs use our Internet connection to send our data, such as our address book and financial information etc, to a third party. Other spyware will connect to base and download more advertisements or other malware to be run on our PCs. Having a firewall that controls outward bound traffic, as well as inbound, will block and warn of this activity.

For those of you relying on the Windows XP firewall, you may already know that it only screens incoming traffic, so you are not protected against spyware that is 'phoning house'.

2. Check Your Anti-Virus Blocks Trojans
Anti-virus (AV) software is not currently designed to detect spyware. However, most AV software is good at stopping viruses and worms that are carrying a spyware payload.

There are a few AV programs that are very effective at stopping Trojan horses... often used as spyware or to take control of PCs, turning them into zombie computers. By ensuring you have one of these top AV programs, you'll not only have the best performing software against viruses and worms, but also better protection against Trojans than provided by spyware removers.

3. Patch Your System
Some types of spyware infect computers through system vulnerabilities. Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook and Outlook Express have frequent security flaws, so are attractive targets for spyware and other malware. By regularly checking for fixes, known as patches, for these flaws across all your software programs, your system will be at its optimal security setting against spyware and other malware.

4. Change Internet Explorer
Most of us use Internet Explorer (IE) as our Internet browser. However, IE has been consistently plagued with security flaws, as mentioned above. A number of these flaws are to do with ActiveX controls, which spyware, such as browser hijackers and dialers, have taken advantage of. Security was so poor with IE, that US CERT advised people to use a different browser for their computer protection.

The new IE7 browser is currently under test and promises to offer more protection. While you're waiting, I'd advise you to try an alternative browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Opera, which, although not security heaven, are more resilient against spyware and other attacks.

5. Install Top Of The Line Spyware Removers
The final -- and mandatory -- step in spyware protection is the installation of antispyware. As I said earlier, there are fraudulent antispyware programs out there and even with the best antispyware, there is a high risk that all spyware will not be removed from your PC.

Part of the answer is to install at least two, reputable and tested commercial programs. I say "commercial" therefore the programs I have tested and recommend far outperform the freeware programs. I'm not saying don't use free antispyware. In fact, the second part of the answer is to install three -- or even all -- of the following...

Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot - Search & Destroy, Windows Defender, SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard.

Why? Although not as effective as the bigger-bucks-development of the top antispyware products, tests have shown they can pick up spyware sometimes missed by their more affluent cousins. By combining two commercial and three free spyware remover programs, running one each day and taking the previous steps, you'll have erected an optimized shield around your computer to guard privacy and online security against the worst of spyware.

By following these five key steps, you'll have the most effective spyware protection currently available.

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