15 Best Spyware Removal Software

Ranked #12,566 in Computers & Electronics, #256,523 overall

What is Spyware Removal Program?

Spyware Removal Program or Anti-spyware is a solution to solve spyware or malware
Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware in two ways:

They can provide real time protection against the installation of spyware software on your computer. This type of spyware protection works the same way as that of anti-virus protection in that the anti-spyware software scans all incoming network data for spyware software and blocks any threats it comes across.

Anti-spyware software programs can be used solely for detection and removal of spyware software that has already been installed onto your computer. This type of spyware protection is normally much easier to use and more popular. With this spyware protection software you can schedule weekly, daily, or monthly scans of your computer to detect and remove any spyware software that has been installed on your computer. This type of anti-spyware software scans the contents of the windows registry, operating system files, and installed programs on your computer and will provide a list of any threats found, allowing you to choose what you want to delete and what you want to keep.

Best Spyware Removal Tools

1. Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3.1
Ad-Aware Free provides core protection against Internet threats. Featuring real-time anti-malware protection, advanced Genotype detection technology, rootkit protection, a scheduler, Ad-Aware Free Internet Security gives you the power to protect yourself online. Ad-Aware Free version is a complete malware protection that now combines Lavasoft's pioneer technology for anti-spyware with traditional anti-virus protection.

2. Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove a multitude of adware files and modules from your computer. Spybot also can clean program and Web-usage tracks from your system, which is especially useful if you share your computer. Modules chosen for removal can be sent directly to the included file shredder, ensuring complete elimination from your system.

For advanced users, it allows you to fix Registry inconsistencies related to adware and to malicious program installations. The handy online-update feature ensures that Spybot always has the most current and complete listings of adware, dialers, and other uninvited system residents.

3. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a high performance anti-malware application that thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware and spyware. With one of the fastest, most effective quick scans and malware removal capabilities on the market, this program is the perfect addition to your PC's defenses.

The full version of the product includes a number of key features, including the ability to schedule updates and scans and most importantly, a real-time malware protection module that blocks malicious processes before they even start.

4. SpywareBlaster 4.4
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan for and clean spyware--it prevents it from being installed in the first place. SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, dialers, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs. It can also block spyware/tracking cookies in IE, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, and many other browsers, and restrict the actions of spyware/ad/tracking sites.

With the built-in Check for Updates feature, you can help ensure your protection is up-to-date. SpywareBlaster also includes a System Snapshot feature, which lets you take a snapshot of your computer in its clean state and later revert, undoing many changes made by spyware and browser hijackers.

5. Trend Micro HijackThis 2.0.2
HijackThis lists the contents of key areas of the Registry and hard drive--areas that are used by both legitimate programmers and hijackers. The program is continually updated to detect and remove new hijacks. It does not target specific programs and URLs, only the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites.

As a result, false positives are imminent, and unless you're sure about what you're doing, you always should consult with knowledgeable folks before deleting anything. Version 2.0.2 includes unspecified updates.

6. Diet K 3.0.8
Diet K gets rid of all the spyware and annoying ads from Kazaa, making your computer usable again. The basic features of Diet K are:
Removes all BANNERs, POP UP ads, and Spyware
Built in Advanced Download Accelerator
Makes searchs faster, and more results
Removes the extra buttons (Bonzi, Shopping, etc)
Adds QUICK search shortcuts to the systray
Changes the KaZaA Start homepage
Translated into 19 different languages

7. Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.13.03
Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner detects a multitude of spyware, adware, Trojan horses, keyloggers, and trackware components, sources of irritation that many antivirus products do not deal with. The scanning process only takes a fraction of a second and tells you how to uninstall the invasive spyware or puts you in contact with the spyware developer for the most up-to-date and safe uninstall instructions.

Spyware and adware often is bundled with software such as Kazaa, Morpheus, Grokster, iMesh, Xolox, and Gnutella, and in many cases it's installed without your knowledge. Some send information about your surfing habits to ad companies, which target you with pop-up ads that fit your preferences. Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner search for CoolWebSearch, Gator, GAIN, Bargain Buddy, CommonName, FlashTrack, IPInsight, nCase, SaveNow, and WurldMedia.
Version 1.13.03 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, and bug fixes.

8. IObit Security 360 1.50
IObit Security 360 is a free malware & spyware removal utility that detects, removes the deepest infections, and protects your PC from various of potential spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, bots, worms, and hijackers.

With the unique "Dual-Core" engine and the heuristic malware detection, IObit Security 360 detects the most complex and deepest spyware and malware in a very fast and efficient way. IObit Security 360 has a real-time malware protection and frequent automatic updating for prevention of zero-day security threats. IObit Security 360 can work with your antivirus for a superior PC security.

9. A-squared Free 4.5.0.27c
Scans your computer for malicious software like malware, including Trojan horses, dialers, worms, spyware, and adware. A-squared Free is specialized in finding and removing them securely. The disk scan checks all files on your system disks for malware. The scanner scans for spyware traces.

10. Spyware Terminator 2.7.2.125
Spyware Terminator includes Real-Time Protection, HIPS, and antivirus. Effectively remove spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, home page hijackers, and malware threats even dangerous threats like Conficker, Mail Skinner or Trojan Vundo. Spyware Terminator is easy-to-use, requires minimal PC resources, and performs ultra fast scans.

Protect your computer with powerful real-time protection shield, advanced system scanning and safe quarantine for found spyware. Scan your computer manually or schedule full system sweeps. Perform in-depth scans of your computer's hard drives, memory, process, registry and cookies to seek out and remove all known spyware threats.

11. WinPatrol 18.1.2010l
The power of multiple programs without the bloat of a security suite. Clean up your Taskbar, ActiveX, Brower and Startup programs. WinPatrol monitors and exposes adware, keyloggers, spyware, worms, cookies, and other malicious software. This program puts you back in control of your computer with no need for constant updates.

WinPatrol's goal is to help you better understand what programs are running on your computer and to alert you to any new programs added without your permission. Unlike traditional security programs, WinPatrol doesn't scan your hard drive searching for previously identified threats. Instead, it uses a heuristic behavioral approach, taking a snapshot of your critical system resources, then alerting you to any changes that occur without your knowledge.

12. CWShredder 2.19
CWShredder is a small utility for removing the nasty CoolWebSearch browser hijacker and its ever-changing variants from your hard drive.

13. Advanced Spyware Remover 2.0
Evonsoft Advanced Spyware Remover is a foolproof spyware and malware killer. It keeps you free from spyware that bombard you with ads, spam your email account, collect your private information, steal your credit card numbers, or crash your computer. Advanced Spyware Remover is your best choice to protect your computer and bodyguard you along Internet surfing. It is a 100% free and must have program developed with Evonsoft security technology.

14. SpyCatcher Express 5.1.2
SpyCatcher Express protects all Web surfers by providing a safe and advanced antispyware solution. Free Scan. Free Removal. Free Forever. SpyCatcher Express protects against next-generation, complex spyware and puts users back in control of their PCs. SpyCatcher goes beyond traditional signature matching by incorporating a multi-pronged method for threat detection to ensure cutting-edge protection. Competitors typically use one detection model, preventing them from blocking the latest threats.

DeepDefense prevents the installation of rootkits, removes aggressive spyware, intercepts all API calls and blocks reinstallation of aggressive spyware. Tenebril's Spyware Research Center provides detailed information on files that are deemed suspicious. Suspicious programs may be new spyware, mutations of known spyware or legitimate programs behaving contrary to their purpose or missing vendor tags.

15. ZeroSpyware Limited Edition 2.1.29
ZeroSpyware Limited Edition gives anti-spyware protection for the modern Internet user. Provides unlimited use of several powerful features that clean and protect your PC from all kinds of spyware. Unlike other anti-spyware tools available, ZeroSpyware LE is much more than a simple scanning and removal utility.

Spyware Removal Software

Loading

Video: Remove Spyware

How to Find and Remove Spyware,Trojans and Viruses
by PCWizKid | video info

1,783 ratings | 369,807 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Remove Spyware Easily and Effectively

Author: Abhishek Agarwal

One needs to consider the conditions to conclude if the spyware removal could prove to be effective or turn out to be a total waste of resource and time. Following tips would ensure that removing the spyware from your machine is done in the best and apt way.

1) Gathering information- You need to make it very certain that you have correct information to assist you for the spyware removal. In order to go about removing spyware, at the outset you need to know about how spyware fundamentally works. This would assist you in its removal. So now, how would information gathering help you? Firstly, you need to spot or identify the problem. Second, you find a solution for the trouble.
a) Identify the problem- When you collect information about several spywares, you would automatically realize what has gone wrong within your system. This would assist you towards spyware removal faster.
Mostly, people are unaware about the problems they experience in their system as a result of spyware. As a matter of fact, a few of them would think of perhaps choosing to tolerate these problems than to focus a bit on studying them so as to fix them later. However, once you gather the information, you would make it faster to recognize the problem thus giving you ample time to fix on what is next.
b) Finding solution- After you gather quite a bit of information about spyware, you would have finer notions about its elimination from the system. This is for the reason that knowing more about spyware would implicitly make you gain knowledge about several ways to have them eliminated too. It can be put this way; knowing about a certain spyware would also make you know about methods of getting rid of the same.

2) Getting help- It is not suggested that you carry out the entire spyware removal activity all by yourself. This is implied when you are not very proficient in troubleshooting systems on your own. Under such circumstances, getting on to experiment with the computer would yield more injury than excellence. If you think you are towards confusion not knowing what is next, then it is high-time you try for assistance.
Internet is one reliable source for any kind of help. In this case, you can try to choose some spyware removal company and contact them with your problem. Internet would also provide you with different documentation on spyware removal. Apart from all these, you can also get involved with various online communities where you can discuss about your spyware removal issue.

3) Maintenance- When you manage to remove the intended spyware you tend to be over confident with the achievement. Furthermore, most often people think, once the spyware is removed; the task of spyware removal is complete. However, you should make it a point to remember that mere deletion of a spyware would not mean you stop there. You need to maintain and regularly check that no further spyware could get in the system in the future ahead.

4) Read before you download- It is a fallacy if you are thinking; the more software you have faster is your internet connection! Conversely, you need to know that most often tools are packaged with unexpected spywares when you get them as a free download. Nonetheless, you need to be extremely careful if you plan to download utilities such as tool bars etc.

The above are just some of the many tips you need to ensure before you go about spyware elimination. By ascertaining to follow these pointers, it should be possible that you eliminate any kind spyware from your machine without many tiring shots and attempts.

About the Author

Abhishek is a Computer Security expert and he has got some great Computer Security Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 88 Pages Ebook, "Keep Your PC Safe From Virus And Data Loss!" from his website http://www.Survival-Today.com/787/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

New Guestbook

  • manndtp Dec 11, 2010 @ 7:03 pm | delete
    Avast should be on there too. Thankfully I run Ubuntu so not much of an issues for me. Great lens.
  • outsource123 Dec 8, 2010 @ 1:53 am | delete
    Great lense guys!
  • outsource123 Dec 8, 2010 @ 1:52 am | delete
    Great lense guys!

by

casualGamer

Hello world. This is my bio. I'm just casual gamer who like to play casual games.

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!